The Victorian Farm

[Toadflax]

Did anybody see The Victorian Farm on BBC2 last week? Not strictly bushcraft but an interesting experiment where three historians (not dimwits picked up off the street like in many reality TV programmes) try to live a year in the life of a Victorian Farm. There was quite a lot of Autumn foraging and preservation in the first programme.

I was a bit sceptical about yet another reality TV programme, but this wasn't too bad. You can still catch last week's episode on iPlayer, and I think the next episode will be on Thursday evening.


Geoff

 

[British Red]

Indeed - compulsive viewing for me. If anyone watched "Tales from the Green Valley" its the same presenters and production crew.

I am currenlty in lust after their range

 

[Shewie]

Yeah I watched it and quite enjoyed it.

Brought back memories of the mutton stew my Gran used to make.

 

[Jim_aramis]

Great program.

I loved Tales from the Green Valley and have been looking forward to it since hearing an interview with the presenters about the new series (september-ish).

 

[locum76]

I watched that, it was quite good but i think the accomodation was a bit luxurious for a farm labourers family. It reminded me of my grandad. He was born in 1904 (technically victorian) and I have a photograph of him with his horses pulling a plough in 1946. It all seemed a bit glamourous aswell. none of my grandparents had shoes until they left school.

 

[locum76]

oh and the presenters ploughing seemed quite good too. i'm sure the auld yins would have approved, it was dead straight.

 

[TallMikeM]

I am currenlty in lust after their range

ditto. I'm currently eyeing up our fireplace (which used to house a range back in the mists of time) and wondering if we could get one in there.

 

[robin wood]

Good to hear folks have enjoyed this. We don't have telly but might try to get iplayer working.

I know Ruth Goodman quite well she is really a Tudor specialist so I was surprised she was doing Victorian.

 

[TallMikeM]

Good to hear folks have enjoyed this. We don't have telly but might try to get iplayer working.

I know Ruth Goodman quite well she is really a Tudor specialist so I was surprised she was doing Victorian.

as the others said, she was on Tales from the Green Valley, which was set around 1600, as the domestic expert. I guess in on this one cos she's part of that same team.

 

[British Red]

Do tell Ruth from me & BB she's a stonkingly good presenter Robin!.

And you know how much I have a reputation for gushing praise

 

[g4ghb]

Do tell Ruth from me & BB she's a stonkingly good presenter Robin!.

And you know how much I have a reputation for gushing praise

Here here Hugh!

I was so please to find it wasn't a sensational 'bung some loosers together and see how many rows we can generate' kind of program! The fact that it is factual and well presented is even better! - good on all three of them I say!
:You_Rock_

 

[g4ghb]

oops! - forgot to say......

cummon BBC - we want more like this please!

 

[BorderReiver]

Good to hear folks have enjoyed this. We don't have telly but might try to get iplayer working.

I know Ruth Goodman quite well she is really a Tudor specialist so I was surprised she was doing Victorian.

If all TV programs were as good as this I'd have a telly.

Thank goodness for iplayer.

 

[robin wood]

Well I rarely watch TV nowadays and find most of it so crass, this wasn't bad. I loved the old boy with his horses I never met a heavy horse handler that wasn't a lovely gentle man. Ploughing a field with horses has been on my wish list for many years.

Liked the old estate owner too.

The clips at the beginning showed Owen Jones the swill basket maker, my all time craft hero a wonderful man that has kept a wonderful craft alive. Look forward to that episode. The Shropshire swill and the Derbyshire swill died out and only Owen remains making the Lakeland swill.

 

[andybysea]

I got quite engrossed in it, and with about 15mins to go the wife came in and said ''whats this rubbish your watching'' and promptly turned it over, and who says i dont wear the trousers in my house!

 

[Cobweb]

I only live a few mins away from Acton scott working farm museum, it's a great place, we take the kids there every summer hols
Its a good programme, but they are being a bit liberal with the geography, just nipped down to the Shropshire union canal, lol!

 

[Hammock_man]

Missed it but it does sound as if its a must for the "iplayer"

Thanks for the heads up

 

[Zappa]

I watch very little TV [The rubbish reception where I live dont help]
But yes did watch 2nd episode;[and watched the 1st on Iplayer] very good indeed;
more like this BBC Please !.

 

[John Fenna]

Best thing on the box for ages!
It shows some of the realities of life - cold chapped hands, bathing in a sawn off barrel etc but also the good stuff we have lost to the plastic age.
Nicely balanced, great presenters.
This is what the BBC should do more o!

 

[CRAZY FROG]

It could be a good idea for the BBC to do a similar series on bushcraft some time in the future?
which can be very interesting.