The Past at Work
We checked 8 streaming services in India on 04 Jun 2026 at 16:41 IST
About
The birth and development of the Industrial Revolution is explored by visiting factories, mines, and other industrial relics where the modern world was made -- not by statesmen and philosophers, but by men, women and children with dirt on their hands.
Cast
Seasons
Episodes
Miniseries
Before the Revolution
The remains of the industrial revolution are still with us to visit, to enjoy and to interpret. But how did early industry begin? Anthony Burton visits a neolithic flint mine in Norfolk, a Roman gold mine in Wales and a wooden windmill at Bromsgrove.
Steam and the Pit
Before raw materials and coal could be taken from deep mines, an engine for pumping out water had to be developed. Anthony Burton goes underground at Britain's first colliery museum, looks at an original Newcomen steam engine and visits the oldest steam pumping engines still doing their original job.
The New Iron Age
The single greatest discovery of the industrial revolution was the ability to smelt iron using coke instead of charcoal and the development of casting and forging techniques to use it. Anthony Burton goes to Coalbrookdale to tell the story of Derby's success, visits a casting shop at Llanberis, and gets his nose to the grindstone in a water-powered forge in Devon.
Spindle and Shuttle
The spinner or weaver working on his own, at his own speed, gave way to mills sited to take advantage of water. These were superseded by factory towns dependent on cheap coal and cheap labour. Anthony Burton visits a weaver in Wales, a mill museum near Wilmslow, and Huddersfield.
To Make a Teacup
Demand for fine white and decorated pottery led to a search for new raw materials, the development of new processes, and encouraged new transport systems. Anthony Burton looks at processes and bottle kilns at Stoke-on-Trent; visits a water-powered flint mill in Staffordshire; and tries his hand at shovelling china clay in Cornwall.
The Venice of England
The development and improvement of the British canal system is summed up by the Birmingham Canal Navigation. Birmingham has more miles of canal than Venice. Anthony Burton follows one of the important industrial routes of the BCN from Farmers Bridge in the city centre by canal through Dudley tunnel to the Black Country Museum.
Steam on the Move
The success of the canals led to the development of rivals and vanquishers, the railways. The inadequate power of horses led to the use of stationary, then moving, steam engines and to the parallel development of the steam boat. Anthony Burton visits a stationary steam engine in the Peak District, rides on 'an animated knitting machine', looks for the route of the first successful colliery railway, and takes a trip on the oldest working steam boat.
Railway Mania
Anthony Burton travels from York through Leeds and Harrogate to discover more about Britain's industrial past and the role of railway companies in the 19th Century. Along the way, he finds out about the dark and dangerous work of tunnelling, the different classes of passenger coaches and the grandeur of railway hotels.
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Watch The Past at Work Online Free — All Episodes in HD
Looking for a place to watch The Past at Work online for free? You've landed on the right page. The Past at Work is a talked-about English documentary series from 1980 that you can stream right now on Bowood.TV in high quality, no signup required.
About The Past at Work
The birth and development of the Industrial Revolution is explored by visiting factories, mines, and other industrial relics where the modern world was made -- not by statesmen and philosophers, but by men, women and children with dirt on their hands. Across 1 season and 8 episodes, originally airing on BBC Two.
The Past at Work Cast and Characters
The cast features Anthony Burton (as Self - Presenter). Their performances are a major reason The Past at Work has built such a passionate audience.
Where to Watch The Past at Work Online
Bowood.TV lets you stream The Past at Work online free, instantly, in HD. There's nothing to install — open the page, hit play, done. Works perfectly on Jio, Airtel, Vi networks across India and on slow mobile data thanks to our adaptive video pipeline.
▶ Watch The Past at Work NowWhy People Are Watching The Past at Work
The Past at Work flies under the radar but it deserves your attention. What makes it work is a tone and style that's hard to find elsewhere. If you enjoy English storytelling that doesn't follow the same tired beats, this is the kind of show you'll end up recommending to friends.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Past at Work
Where can I watch The Past at Work online for free?
You can watch The Past at Work online free on Bowood.TV. Just open the page and hit play — no signup, no subscription, full HD streaming on phone, tablet, or desktop.
How many episodes does The Past at Work have?
The Past at Work has 8 episodes across 1 season. All episodes are available to stream right here on Bowood.TV.
Is The Past at Work good? What's the rating?
The Past at Work holds a 0.0/10 rating based on 0 reviews — a niche pick worth checking out.
Who is in the cast of The Past at Work?
The main cast includes Anthony Burton.
Is The Past at Work available in English?
Yes — The Past at Work was originally produced in English and that's the version you'll stream here on Bowood.TV.
When was The Past at Work released?
The Past at Work first aired in 1980.
Do I need an account to watch The Past at Work on Bowood.TV?
No. Bowood.TV is free and you can watch The Past at Work without creating an account. Sign-up is optional — only useful if you want a personal Watchlist or to comment on episodes.
Similar Series You Might Like
If you enjoyed The Past at Work, check out Our Guy in China, Seven Wonders of the Industrial World, The Red Empire, The Machines That Built America, and Inside the Factory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch The Past at Work for free?
You can watch The Past at Work online for free on Bowood.TV. All 8 episodes across 1 season are available to stream in HD without a subscription, signup, or paywall. Just open the show page and press play.
How many seasons and episodes does The Past at Work have?
The Past at Work currently has 1 season and a total of 8 episodes. The series status is "Ended", so the episode count may grow as new seasons are released. You can browse the full episode list on Bowood.TV and continue watching from where you left off.
What is The Past at Work about?
The birth and development of the Industrial Revolution is explored by visiting factories, mines, and other industrial relics where the modern world was made -- not by statesmen and philosophers, but by men, women and children with dirt on their hands. It belongs to the Documentary genre.
In which language is The Past at Work originally available?
The Past at Work was originally produced in English. On Bowood.TV the show is available in its original English audio, which is the most authentic way to experience the dialogue, music, and performances. Check the player options on the watch page for available subtitle tracks.
When was The Past at Work first released?
The Past at Work first premiered on March 25, 1980 (1980). The series has since concluded its run.
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