Villages by the Sea

Archaeologist Ben Robinson investigates the history of Sunderland Point, a village in Lancashire, tracing its development over centuries. The settlement once functioned as a thriving port and was a key participant in the slave trade, linking the region to trans‑Atlantic commerce.

Sunderland Point is a television programme presented as an episode that centres on a specific locality in England. The show is built around a single investigative narrative, with the focus squarely on the Lancashire village that gives the title to the instalment. It is listed simply as a programme of the episode genre, offering viewers a concise look at one particular place and its past. In the episode, archaeologist Ben Robinson takes the lead, guiding the audience through the history of Sunderland Point. He looks closely at how the settlement functioned as a bustling port in earlier times, describing the flow of goods and ships that once characterised its waterfront. Robinson also points out the village’s role in the trans‑Atlantic slave trade, explaining how the port was instrumental in that grim chapter of history. The programme therefore combines on‑site investigation with historical context, using Robinson’s expertise to illuminate the layers of Sunderland Point’s past. By tracing the evolution from a lively harbour to its involvement in the slave trade, the episode provides a factual account of the village’s significance without venturing beyond the material at hand. The concise structure keeps the focus tight, delivering a clear picture of how this Lancashire community once operated within broader maritime and economic networks.