Victorian Farm
Historical observational documentary series following a team who live the life of Victorian farmers for a year. Wearing period clothes and using only the materials that would have been available in 1885, historian Ruth Goodman and archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn are going back in time to relive the day-to-day life of the Victorian farmer.
The project is based on the Acton Scott estate in Shropshire - a world frozen in time, lost in Victorian rural England. Its buildings and grounds are cluttered with antique tools and machinery collected by the Acton family, who have lived on the estate since the 12th century.
Working for a full calendar year, Ruth, Alex and Peter are rediscovering a lost world of skills, crafts and knowledge, assisted by an ever-dwindling band of experts who keep Victorian rural practices alive.
The team move into a Victorian smallholding on the Acton Scott estate that has not been used in nearly half a century. Their first task is the restoration of the cottage. As incoming tenants, they help thresh the previous summer's wheat crop, their first experience of steam-powered machinery. Alex attempts to sow a wheat crop using horse-power. Ruth and Peter install a range in the cottage and take a trip to the canals to load up on coal.
It's time for the apple harvest, so Alex and Peter turn their hand to making cider. Ruth explores the challenges of Victorian cooking by making preserves ready for winter and cooks her first meal on the range. And the team must learn shepherding skills the hard way as the first livestock arrive on the farm - a flock of Shropshire ewes. Another interesting documentary of this kind is Edwardian Farm.
GGGaaaddsss these used to be free and were a great source of docents, reenactments, and demonstrators. They are not programmed for the US either...... only region 2! ::sigh::
Anyone know where we can watch a video of this series?
I wish we all good do this. So wholesome, so rewarding.
Lovely, but twenty minutes of that histrionic, supercilious woman eventually ruined it for me. It's a lame criticism I suppose?
Ah well, I never aspired to perfection. :-)
very beautiful documents
i love it...... the victorian period is my favourite part of british history... seems to be great for all ages as i haven't even hit my teens yet!
Such a fantastic series. I'm sad it's ended. :(
I love this series. This version has tons of commercials though.
Is this available to buy on DVD?? I really really want this!
When Ruth is learning how to use a treddle sewing machine I had to have a laugh. They made it such a drama but my sisters and I all learnt to use one at home before we learnt to use electric machines at school. My wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses were made on said treddle machine in the 1980's.
The link is broken it won't play after the commercial
After the ad plays, there is audio but no video - what gives?
Quite enjoyable, though my favourite is still the first - 'Tales from The Green Valey' - I do have concerns about the accuracy and the historical knowledge of the so-called historians that participate. I draw to your attention the episode where Ruth has a tin bath - *in her bedroom* - given that betrays a very modern attitude to privacy and that every single person I have asked about this - most of them who have little or no interest in the past - 'where would you take a tin bath in the 'old days' - the answer - as was mine - 'in front of the fire in the kitchen - the warmest room in the house' - *and* you don't have to carry jug after jug of hot water up the stairs, either! Just tell the boys too go to the pub for a couple of hours and have the house to yourself! So very, very obvious to anyone - it makes me wonder what else they're getting wrong. Oh - and think they ditched the wrong people from the first series in favour of Ruth, Fonz et al because they're some TV exec's idea of 'good TV'. Not from where I'm sitting, they ain't!
This is great fun to watch,very interesting.
The team are a totally different bunch in this installment than in Edwardian Farm! The vibe is drastically toned down and seemes quite like they are only just acquaintances, whereas in The Edwardian film they seem much like close friends and comrades.
These series are really informative and educational. I can only imagine the dedication it takes to makes these series. This is experimental archeology / history at it's best.
Love this series, epic production value and good hosts. Wonder if they actually did stay for a full year... Seems a bit harsh.
Nobody noticed the bizar naration in the first episode!? OOh wee what up with dat?!
This was an excellent documentary! I love to see some educational programs after so much crud we see on tv today.
Interesting. I guess those of you who dislike history should look for another category, though. I think that this series was very professional and much more entertaining than cut throat reality where everyone treats one another like garbage.
In my opinion this doc is very nice.
After all it delivers exactly what it promised: Insight into the english farmer's life in the victorian era with all its revolutionary progress in mechanics and industry.
If you want boring drama,eco-vegan nonsense or insight in stranger's personal lives then this is not for you. Nor does the doc contain any action, flashy screens and those typically american measure ups: "It is thrice as big as the state of Texas, it has existed longer than the dinosaurs and humans combined and is up to date the most... bla bla"
I recommend this for people wanting to learn some history, this isn't about modern lifestyles and hippy fantasies.
quite interesting. im a big fan of history and this gives a bit more detailed exploration into the basic practices of a time gone by. One thing i have gotten from it is inspired to make my own curry now lol.
I wish Ruth would stop scrunching her face up all the time...she's turning me off my dinner.
i loved this movie
Great doc informative and entertaining!