Videos Page

Welcome to the Video Preview page. I am producing a series of videos which explore an interesting element of the history of Sussex in England. This might be anything from old follies, to an abandoned mental hospital, or from ancient castles to medieval bridges. Check out the videos page and see what is new. You can watch online the preview and if you like what you see order the video to download in high quality. Enjoy the selection of historic videos below.

Videos to Purchase and Download

History You Can Touch!

Richard Vobes is producing a series of 25 minute long Tv style documentaries that looks at the history of the Britain and in particular England. It starts with a study of the first momunments on the landscape, including the West Kennet Long Barrow in Wiltshire and the Belas Knapp Long Barrow in the Cotswolds.

The idea behind the series to visit the places in history and tell the story of the characters involved, such as Julius Caesar when he tried to invade ancient Briton back in 55BC and attempted to land close to the White Cliffs of Dover, only to find hundred's of what he called primative tribesmen with spears ready to attack him or the ledgendary queen of the Icenii tribe, Boudicca on the rampage in revenge for the rape of her daughters by the Romans as she set fire to Colchester, London and St. Albans in Hertfordshire.

Finding places that still exisit, places you can visit and history that you can actually place your hands on and have a connection to our glorious past is in what the films are about. Using classic storying telling techniques, computer animation, stunning photography and a little whimsy, Richard will produce these high-definition videos for you to own. They will be available to buy independently or be accessable through the members area.

Check out the preview of the first video above.

Vobes and Stoneman USA Trip 2007

Paul and I went to America in 2007 and took a road trip from Dulles International airport through Pennsylvania to meet up with Listeners John Burger, Mark Radford, Paul Hutinscon, Scott Loose and others and then headed down to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virgina and south to North Carolina. We have some fabulous adventures and captured it all on video. These videos are in four parts about 18 minutes each and have been on sale in the video department. But will now be available to the Members Area or Vobes Vault as I like to call it. To give you a taster, here is part one free - albeit in a small encoded file.

The Racton Folly This is a short trailer of my recent visit to a very spooky folly. Thought to be a summer house or observation platform, the Racton Folly stands alone deserted on the top of a hill over looking Chichester in West Sussex. People say that it is haunted, and you do get an eerie feeling as you stand inside. The builder died before his work was complete and now it stands in rack and ruin, but do you think it should be turned into a private dwelling?

Hellingly Hospital This a short demo of the Hellingly Video. Hellingly Mental Asylum was founded in 1903 as a purpose built hospital for people with mental health problems. It is situated near the quiet village of Hellingly in East Sussex, close to the town Hailsham. It is fairly unique in as much that a small electric railway branched off the mainline to make it easier and no doubt more descreet to receive patients. I go to investigate this unusual and now derelict place.

Sussex TollgatesThe Turnpike Trusts started erecting tollgates and collecting fees for road maintainence in 1663. Sussex has over 500 turnpiked roads and an asortment of curious buildings which over the recent years has all but a few disappeared. In this video I go in search of some of them.

The Medieval Bridge This is a short trailer of my recent visit to the medieval bridge at Stopham in West Sussex. This remarkable bridge is 600 years old, it has survived floods and Second World War  tanks driving over it. It may not be the biggest bridge in the world, but in West Sussex it is most definitely the best loved one. It has beauty, charm and endurance. What more could you ask in a bridge?