Edwardian Farm (2010)
Edwardian Farm is a captivating British historical documentary TV series that aired on BBC Two from November 2010 to January 2011. The show, consisting of twelve episodes, transports viewers back to the Edwardian era, providing an immersive experience of life on a farm during that time.
In this engaging series, a trio of experts—archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn, along with domestic historian Ruth Goodman—team up to recreate the daily workings of an Edwardian farm. Their journey unfolds at Morwellham Quay in Devon, where they spend an entire calendar year living a simpler yet more challenging life, reminiscent of the early 20th century.
Here’s a glimpse into the fascinating world of Edwardian Farm:
- September:
- The team establishes their domicile, scrubbing flagstone floors and cleaning out clogged chimneys.
- They construct a hayrick for storing hay, hire a stonemason to create a trough, and learn the art of thatching.
- Ruth tends to chickens and sheep, even cooking up a hearty sheep’s head stew.
- October:
- Alex and Peter milk goats and train ploughhorses.
- They cultivate a market garden of strawberries.
- Ruth pickles apples, salts a ham, and smokes bacon.
- The duo presses apples into cider (known as “scrumpy”) and transports both apples and the barrel down the river.
- Halloween is celebrated in true Edwardian style.
- November:
- Ruth prepares for the arrival of the farm’s pigs.
- Alex and Peter compare ploughing with horses to ploughing with the world’s oldest working tractor.
- Peter starts a trout hatchery.
- Alex visits a water-powered smithy to repair hedgerows using a billhook.
- Ruth indulges in making sloe gin for Christmas and entertains guests with a gramophone.
- December:
- As winter sets in, the trio must seek additional income.
- Peter and Alex venture into crab fishing.
- Ruth takes on domestic work to make ends meet.
Edwardian Farm not only showcases the practical aspects of farming but also delves into the cultural and social nuances of the era. The series provides a rich tapestry of historical insights, making it a must-watch for history enthusiasts and anyone curious about life in the Edwardian countryside. An associated book by Goodman, Langlands, and Ginn, also titled Edwardian Farm, was published in 2010 by BBC Books.
Whether you’re intrigued by traditional farming methods, period-specific recipes, or the sheer resilience of those who lived during the Edwardian period, this documentary series offers a delightful and educational journey back in time.
