Edwardian Farms

Watch Edwardian Farms

  • 2010
  • 1 Season
  • 8.8  (581)

Edwardian Farms is a British television documentary series that was aired on BBC TWO from 2010 to 2011. The series followed historians and archaeologists Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands, and Peter Ginn as they tried to recreate life on an Edwardian farm in the early 1900s. The three presenters embarked on a year-long project of working and living on a farm, trying to replicate the agricultural methods, social customs, and technology of the era. The show was shot on location in rural Shropshire, England.

Throughout the series, Ruth, Alex, and Peter explored the challenges of farming in the Edwardian era, using only the tools and technology that were available at the time. They had to undertake a wide range of tasks, such as planting and harvesting crops, herding sheep and cattle, making cheese and butter, and repairing farm implements. They also had to preserve food for the winter, using traditional methods such as smoking and pickling.

The trio also explored the social and cultural aspects of life on an Edwardian farm. They dressed in period costume and tried to adhere to the social codes of the time. They cooked and ate Edwardian food, and recreated period leisure activities such as dancing and musical performances. They also visited other Edwardian-era sites, such as a seaside resort and a working-class town, to gain insight into the lives of people outside the rural community.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the series was the way the presenters explored the relationship between farming and technology during the Edwardian era. They sampled the latest inventions of the time, such as tractors, threshing machines, and early electrical appliances. They also delved into the rich history of agricultural technology, looking at how innovations such as the plough and seed drill transformed farming practices.

The programme was divided into various seasonal themes, with each episode focusing on a different aspect of farm life during that season. For example, one episode explored the challenges of haymaking, while another examined the problems of dealing with pests and disease in crops.

Over the course of the series, the three presenters demonstrated incredible dedication and perseverance as they worked long hours on the farm, dealing with unpredictable weather, hard physical labour, and the emotional toll of living without modern conveniences. Each presenter brought their own unique skills and expertise to the project. Ruth, for example, was an expert in historic clothing and cooking, while Alex had experience in archaeology and rural crafts. Peter was a specialist in the history of farming and agricultural technology.

Overall, Edwardian Farms was an incredibly rich and immersive series that provided a fascinating glimpse into a bygone era. It was a testament to the ingenuity and resilience of farm communities, and the presenters' infectious enthusiasm and passion for the project made it a joy to watch. The series also underscored the importance of preserving and learning from our collective history, and the immense value of traditional farming practices in a rapidly changing world.

Edwardian Farms is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (12 episodes). The series first aired on November 10, 2010.

Edwardian Farms
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Seasons
Edwardian Farms
12. Edwardian Farms
January 19, 2011
August brings to an end the year on the farm, weather dictates the harvest and the seaside brings much needed fertilizer.
Edwardian Farms
11. Edwardian Farms
January 12, 2011
July brings the harvest, cherries and potatoes. Ruth goes salmon fishing on the River Tamar with a seine net. Peter and Alex pick cherries from tall ladders and Ruth prepares cherry preserves. They try out Edwardian potato digging devices and employ child labor. The annual day holiday at Lynmouth is a welcome distraction.
Edwardian Farms
10. Edwardian Farms
January 6, 2011
June arrives so the sheep go up onto the moors of Dartmoor with Alex and Peter guiding, leaving Ruth to run the farm. Alex and Peter try their hands at sheep-shearing and dry-stone walling, and observe sheep-dogs at work. Ruth makes her own cheese and visits an early wool mill. Finally, they have an Edwardian picnic with a vintage auto and then go rambling and letterboxing on the moor.
Edwardian Farms
9. Edwardian Farms
December 31, 2010
May. Summer brings the tourists, so the farm provides strawberries and clotted cream.
Edwardian Farms
8. Edwardian Farms
December 24, 2010
April arrives and time is divided between the land and the sea.
Edwardian Farms
7. Edwardian Farms
December 19, 2010
March. Spring arrives with the lambs and the potato crop planted with manure. Daffodils are harvested and sent by train across the country.
Edwardian Farms
6. Edwardian Farms
December 15, 2010
February. Six months into their year, Ruth, Alex and Peter explore the daily lives of the Edwardian Farmers. This episode has a slightly different format to the rest of the series; instead of covering a whole month's changes, it is subtitled A Day in the Life and uses a framing device of Ruth writing a letter describing the more mundane aspects of daily life on the farm.
Edwardian Farms
5. Edwardian Farms
December 8, 2010
January. The continuing winter forces Alex and Peter down a copper mine, while Ruth makes lace. The copper mine is the King Edward Mine, Camborne, Cornwall, and the lace-making is at Honiton.
Edwardian Farms
4. Edwardian Farms
December 1, 2010
December. As winter sets in, the three farm dwellers must look further afield to earn a crust. Peter and Alex fish for crabs while Ruth hires herself out for domestic work. They separate growing calves from their mothers. Alex finds out how leather is made. They celebrate Christmas modesty, as poor farmers might have, and listen to a Methodist Christmas message.
Edwardian Farms
3. Edwardian Farms
November 24, 2010
November. Ruth prepares for the arrival of the farm's pigs and works on the privie, while Alex and Peter compare ploughing with horses to ploughing with the world's oldest working tractor. Peter begins a trout hatchery. In order to repair the hedgerows, Alex takes a trip to a water-powered blacksmithery for a billhook. Ruth makes sloe gin for Christmas and entertains with a gramophone.
Edwardian Farms
2. Edwardian Farms
November 17, 2010
October. Alex and Peter milk goats and train the plowhorses. Ruth pickles apples, salts a ham, and smokes bacon. Alex and Peter press apples to cider (scrumpy), freighting first the apples, then the barrel on the river. They visit a cooper and make lime putty. They read government agricultural leaflets, collect eggs, make chicken stew, and celebrate Halloween Edwardian style.
Edwardian Farms
1. Edwardian Farms
November 10, 2010
September.The trio establish their domicile, scrubbing flagstone floor and cleaning out a clogged chimney. They put up hay, hire a stonemason to make a trough, learn to thatch, make rag rugs, begin keeping chickens and sheep. Ruth cooks a sheep's head stew.
Description
Where to Watch Edwardian Farms
Edwardian Farms is available for streaming on the BBC TWO website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Edwardian Farms on demand at Amazon Prime and Amazon.
  • Premiere Date
    November 10, 2010
  • IMDB Rating
    8.8  (581)