BBC Two Northern Ireland

Edwardian Farm

Alex Langlands

Peter Ginn

Ruth Goodman

Stuart Elliott

David Upshal

Edwardian Farm: Episode 1

Factual: History

Episode 1

BBC Two - Edwardian Farm, Episode 1

The trio prepare for the arrival of their livestock, and Ruth cooks a sheep's head stew.

Two archaeologists and a historian try Edwardian life for a year. They prepare for the arrival of their first livestock, and historian Ruth Goodman cooks a sheep's head stew.

Archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and historian Ruth Goodman arrive at Morwellham Quay in Devon - once home to one of the busiest ports in Britain. For the next twelve months they will be attempting to bring it back to life as it was in its Edwardian heyday. 

In September they begin with the basics. They set up home in one of the cottages, where the first task - after cleaning - is unblocking the chimney so they can get the range working in order to cook.

They prepare for the arrival of their first livestock - a flock of sheep and a ram called Cyril, and Ruth cheers up the cottage by making a rug out of rags. And she cooks her first meal on the range - a sheep's head stew. Alex builds a hay rick to store feed for the animals over winter; while Peter heads to Bodmin moor to carve a stone feeding trough.

And they must plant crops. The high acidity of the soil makes it infertile for growing crops, so the top priority is neutralising the acid with fertilizer - and for this they must make deadly quicklime. They will need literally tonnes of the stuff. It is a hazardous and gruelling - but essential - job.

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Archaeologists Alex and Peter and historian Ruth live the Edwardian life

Archaeologists Alex and Peter and historian Ruth attempt to bring Morwellham Quay in Devon back to life as it was in its Edwardian heyday.

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