1 00:00:05,087 --> 00:00:08,443 Here in Shropshire is a farm that's frozen in time, 2 00:00:09,287 --> 00:00:11,721 lost in Victorian rural England. 3 00:00:12,807 --> 00:00:15,924 Now a unique project has brought it back to life, 4 00:00:16,447 --> 00:00:18,756 as it would have been in the 1 880s. 5 00:00:20,647 --> 00:00:21,602 Gee up. 6 00:00:22,607 --> 00:00:27,601 For a full calendar year, Ruth Goodman, Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn 7 00:00:27,647 --> 00:00:30,241 are reliving the life of the Victorian farmer. 8 00:00:30,807 --> 00:00:32,081 (Laughter) 9 00:00:35,767 --> 00:00:39,885 Eight months into the project, they've restored the derelict farmyard, 10 00:00:39,927 --> 00:00:43,761 under the watchful eye of their landlord, Mr Acton. 11 00:00:43,807 --> 00:00:45,559 What do you think of the stone, Mr Acton? 12 00:00:45,607 --> 00:00:47,598 l think it's slightly tilted. 13 00:00:48,207 --> 00:00:50,767 - Pull that leg out. - They've delivered lambs... 14 00:00:50,807 --> 00:00:53,640 Go, go, go, go. Get him out, get him out. 15 00:00:53,687 --> 00:00:55,120 ..and piglets... 16 00:00:55,167 --> 00:00:58,762 This one really doesn't look good. Look at the size difference there. 17 00:00:58,807 --> 00:01:01,082 ..cared for a pregnant cow through the winter... 18 00:01:01,127 --> 00:01:03,516 There we go. That's it, girl. 19 00:01:03,887 --> 00:01:06,003 ..and learned to handle a shire horse... 20 00:01:06,407 --> 00:01:08,159 - How am l doing? - Very well. 21 00:01:08,207 --> 00:01:10,198 ..only to see him go lame. 22 00:01:10,247 --> 00:01:13,444 lt's a bit of a nightmare, because we need him to be in shape. 23 00:01:13,487 --> 00:01:17,082 Now it's summer on the Victorian farm. 24 00:01:26,647 --> 00:01:28,638 lt's May. 25 00:01:28,687 --> 00:01:31,201 Summer means time to bring in the hay harvest. 26 00:01:31,687 --> 00:01:34,406 lf you get it right, you've got a hayloft full of hay 27 00:01:34,447 --> 00:01:36,802 for your cows, your sheep and your horses. 28 00:01:36,847 --> 00:01:40,123 lf you get it wrong, it could spell disaster for the farm. 29 00:01:40,927 --> 00:01:42,918 lt's hard going in the dairy... 30 00:01:43,567 --> 00:01:46,923 This is women's work. lt doesn't make it any easier. 31 00:01:47,247 --> 00:01:48,726 ..and with the sheep. 32 00:01:49,487 --> 00:01:51,876 They just eat little holes into the skin. 33 00:01:51,927 --> 00:01:54,566 Alex takes up a risky new venture. 34 00:01:55,087 --> 00:01:57,647 How long is it going to be before l get stung? 35 00:01:57,687 --> 00:01:59,757 Long days mean more time for leisure, 36 00:02:00,567 --> 00:02:04,799 as the team explore what Victorian farmers did for fun. 37 00:02:04,847 --> 00:02:07,236 (Whistle) 38 00:02:07,287 --> 00:02:09,482 This is the most fantastic train. 39 00:02:09,527 --> 00:02:15,045 But as the weather turns, it becomes a race against time to save the hay from ruin. 40 00:02:15,087 --> 00:02:17,078 Gee up! Gee up! 41 00:02:31,407 --> 00:02:35,320 May is a crucial month for the farm's flock of Shropshire sheep, 42 00:02:35,367 --> 00:02:37,358 a popular Victorian breed. 43 00:02:38,407 --> 00:02:42,958 Having given birth to 1 6 lambs, the ten sheep must now be shorn. 44 00:02:44,887 --> 00:02:48,004 Alex and Peter have asked sheep farmer Richard Spencer, 45 00:02:48,047 --> 00:02:51,164 and professional shearer Keith Sessions, to help out. 46 00:02:52,607 --> 00:02:55,883 The first objective here is to get the sheep from the covered area, 47 00:02:55,927 --> 00:02:59,715 where they've been sheltering from the rain overnight, and into the yard. 48 00:02:59,767 --> 00:03:01,758 Come! Juno! 49 00:03:03,247 --> 00:03:05,522 - (Whistles) - Push them on in then, now. 50 00:03:05,567 --> 00:03:07,637 Come here, Juno. Come here. 51 00:03:07,687 --> 00:03:10,485 All the gates are shut in this yard, aren't they, Peter? 52 00:03:10,527 --> 00:03:12,040 l believe so. 53 00:03:12,887 --> 00:03:15,959 - The sheep are getting out. - Where are they getting out? 54 00:03:16,007 --> 00:03:17,599 - Onto the road. - Oh, dear. 55 00:03:17,647 --> 00:03:21,322 The sheep have smashed their way through a weak spot in the fence. 56 00:03:23,727 --> 00:03:25,718 They're all the way up there. 57 00:03:26,927 --> 00:03:32,604 Last time, we lost one sheep when we attempted to move them. 58 00:03:32,647 --> 00:03:35,639 We've now succeeded in losing all 26. 59 00:03:40,407 --> 00:03:42,159 (Whistles) 60 00:03:42,207 --> 00:03:44,675 Four of the ewes are quickly found, 61 00:03:44,727 --> 00:03:48,925 but convincing them to return to the yard isn't going to be easy. 62 00:04:12,327 --> 00:04:14,318 (Panting) 63 00:04:19,287 --> 00:04:20,640 They're coming. 64 00:04:20,687 --> 00:04:24,362 Alex and Richard have managed to track down the rest of the flock. 65 00:04:24,407 --> 00:04:28,764 l've just been told to get out of the road because they're pushing them up the lane. 66 00:04:30,887 --> 00:04:32,878 lt's gone 1 2 now, 67 00:04:33,487 --> 00:04:36,126 and we've not even got the sheep in the farmyard. 68 00:04:36,807 --> 00:04:39,958 We're going backwards rather than forwards at the moment. 69 00:04:42,447 --> 00:04:44,677 Nothing seems to ever go to plan. 70 00:04:47,847 --> 00:04:49,917 Come on, Forget-Me-Not, over you go. 71 00:04:51,847 --> 00:04:53,439 Raaar! 72 00:04:53,487 --> 00:04:55,478 (Lows) 73 00:04:57,447 --> 00:05:01,360 The farm's cow, Forget-Me-Not, has given birth to her calf. 74 00:05:02,047 --> 00:05:04,845 Ruth's getting to grips with the daily milking routine. 75 00:05:05,727 --> 00:05:07,683 She's a nice quiet cow. 76 00:05:07,727 --> 00:05:09,638 lt makes a big difference. 77 00:05:09,687 --> 00:05:11,564 Doesn't it, girl? 78 00:05:14,727 --> 00:05:16,683 You're a good cow, aren't you? 79 00:05:17,567 --> 00:05:19,285 What a good girl. 80 00:05:19,327 --> 00:05:21,795 A cow needs to build a relationship with you. 81 00:05:23,287 --> 00:05:27,246 Talking to them helps, because your voice is soothing and they know who you are, 82 00:05:27,287 --> 00:05:29,517 your smell, your voice, what you look like. 83 00:05:30,207 --> 00:05:32,198 l have been looking forward to this. 84 00:05:33,087 --> 00:05:41,279 Milking and dairying are such an important part of small farms in this part of the world. 85 00:05:42,047 --> 00:05:48,600 Whereas an arable farm in the 1 870s needed about 50 acres of land to break even... 86 00:05:49,047 --> 00:05:50,924 (Lows) 87 00:05:50,967 --> 00:05:55,165 ..a small Shropshire dairy farm could manage with only five acres. 88 00:05:56,247 --> 00:05:58,886 You could pay your rent with the cheese money. 89 00:06:00,967 --> 00:06:03,879 l'm going to watch Forget-Me-Not's milk day by day. 90 00:06:04,567 --> 00:06:10,119 When l see it change from this lovely rich, thick milk into something thinner, 91 00:06:10,167 --> 00:06:13,682 then that'll be the time to go into massive cheese production. 92 00:06:19,607 --> 00:06:21,802 The sheep have finally been rounded up. 93 00:06:22,527 --> 00:06:24,597 They're just coming round the corner now. 94 00:06:24,647 --> 00:06:26,638 Thank you very much. 95 00:06:26,927 --> 00:06:28,918 Ah, there you are. 96 00:06:32,407 --> 00:06:35,080 lf there's anything good to come out of that, Alex, 97 00:06:35,127 --> 00:06:37,641 the sheep will be hot and sweaty, as well as me. 98 00:06:38,167 --> 00:06:42,001 lt means that the wool will have ''risen'', as we call it. 99 00:06:42,047 --> 00:06:47,201 lt means, basically, that the oils and greases that are naturally there in the fleece will be hot. 100 00:06:47,247 --> 00:06:50,637 lt'll make shearing that much easier, the fleece will peel off, 101 00:06:50,687 --> 00:06:54,965 rather than have to be peeled off with a lot of effort. lt'll come off easily. 102 00:06:55,007 --> 00:06:59,922 So letting them break out of the yard and run a couple of miles was actually good for them? 103 00:07:00,647 --> 00:07:03,798 lt wasn't good for me but it was good for the sheep, yes. 104 00:07:06,327 --> 00:07:09,399 ln the farmyard, it's time to get to work. 105 00:07:11,167 --> 00:07:14,762 ln the early 1 9th century, sheep were sheared with clippers, 106 00:07:14,807 --> 00:07:18,800 but by the 1 870s, shearing machines were being developed. 107 00:07:19,207 --> 00:07:21,198 Right. Ready to start? 108 00:07:21,247 --> 00:07:23,238 Er... (Laughs) 109 00:07:24,247 --> 00:07:26,124 (Whirring) 110 00:07:33,207 --> 00:07:36,438 Look at the speed of that compared to the hand shears. 111 00:07:36,487 --> 00:07:38,398 The machines were much more efficient 112 00:07:38,447 --> 00:07:41,519 but had one real drawback for the person winding them. 113 00:07:42,207 --> 00:07:45,563 - How are you doing? - All right. lt's hard to concentrate. 114 00:07:45,607 --> 00:07:47,598 And it's bloody knackering. 115 00:07:51,367 --> 00:07:53,358 He's sweating! 116 00:07:55,047 --> 00:07:57,322 - There we are. She's done. - She's done! 117 00:07:59,767 --> 00:08:02,327 One down, nine to go. 118 00:08:06,487 --> 00:08:10,799 As Keith's son takes over the winding, Peter brings out a time-saving device 119 00:08:10,847 --> 00:08:13,884 invented by the team's landlord, Mr Acton. 120 00:08:14,607 --> 00:08:16,006 Ah-ha! 121 00:08:16,047 --> 00:08:17,799 We've got a winder. 122 00:08:17,847 --> 00:08:21,965 Mr Acton got tired of people hand-cranking with these old machines 123 00:08:22,007 --> 00:08:26,683 so he rigged up the mechanism onto this 1 950s Raleigh. 124 00:08:29,647 --> 00:08:31,763 l like the footwork, Alex. 125 00:08:31,807 --> 00:08:33,877 This time, it's Alex's turn to shear. 126 00:08:34,647 --> 00:08:36,365 Give me some power then, Peter. 127 00:08:36,407 --> 00:08:38,398 (Rings bell) 128 00:08:45,887 --> 00:08:48,799 There's a lot of vibrations coming up from the seat. 129 00:08:49,847 --> 00:08:51,838 lt's a bit of a fun ride. 130 00:08:55,887 --> 00:08:58,196 lt's so much easier than the hand crank. 131 00:08:58,247 --> 00:09:00,203 l wish he'd hurry up, though. 132 00:09:00,247 --> 00:09:03,045 A professional can shear a sheep in two minutes. 133 00:09:03,727 --> 00:09:06,446 Alex has been working at this one for 20. 134 00:09:06,927 --> 00:09:10,715 There is a possibility the sheep may die of old age, but we'll hope not. 135 00:09:14,167 --> 00:09:15,805 Wooh! 136 00:09:15,847 --> 00:09:18,042 That was difficult, really difficult. 137 00:09:18,447 --> 00:09:22,998 You don't know where body stops and fleece starts. 138 00:09:23,047 --> 00:09:25,720 The shearing has revealed a serious problem. 139 00:09:25,767 --> 00:09:27,280 lt's bending over, as well. 140 00:09:27,327 --> 00:09:29,397 - See that there. - Yeah, yeah. 141 00:09:29,447 --> 00:09:31,961 The fleece is infested with maggots. 142 00:09:32,287 --> 00:09:36,838 lf they're left long enough, they then start to eat little holes into the skin. 143 00:09:36,887 --> 00:09:38,684 Yes. 144 00:09:38,727 --> 00:09:40,718 Then they get under the skin. 145 00:09:40,767 --> 00:09:45,636 lf they get bad enough, if you move the skin they come out the holes in the back of the sheep. 146 00:09:45,687 --> 00:09:47,803 A few more days, he would be a lot worse. 147 00:09:47,847 --> 00:09:49,838 So we've got it just in time. 148 00:09:49,887 --> 00:09:52,003 From now on in, what do we need to do? 149 00:09:52,047 --> 00:09:55,278 Because the fleece has gone off the ewes, it should be all right. 150 00:09:55,327 --> 00:09:59,605 As the lambs get older and it gets to the middle of the summer, they could be a problem. 151 00:09:59,647 --> 00:10:01,717 We've got to keep our eyes peeled, then. 152 00:10:03,247 --> 00:10:05,966 (Popping) - Oh, beautiful! That's what we want. 153 00:10:06,207 --> 00:10:07,925 Oh! Go for it! 154 00:10:07,967 --> 00:10:09,923 To a successful sheep shearing afternoon. 155 00:10:09,967 --> 00:10:12,162 Successful sheep shearing afternoon. 156 00:10:15,007 --> 00:10:16,998 (Belches) Pardon me. 157 00:10:23,407 --> 00:10:26,683 The hay harvest is the biggest job of early summer. 158 00:10:27,407 --> 00:10:30,797 The team will be using the meadow in front of Mr Acton's hall. 159 00:10:31,767 --> 00:10:34,964 l'm having a closer look at the species we've got in here. 160 00:10:35,007 --> 00:10:37,123 We've got a lovely meadow grass there. 161 00:10:37,167 --> 00:10:40,762 There's some perennial rye grass, a lovely foxtail. 162 00:10:40,807 --> 00:10:43,321 And these all make for great fodder crops. 163 00:10:43,367 --> 00:10:48,839 Essentially, haymaking is coming out here and cutting the grass at the point at which it flowers, 164 00:10:48,887 --> 00:10:51,447 when it's at its maturest, if you like, 165 00:10:51,487 --> 00:10:53,523 and it's at its sweetest, as well. 166 00:10:53,567 --> 00:10:57,116 You let it dry in the field, we'll then rake it all up, 167 00:10:57,167 --> 00:11:01,558 get it on our dray, get it back into the farmyard, up into the hayloft, 168 00:11:01,607 --> 00:11:04,075 and it's essentially a crop, it's a harvest. 169 00:11:04,127 --> 00:11:09,884 That hay will sustain our cattle and our horses and sheep throughout the long winter months. 170 00:11:11,447 --> 00:11:17,317 ln the early 1 9th century, huge teams of people brought in the hay entirely by hand. 171 00:11:17,367 --> 00:11:20,484 But by the 1 880s, the harvest was becoming mechanised. 172 00:11:21,487 --> 00:11:24,160 l hope you don't mind me roping you into this one, Peter. 173 00:11:24,207 --> 00:11:26,516 - Not at all. - l think this is a two-man job. 174 00:11:27,407 --> 00:11:32,276 For advice on the latest technology, Alex has consulted the team's bible for the year, 175 00:11:32,967 --> 00:11:35,925 The Book Of The Farm, published in 1 888. 176 00:11:36,807 --> 00:11:40,004 The boys are keen to use as much up-to-date kit as possible... 177 00:11:40,887 --> 00:11:42,843 ..if they can get it working. 178 00:11:43,407 --> 00:11:45,557 So this is a hay rake. 179 00:11:45,607 --> 00:11:50,397 Look, there's a little bit of movement there, but it's obviously been here for quite a while. 180 00:11:50,447 --> 00:11:54,486 This is another of these fantastic machines that Mr Acton's collected up. 181 00:11:54,527 --> 00:11:56,995 - He's got a lot, hasn't he? - He has. lt's amazing. 182 00:11:57,047 --> 00:12:00,722 And it's horse-drawn as well, so it should save us a lot of time. 183 00:12:01,447 --> 00:12:04,120 - Yes, it should. - We've got to get it out first. 184 00:12:04,567 --> 00:12:07,445 Let's start hacking away at some of these brambles. 185 00:12:07,487 --> 00:12:10,957 - l see you've got your pasty on. - l've got the right, you've got the left. 186 00:12:11,007 --> 00:12:13,965 - l've got the billhook. - l've got the right, you've got the left. 187 00:12:14,007 --> 00:12:16,362 Just testing there. Just testing. 188 00:12:21,047 --> 00:12:25,484 lt's always good to have my beast of burden with me. 189 00:12:26,927 --> 00:12:29,839 l like to get Peter to do the lifting and the pulling. 190 00:12:31,247 --> 00:12:33,238 You enjoy it, don't you, Peter? 191 00:12:34,487 --> 00:12:36,318 l can see you sitting on there. 192 00:12:36,367 --> 00:12:38,562 - ls it quite light? - Yeah. 193 00:12:39,607 --> 00:12:42,485 That's actually one of the lightest vehicles we've got. 194 00:12:42,527 --> 00:12:46,236 l should imagine the weight's going to be when you drop it. 195 00:12:46,287 --> 00:12:48,960 So if l sit up there... 196 00:12:49,807 --> 00:12:52,446 - Take the pasties. - They'll be all right on the floor. 197 00:12:53,247 --> 00:12:55,636 - So l sit up here... - Mind yourself on that. 198 00:12:56,007 --> 00:12:58,362 - That looks quite vicious. - lt does, doesn't it? 199 00:12:58,407 --> 00:13:00,602 lt's quite pronounced there at the front. 200 00:13:00,647 --> 00:13:02,638 lt's a bit damp, actually. 201 00:13:02,687 --> 00:13:05,804 - OK, so you be the horse. - Yes. Ready? 202 00:13:05,847 --> 00:13:09,556 - l'll be the hay master. - Right. Whoa. 203 00:13:09,607 --> 00:13:13,646 Beautiful Victorian engineering at its best. 204 00:13:13,687 --> 00:13:15,882 So we're going along, l pull this lever, 205 00:13:17,367 --> 00:13:19,358 and it can't... 206 00:13:19,807 --> 00:13:21,798 - Does it push forward? - No. 207 00:13:22,527 --> 00:13:25,599 - Try pushing it all the way forward. - l can't. l can't. 208 00:13:27,207 --> 00:13:28,640 lt's seized, l think. 209 00:13:28,687 --> 00:13:31,247 Try undoing the wing nut. 210 00:13:32,007 --> 00:13:33,884 Ah. 211 00:13:33,927 --> 00:13:35,918 Right. That's the problem, then. 212 00:13:36,647 --> 00:13:38,638 Slide that. Yeah. 213 00:13:38,687 --> 00:13:40,678 And bang. There goes the rake. 214 00:13:40,727 --> 00:13:43,560 - lt's in. - l'm dragging the rake along the ground... 215 00:13:43,607 --> 00:13:47,646 - Hay's catching in it. - l collect all the hay up, it's getting really heavy. 216 00:13:47,687 --> 00:13:49,643 l get in line with my windrow, 217 00:13:49,687 --> 00:13:52,565 - and l lift the rake, drop the hay. - And we turn around. 218 00:13:52,607 --> 00:13:54,199 Drop the rake again. 219 00:13:54,247 --> 00:13:55,441 Brilliant. 220 00:13:57,047 --> 00:13:58,241 Whoa! 221 00:14:00,327 --> 00:14:02,204 Stand, boy. Stand, boy. 222 00:14:02,247 --> 00:14:03,396 Good boy. 223 00:14:07,647 --> 00:14:10,036 Before the hard work of the harvest begins, 224 00:14:10,087 --> 00:14:13,397 Peter's making good use of his remaining free time. 225 00:14:15,207 --> 00:14:19,166 l think it's undisputable that summer has finally arrived on the farm, 226 00:14:19,207 --> 00:14:21,357 so we've been thinking: cricket match. 227 00:14:21,407 --> 00:14:23,921 For a cricket match we're going to need a cricket bat. 228 00:14:23,967 --> 00:14:27,198 l've dug out this catalogue of HJ Gray & Sons, 229 00:14:27,887 --> 00:14:32,165 who are a Victorian company that are still operating and making bats today. 230 00:14:32,967 --> 00:14:36,562 Cricket bat making was quite an important rural craft. 231 00:14:37,687 --> 00:14:40,963 However, l am pretty ignorant of how a cricket bat is made, 232 00:14:41,007 --> 00:14:43,157 so l'm going to the factory to find out. 233 00:14:43,687 --> 00:14:48,203 HJ Gray & Sons is now the famous company Gray-Nicolls, 234 00:14:48,247 --> 00:14:50,363 whose bats are used all over the world. 235 00:14:52,887 --> 00:14:56,243 The laws of cricket state that bats must be made from wood, 236 00:14:56,287 --> 00:15:00,360 and for hundreds of years, English willow has been a popular choice. 237 00:15:00,887 --> 00:15:04,084 Gray-Nicolls grows and processes its own. 238 00:15:09,447 --> 00:15:14,475 Bat maker Alex Hohenkirk is proud of the company's Victorian roots. 239 00:15:15,207 --> 00:15:18,643 - When's this bat from? - This bat was made in 1 875. 240 00:15:18,687 --> 00:15:20,837 And you're going to try and recreate this for us? 241 00:15:20,887 --> 00:15:24,482 l'll try and recreate this one today. lt's a lot different from what we make now. 242 00:15:24,527 --> 00:15:29,043 You can see the differences in the general amount of wood in the bat all through it. 243 00:15:29,087 --> 00:15:31,806 - ls this machine made? - No it's all handmade. 244 00:15:31,847 --> 00:15:34,156 - We do everything by sight. - Right. 245 00:15:34,207 --> 00:15:37,722 So, l shall try and replicate this bat for you. 246 00:15:37,767 --> 00:15:41,521 Cricket bat design was transformed in the 1 9th century. 247 00:15:42,087 --> 00:15:45,443 Before this date, bats were made of one piece of wood, 248 00:15:45,487 --> 00:15:48,877 which meant they were easy to break and hard to repair. 249 00:15:49,727 --> 00:15:54,005 So bat makers came up with the idea of creating a bat in two parts, 250 00:15:54,047 --> 00:15:57,164 by splicing together the handle and the blade. 251 00:15:57,647 --> 00:16:01,401 With having a splice, this gives a bat more flexibility 252 00:16:01,447 --> 00:16:05,281 and it gives you more strength and versatility in the shots that you're playing. 253 00:16:05,327 --> 00:16:08,797 You've got more feel for the game with a bat that's been spliced. 254 00:16:08,847 --> 00:16:11,759 And the innovations didn't stop with the splice. 255 00:16:12,447 --> 00:16:17,965 The famous Victorian cricketer, WG Grace, developed a new style of batting, 256 00:16:18,007 --> 00:16:20,999 which, in turn, spurred changes to the shape of the bat, 257 00:16:21,047 --> 00:16:22,799 that can still be seen today. 258 00:16:22,847 --> 00:16:26,726 When did the hump on the back here start being really introduced? 259 00:16:26,767 --> 00:16:31,204 The hump started to develop in around 1 860, 1 870. 260 00:16:31,247 --> 00:16:35,035 lt was something pioneered by some of the bigger hitters of the day, 261 00:16:35,087 --> 00:16:37,760 players like WG Grace. 262 00:16:39,127 --> 00:16:43,279 Originally, players were very into just pushing the ball around the ground, 263 00:16:43,327 --> 00:16:45,602 gentle shots and using the speed of the ball. 264 00:16:46,287 --> 00:16:50,075 Players like Grace tended to revolutionise things by big hitting. 265 00:16:50,487 --> 00:16:53,604 The hump's been put into the bat to put more wood into the bat, 266 00:16:53,647 --> 00:16:56,445 which means a stronger and harder striking surface. 267 00:16:56,487 --> 00:16:58,478 Just one final look. 268 00:17:01,087 --> 00:17:04,124 The weights are pretty similar and l think we're pretty much there. 269 00:17:04,167 --> 00:17:05,998 Wonderful. Thank you very much. 270 00:17:06,047 --> 00:17:09,960 l hope it plays well for you in your cricket match and good luck with it. 271 00:17:11,327 --> 00:17:15,400 Back at the cottage, Ruth's indulging in her favourite summer pastime. 272 00:17:16,367 --> 00:17:21,361 Gardening as a leisure activity is something that becomes more popular in the Victorian period. 273 00:17:21,407 --> 00:17:24,205 l'm making myself a pesticide here. 274 00:17:24,927 --> 00:17:28,761 Nice and simple. lt's to kill the sawfly on the gooseberries. 275 00:17:29,167 --> 00:17:31,237 These are the leaves of the elder tree. 276 00:17:31,287 --> 00:17:34,757 l'm dropping them into the bucket, where there's a kettleful of hot water. 277 00:17:34,807 --> 00:17:38,516 l'm going to add in a few shavings of soap. 278 00:17:40,727 --> 00:17:44,766 Bash the whole lot together and hey presto! That's all it is. 279 00:17:45,447 --> 00:17:47,039 lt's nice and warm. 280 00:17:47,087 --> 00:17:49,078 Come on, you little sawflies. 281 00:17:49,887 --> 00:17:51,878 Off my gooseberries. 282 00:17:54,087 --> 00:17:57,159 Ruth's little garden isn't the only one on the estate. 283 00:17:58,567 --> 00:18:01,639 Mr Acton has a spectacular walled garden. 284 00:18:02,327 --> 00:18:06,115 lt needs constant care and he's asked the boys to help out. 285 00:18:07,767 --> 00:18:11,043 For Alex, it's presented a golden opportunity. 286 00:18:11,807 --> 00:18:14,082 There's a swarm of bees in the walled garden. 287 00:18:14,727 --> 00:18:18,322 This is an excellent chance for me to get involved in beekeeping. 288 00:18:18,367 --> 00:18:21,439 lt really is something that captures my imagination. 289 00:18:21,487 --> 00:18:25,275 For a Victorian farmer, it would be the perfect sideline. 290 00:18:25,327 --> 00:18:27,477 l shouldn't need gloves, but... 291 00:18:28,767 --> 00:18:31,839 ..l am going to take the precaution here with a bit of string, 292 00:18:31,887 --> 00:18:34,003 just so they don't crawl up my sleeves. 293 00:18:34,047 --> 00:18:36,242 l don't think l'm going to do this alone. 294 00:18:36,287 --> 00:18:40,599 l'm going to wait for a beekeeping expert to come and help me wrestle this swarm 295 00:18:40,647 --> 00:18:44,560 and get it into our Victorian cottage hive. 296 00:18:44,607 --> 00:18:46,598 (Fierce buzzing) 297 00:18:47,847 --> 00:18:49,838 Thanks for coming over, Brian. 298 00:18:49,887 --> 00:18:51,445 Pleasure. 299 00:18:51,487 --> 00:18:55,560 Brian Goodwin is president of the Shropshire Beekeepers'Association. 300 00:18:55,607 --> 00:18:57,484 lt's been there for a while. 301 00:18:57,527 --> 00:18:58,960 Good swarm. 302 00:18:59,007 --> 00:19:02,841 We're going to capture these bees and put them in our cottage hive. 303 00:19:02,887 --> 00:19:05,162 - We are. That's right. - Their new home. 304 00:19:06,007 --> 00:19:08,396 How long is it going to be before l get stung? 305 00:19:09,767 --> 00:19:12,440 You won't feel anything after about the fourth. 306 00:19:12,487 --> 00:19:14,478 So you'll be all right. 307 00:19:16,287 --> 00:19:19,802 Brian's going to catch the bees in an old-fashioned type of hive, 308 00:19:19,847 --> 00:19:21,246 known as a skep. 309 00:19:21,287 --> 00:19:24,324 They were the way to keep bees many, many years ago. 310 00:19:24,367 --> 00:19:29,999 This is the classic ancient way of keeping bees, reminiscent of Winnie the Pooh. 311 00:19:30,047 --> 00:19:32,038 Exactly that, yes. 312 00:19:33,087 --> 00:19:37,524 The bees are clustering now on this branch of a tree. 313 00:19:38,287 --> 00:19:41,040 The strategy is to get them all in this basket. 314 00:19:41,447 --> 00:19:44,484 The simple way of doing that is to just use a simple brush. 315 00:19:44,527 --> 00:19:48,236 - No problem at all. - This isn't going to upset them, then, doing this? 316 00:19:48,287 --> 00:19:52,758 You'll have 30-40,000 flying around your ears, but don't worry too much. 317 00:19:54,207 --> 00:19:56,198 The first thing to do is to shake. 318 00:19:57,047 --> 00:19:58,799 There we are. 319 00:19:58,847 --> 00:20:01,281 l'm worried about them crawling up my... 320 00:20:01,327 --> 00:20:04,000 They won't hurt you, they're perfectly docile. 321 00:20:05,247 --> 00:20:07,124 They're an ltalian type of bee. 322 00:20:07,167 --> 00:20:09,237 - This is an ltalian type of bee? - Yes. 323 00:20:09,287 --> 00:20:12,199 - Right. So we haven't got a good British bee? - No. 324 00:20:12,247 --> 00:20:14,807 And these were imported in the Victorian period? 325 00:20:14,847 --> 00:20:16,246 They were, yes. 326 00:20:16,287 --> 00:20:19,120 They were imported from Slovenia, Northern ltaly, 327 00:20:19,167 --> 00:20:22,637 and they bred thousands and thousands of queens each year 328 00:20:22,687 --> 00:20:25,485 and we imported them into this country 329 00:20:25,527 --> 00:20:28,837 in the mistaken belief that they were better than our bees. 330 00:20:29,967 --> 00:20:31,958 And there they are, all in the skep. 331 00:20:32,967 --> 00:20:34,958 Skeps had many shortcomings. 332 00:20:35,447 --> 00:20:38,644 The swarm makes its honeycomb inside the basket. 333 00:20:39,407 --> 00:20:43,002 To reach the honey, many keepers would kill their bees. 334 00:20:44,327 --> 00:20:49,640 Fortunately for Alex, in the 1 9th century, a brand-new hive changed all that. 335 00:20:50,407 --> 00:20:52,284 There are the bees again. 336 00:20:52,327 --> 00:20:56,525 l drop them onto this sloping surface and they'll all start to walk uphill. 337 00:20:59,567 --> 00:21:02,923 Their natural tendency is always to go into a closed, dark area, 338 00:21:02,967 --> 00:21:06,084 where they can re-establish themselves as a colony of bees. 339 00:21:06,127 --> 00:21:08,118 They're all doing it now. 340 00:21:13,247 --> 00:21:18,924 The modern beehive was created in 1 85 1 by an American named Lorenzo Langstroth. 341 00:21:19,647 --> 00:21:22,844 He based his design on an amazing observation. 342 00:21:22,887 --> 00:21:26,482 Langstroth realised that the bees always constructed their combs 343 00:21:26,527 --> 00:21:28,165 with an eight-millimetre gap. 344 00:21:29,047 --> 00:21:32,562 This eight-millimetre gap became known as the bee space, 345 00:21:32,607 --> 00:21:36,077 and replicating it was the basis of Langstroth's invention. 346 00:21:36,127 --> 00:21:39,324 l could lift this wooden frame, which we put into the hive, 347 00:21:39,367 --> 00:21:43,440 and you'll see if l move it there's just eight millimetres' space. 348 00:21:43,487 --> 00:21:45,955 The bees add the beeswax in the centre there. 349 00:21:46,007 --> 00:21:48,919 We can take the comb out and examine it quite easily. 350 00:21:49,807 --> 00:21:53,880 The bees are quite happy clinging to the comb, carrying on with their work 351 00:21:53,927 --> 00:21:59,047 while the beekeeper can twist the comb about and observe exactly what they're doing. 352 00:21:59,087 --> 00:22:01,442 - Get a really good inspection going. - That's right. 353 00:22:01,487 --> 00:22:05,958 For the first time, beekeepers became, not just beekeepers, but bee managers. 354 00:22:06,007 --> 00:22:08,760 They could influence what was going on in the hive 355 00:22:08,807 --> 00:22:13,278 and take steps to change the behaviour of the bees and change what was happening. 356 00:22:13,327 --> 00:22:16,364 That was revolutionary, and that revolutionised beekeeping. 357 00:22:17,887 --> 00:22:19,240 - Wonderful. - That's fine. 358 00:22:26,967 --> 00:22:28,958 lt's the day of the cricket match. 359 00:22:29,887 --> 00:22:34,005 Acton Scott, the farm's local team, are playing a neighbouring village. 360 00:22:34,047 --> 00:22:37,926 - lt'll give us a chance to try out the new bat. - l'm looking forward to that. 361 00:22:37,967 --> 00:22:40,720 We've knocked it in, oiled it up, 362 00:22:40,767 --> 00:22:42,564 and it's ready to go. 363 00:22:42,607 --> 00:22:44,598 Almost looks as smart as we do. 364 00:22:44,647 --> 00:22:46,126 Yes. 365 00:22:50,567 --> 00:22:51,966 And again! 366 00:22:52,007 --> 00:22:55,795 lt's a nice bat, Peter. lt's working beautifully. 367 00:22:57,527 --> 00:22:59,518 l don't claim to be a sports fan. 368 00:22:59,567 --> 00:23:02,206 l'm here to eat the sandwiches and have a nice sit down. 369 00:23:02,247 --> 00:23:06,126 There's so many people. l was hoping somebody else would bring food as well. 370 00:23:06,167 --> 00:23:08,886 lt'll probably disappear in ten seconds flat. 371 00:23:09,727 --> 00:23:11,718 l won't be here for very long. 372 00:23:12,927 --> 00:23:14,804 One ball. 373 00:23:17,887 --> 00:23:20,082 - Oh! Split my trousers. - Go on! 374 00:23:21,007 --> 00:23:22,998 (Laughter) 375 00:23:28,367 --> 00:23:30,358 Middle? 376 00:23:32,407 --> 00:23:36,605 l seem to have split incredibly tight trousers. 377 00:23:37,487 --> 00:23:39,478 l've got a hole in my pants as well. 378 00:23:42,407 --> 00:23:43,840 Hey! 379 00:23:45,767 --> 00:23:47,758 Thank God. 380 00:23:49,607 --> 00:23:51,916 l really want to be back out there batting. 381 00:23:51,967 --> 00:23:53,286 You do? 382 00:23:53,327 --> 00:23:57,445 l think with a better pair of trousers, l could have stayed in a bit longer. 383 00:23:59,247 --> 00:24:00,202 Catch! 384 00:24:00,247 --> 00:24:04,160 Earlier on in the 1 9th century, we'd probably be doing blood sports, 385 00:24:04,207 --> 00:24:07,517 bare-fist fighting, cock fighting, all that kind of thing. 386 00:24:07,567 --> 00:24:11,879 Towards the end of the 1 9th century, landlords were looking to get their labourers 387 00:24:11,927 --> 00:24:15,636 and the people of the parish involved in far gentler sports. 388 00:24:15,687 --> 00:24:19,282 Cricket was a perfect opportunity to galvanise the community. 389 00:24:19,327 --> 00:24:23,081 Far more gentlemanly pursuits for the labouring classes. 390 00:24:23,127 --> 00:24:25,118 (Clapping) 391 00:24:30,367 --> 00:24:35,157 As June begins, preparations for the hay harvest are in full swing. 392 00:24:35,607 --> 00:24:37,643 - This is our mower. - How does it work, then? 393 00:24:37,687 --> 00:24:40,121 - Hay comes in here. - We're missing a blade. 394 00:24:40,167 --> 00:24:41,885 lt's not in brilliant shape, is it? 395 00:24:42,607 --> 00:24:45,121 The sheep are enjoying their shorter fleeces. 396 00:24:46,767 --> 00:24:49,156 Forget-Me-Not and her calf are doing well. 397 00:24:51,167 --> 00:24:55,080 And for a couple of weeks, the bees have been left to their own devices. 398 00:24:57,607 --> 00:25:02,397 lt's about time that l got into the hive and had a check to see how things are getting on. 399 00:25:05,527 --> 00:25:07,483 And look at that. 400 00:25:07,527 --> 00:25:09,916 That is absolutely wonderful. 401 00:25:09,967 --> 00:25:11,958 They are making inroads. 402 00:25:12,727 --> 00:25:15,605 ln fact, looking at it, l think l should be concerned 403 00:25:15,647 --> 00:25:20,118 because the danger is that what they'll do, is they'll fill this up and they'll say, 404 00:25:20,167 --> 00:25:25,400 ''We've run out of space, we need to swarm. We need to find somewhere else to go.'' 405 00:25:25,447 --> 00:25:27,358 That's the last thing l want. 406 00:25:27,407 --> 00:25:31,798 To swarm and make a new colony, bees must first create a new queen. 407 00:25:31,847 --> 00:25:33,838 The most crucial thing for me to do here 408 00:25:33,887 --> 00:25:38,438 is to check that they're not developing any queen cells. 409 00:25:40,967 --> 00:25:42,958 Let's have a look. 410 00:25:45,927 --> 00:25:48,316 l can see all the larvae in there. And bingo. 411 00:25:49,887 --> 00:25:52,765 This is just what we don't want. 412 00:25:52,807 --> 00:25:55,241 This thing here is a queen cell. 413 00:25:56,527 --> 00:26:00,315 l think, to be honest, l've got it just in the nick of time. 414 00:26:00,767 --> 00:26:04,726 My job here is to just pinch this out. 415 00:26:06,087 --> 00:26:08,806 That wasn't far off becoming a queen. 416 00:26:11,047 --> 00:26:13,242 What l'm going to do is put another box on 417 00:26:14,327 --> 00:26:17,000 with some more frames in, some empty frames in. 418 00:26:17,727 --> 00:26:19,718 This has got to go back on. 419 00:26:21,167 --> 00:26:23,158 Hm. Just a minute, chaps. 420 00:26:23,847 --> 00:26:26,725 l've just got a bee on my meat and two veg. 421 00:26:40,367 --> 00:26:42,358 Don't want them getting in there. 422 00:26:43,847 --> 00:26:47,726 So, l think l've taken the necessary steps to avoid swarming. 423 00:26:48,287 --> 00:26:50,278 Let's get the lid on. 424 00:26:50,327 --> 00:26:54,286 And it clearly won't be long now before we start to extract some honey. 425 00:27:11,407 --> 00:27:15,320 The piglets have got big, and it's high time they were weaned from their mother. 426 00:27:15,367 --> 00:27:19,155 At the moment, their pure source of food is Princess's milk. 427 00:27:19,207 --> 00:27:21,880 We need to wean them, which is a gradual process. 428 00:27:24,967 --> 00:27:28,755 There's a picture of a ring pigs' trough in Book Of The Farm. 429 00:27:29,127 --> 00:27:32,199 We've got a very similar design pig trough. 430 00:27:32,247 --> 00:27:37,321 lt creates segments, so when the piglets feed, they've each got their own compartment, 431 00:27:37,367 --> 00:27:43,317 which mirrors the fact that they each have their own teats where they take milk from Princess. 432 00:27:44,687 --> 00:27:46,803 l'm going to try and let the pigs out... 433 00:27:48,007 --> 00:27:50,521 ..without letting Princess out. 434 00:27:52,167 --> 00:27:54,476 Which is going to be easier said than done. 435 00:28:03,767 --> 00:28:05,758 Done it the other way round. 436 00:28:20,527 --> 00:28:22,165 l'll feed her here. 437 00:28:22,207 --> 00:28:24,198 She'll go anywhere for food. 438 00:28:30,167 --> 00:28:32,158 (Squealing) 439 00:28:43,327 --> 00:28:44,806 There you go. 440 00:28:44,847 --> 00:28:48,635 lt appears, on the surface of things, to be moderately successful. 441 00:28:51,527 --> 00:28:54,325 Rearing these guys has been a lot of work 442 00:28:54,367 --> 00:28:56,358 but it's been such a fun time. 443 00:28:57,007 --> 00:29:00,886 l'm immensely proud - certainly of the ones feeding from the feeder. 444 00:29:00,927 --> 00:29:03,919 Not so much of the ones with their heads in the bucket. 445 00:29:03,967 --> 00:29:06,162 But it's been great. 446 00:29:06,207 --> 00:29:10,723 Out of all the animals on the farm, the pigs are the ones l'm going to miss the most. 447 00:29:11,487 --> 00:29:13,364 lt's going to be quite a wrench. 448 00:29:13,407 --> 00:29:17,116 Once they're fully weaned, some you'll keep and some you'll kill. 449 00:29:19,527 --> 00:29:21,518 Ssh. Don't tell them. 450 00:29:25,567 --> 00:29:28,081 lt's harsh. lt's harsh. 451 00:29:30,367 --> 00:29:33,086 l've got a really messy, stinky job here. 452 00:29:33,127 --> 00:29:37,200 l've got the stomach of a young male calf from our neighbours over there. 453 00:29:37,807 --> 00:29:40,241 l've got to clean it out and make rennet, 454 00:29:40,287 --> 00:29:43,597 which is the magic ingredient that turns milk into cheese. 455 00:29:44,087 --> 00:29:47,397 ln a dairy herd, male calves are not terribly useful. 456 00:29:47,447 --> 00:29:51,156 So at this time of year, many of the male calves are slaughtered. 457 00:29:51,207 --> 00:29:55,598 You eat the veal, which is very tasty, and use the stomachs to make your cheese. 458 00:29:57,247 --> 00:29:59,238 A calf's stomach has four chambers. 459 00:30:00,247 --> 00:30:03,444 Ruth must find the fourth one, where rennet is produced. 460 00:30:04,087 --> 00:30:06,555 Rennet is the juices of the stomach. 461 00:30:06,607 --> 00:30:10,077 lt's the enzymes, with which the young mammal, 462 00:30:10,127 --> 00:30:12,561 and it happens in any mammal, including ourselves, 463 00:30:12,607 --> 00:30:16,998 separate their mother's milk into a solid and a liquid. 464 00:30:17,047 --> 00:30:20,198 Cheese-making is very dependent upon this rennet. 465 00:30:20,247 --> 00:30:23,398 Milk has to be separated into curds and whey. 466 00:30:23,447 --> 00:30:28,043 Ruth must rinse out the stomach and cover it with salt to preserve it. 467 00:30:28,087 --> 00:30:32,365 The calf has to be very young. lt has to be one that has only sucked milk, 468 00:30:32,407 --> 00:30:34,238 and has not yet been weaned on to grass. 469 00:30:34,287 --> 00:30:38,200 Once the calf has been weaned and is eating solid foods 470 00:30:38,247 --> 00:30:41,603 the nature of the enzymes changes in the stomach 471 00:30:41,647 --> 00:30:44,844 and no longer does the job with the same efficiency. 472 00:30:45,887 --> 00:30:48,117 The stomach will now be left in a bucket of water. 473 00:30:48,167 --> 00:30:52,080 The rennet will seep out, ready for use in a few weeks'time. 474 00:30:59,047 --> 00:31:01,607 The hayfield is growing well. 475 00:31:01,647 --> 00:31:04,844 But preparations for the harvest have hit a snag. 476 00:31:04,887 --> 00:31:09,278 Clumper, the farm shire horse, has an ongoing problem with his hoof. 477 00:31:10,367 --> 00:31:14,838 Since most of the machinery is horse-drawn, this is a real cause for concern. 478 00:31:14,887 --> 00:31:16,286 No. 479 00:31:16,327 --> 00:31:20,081 Alex is seeking the advice of a modern vet and, as an extra measure, 480 00:31:20,127 --> 00:31:23,324 he's trying out a traditional home-made remedy. 481 00:31:24,847 --> 00:31:28,044 l'm going to make a balm here for Clumper's foot. 482 00:31:28,087 --> 00:31:29,884 lt's gonna be a comfrey balm. 483 00:31:29,927 --> 00:31:32,885 So this is comfrey root, root of the comfrey plant. 484 00:31:32,927 --> 00:31:35,885 Let's give it a really good breaking up. 485 00:31:37,687 --> 00:31:42,841 And the idea with comfrey is, it's got this substance called alantoin in it. 486 00:31:42,887 --> 00:31:46,675 And what this stuff apparently does, it helps in cell proliferation. 487 00:31:46,727 --> 00:31:50,117 So the sores on his foot, hopefully l'll get the balm on there 488 00:31:50,167 --> 00:31:54,046 and it will just help it heal over that much quicker. 489 00:31:54,087 --> 00:31:58,205 Alex must first heat the crushed root with some tallow fat. 490 00:31:58,967 --> 00:32:02,118 See how this is doing. lt's certainly very hot. 491 00:32:02,167 --> 00:32:05,637 Oh, look at that. Yep. That's done the trick, l think. 492 00:32:05,687 --> 00:32:07,439 Just let that strain through. 493 00:32:07,487 --> 00:32:09,239 That's the base oil, then. 494 00:32:09,287 --> 00:32:12,085 What l'm going to add now is the magic ingredient. 495 00:32:12,127 --> 00:32:15,881 This is some beeswax from the hive. 496 00:32:15,927 --> 00:32:18,236 So l'm just going to put this on the range. 497 00:32:18,287 --> 00:32:22,644 Really, the beeswax, what it does once it's been applied to the sore area, 498 00:32:22,687 --> 00:32:27,238 it'll stick, it'll hold the fat in, and the fat will be holding in the vital ingredients. 499 00:32:27,287 --> 00:32:30,199 Right, this looks like it's melted down. 500 00:32:30,247 --> 00:32:33,557 Quite a nice smell. Not that Clumper will appreciate that. 501 00:32:35,207 --> 00:32:36,356 That's well mixed in. 502 00:32:36,407 --> 00:32:38,637 So it will take one of these receptacles. 503 00:32:39,647 --> 00:32:40,636 OK. 504 00:32:40,687 --> 00:32:45,317 So it's simply a case of putting this on the cold stone in the pantry to cool and set. 505 00:32:45,367 --> 00:32:48,484 As soon as it's done that, l can get it on Clumper's foot. 506 00:33:02,287 --> 00:33:04,642 RUTH: lt's Alex's birthday today. 507 00:33:04,687 --> 00:33:06,757 So l'm going to make him a cake for tea. 508 00:33:07,887 --> 00:33:11,641 Birthdays were not celebrated in a big way in Victorian Britain. 509 00:33:13,647 --> 00:33:19,244 But, nonetheless, there are references to farmers having cakes for their birthday. 510 00:33:19,287 --> 00:33:21,084 So l'm making a pound cake. 511 00:33:21,967 --> 00:33:24,401 lt basically means a pound of every ingredient. 512 00:33:24,447 --> 00:33:27,086 l'll start with butter and then l've got some sugar. 513 00:33:28,327 --> 00:33:30,283 So it will be a pound of that. 514 00:33:30,327 --> 00:33:34,639 And there'll be a pound-weight of eggs and a pound of flour in the cake as well. 515 00:33:34,687 --> 00:33:36,723 A pound of raisins and currants 516 00:33:36,767 --> 00:33:39,839 and then just to flavour it, a little pinch of spice. 517 00:33:45,567 --> 00:33:49,480 ln the walled garden, Alex's birthday is proving busy. 518 00:33:50,647 --> 00:33:55,402 Mr Acton has asked the boys to make a protective shelter for his raspberry patch. 519 00:33:55,447 --> 00:34:00,396 They've built the wooden frame, but now they've got to cover it with netting. 520 00:34:02,407 --> 00:34:03,317 (Groans) 521 00:34:03,367 --> 00:34:05,278 (Laughter) 522 00:34:05,967 --> 00:34:10,199 You're to a certain extent trying to defy physics with that one, Peter. 523 00:34:12,527 --> 00:34:15,837 When you've finished goofing around, Peter, we can get on with some work. 524 00:34:16,767 --> 00:34:20,396 Wire netting became available after 1 844, 525 00:34:20,447 --> 00:34:24,520 when Charles Barnard, an ironmonger, invented a machine to manufacture it. 526 00:34:24,567 --> 00:34:26,558 Barnard was a farmer's son 527 00:34:26,607 --> 00:34:31,727 and knew there'd be huge demand for a product that kept predators off livestock and plants. 528 00:34:33,167 --> 00:34:36,204 Do you think leafy overhang like that at the front, yeah? 529 00:34:36,247 --> 00:34:38,283 - Yes. - Yeah. 530 00:34:38,327 --> 00:34:40,795 What about here? We won't be able to open the door. 531 00:34:40,847 --> 00:34:43,884 Ah. l was wondering if you'd be the first to spot that one. 532 00:34:43,927 --> 00:34:45,918 We could always open the door. 533 00:34:46,687 --> 00:34:49,997 - What, and then cut round it? - No, you're right. Let's go. 534 00:34:50,047 --> 00:34:52,038 Good suggestion, though, Peter. 535 00:34:58,967 --> 00:35:00,958 Hiya! How you getting on? 536 00:35:01,007 --> 00:35:03,237 ALEX: Oh, not too bad. How are you? All right? 537 00:35:03,287 --> 00:35:04,083 Yeah. 538 00:35:05,207 --> 00:35:08,643 - Oh, dear, this is taking a while, isn't it? ALEX: Yep, not an easy job. 539 00:35:08,687 --> 00:35:09,915 RUTH: Time to stop. 540 00:35:09,967 --> 00:35:11,559 Seeing as it's your birthday, 541 00:35:11,607 --> 00:35:13,598 - l baked you a cake. - Lovely. 542 00:35:13,647 --> 00:35:15,638 PETER: Who's a lucky boy? 543 00:35:15,687 --> 00:35:17,917 - Looking good for 45. - (Laughter) 544 00:35:36,247 --> 00:35:39,444 We can't sing you Happy Birthday and we can't even say happy birthday. 545 00:35:39,487 --> 00:35:43,116 lt's an American idea, it doesn't come into Britain until a lot later. 546 00:35:43,167 --> 00:35:47,524 The melody for Happy Birthday comes from a song called Good Morning To You, 547 00:35:47,567 --> 00:35:49,558 written in America in the 1 890s. 548 00:35:51,167 --> 00:35:55,638 The famous lyric itself didn't appear in print until 1 924. 549 00:35:57,127 --> 00:35:58,560 We have got you something. 550 00:36:00,487 --> 00:36:02,557 - l wrapped it. - What could it be? 551 00:36:02,607 --> 00:36:04,484 The bow's just for show. 552 00:36:04,527 --> 00:36:05,516 Good. 553 00:36:06,967 --> 00:36:10,039 - Do you know what it is yet? - ''The Apiary... 554 00:36:10,087 --> 00:36:13,636 Or Bees, Bee Hives And Bee-Culture.'' 555 00:36:15,047 --> 00:36:17,880 - Thank you very much. RUTH: So there'll be no excuses now. 556 00:36:17,927 --> 00:36:20,805 We're expecting honey and wax in huge quantities. 557 00:36:20,847 --> 00:36:22,644 (Ruth chuckles) 558 00:36:22,687 --> 00:36:25,884 Now you're a year older, do you think you're a year wiser? 559 00:36:27,487 --> 00:36:31,719 Certainly when it comes to bee-keeping, l think l'm gonna be. 560 00:36:31,767 --> 00:36:36,079 So if we can't say happy birthday to you, l don't know... Many happy returns? 561 00:36:36,127 --> 00:36:36,957 Yep. 562 00:36:37,007 --> 00:36:40,443 RUTH: Here's to another year. - Congratulations for surviving this long. 563 00:36:40,487 --> 00:36:41,476 (Laughter) 564 00:36:41,527 --> 00:36:45,202 Thank you ever so much for my book and the cake. lt was lovely. 565 00:36:55,927 --> 00:36:57,838 lt's mid-June. 566 00:36:57,887 --> 00:37:01,562 Princess's piglets are now fully weaned. 567 00:37:01,607 --> 00:37:03,677 Hello, my sweeties. 568 00:37:03,727 --> 00:37:06,446 Forget-Me-Not is still yielding plenty of milk. 569 00:37:06,487 --> 00:37:08,079 Come on, you greedy. 570 00:37:08,127 --> 00:37:10,561 Come on. Ooh, come on. 571 00:37:10,607 --> 00:37:11,801 (Lows) 572 00:37:11,847 --> 00:37:13,519 That's it. 573 00:37:13,567 --> 00:37:17,685 And everyone's hoping the balm will make a difference to Clumper's hoof. 574 00:37:17,727 --> 00:37:19,558 Stand! 575 00:37:19,607 --> 00:37:21,438 Come on. Stand still, boy. 576 00:37:22,287 --> 00:37:24,721 All eyes are now turning to the hayfield. 577 00:37:25,487 --> 00:37:27,079 And the weather. 578 00:37:27,127 --> 00:37:30,563 For several days, the crop has been hammered by rain. 579 00:37:30,607 --> 00:37:34,600 At the first break in the clouds, the boys have a chance to inspect it. 580 00:37:34,647 --> 00:37:39,004 - lf you feel right down in here, that's... - That's damp. 581 00:37:39,047 --> 00:37:40,958 - lt's damp. - The earth is damp. 582 00:37:41,007 --> 00:37:43,840 The hay can't be harvested in wet conditions. 583 00:37:43,887 --> 00:37:45,878 But the boys mustn't delay for long. 584 00:37:46,807 --> 00:37:51,676 With every passing day, the crop's nutritional value is going down. 585 00:37:51,727 --> 00:37:55,037 So unless the weather improves, and the harvest can start, 586 00:37:55,087 --> 00:37:57,555 the crop will have little use as animal feed. 587 00:37:58,247 --> 00:38:01,523 - This is awful. Truly awful. - lt really is. 588 00:38:01,567 --> 00:38:05,879 Let's just hope we get a nice dry spell within the next couple of weeks. 589 00:38:07,047 --> 00:38:09,686 Right. Do you want to start getting some milk in? 590 00:38:09,727 --> 00:38:10,876 Yeah. Sure. 591 00:38:12,047 --> 00:38:15,403 ln the dairy, Ruth's also got a big task ahead of her. 592 00:38:17,407 --> 00:38:20,160 She's asked her daughter Catherine to come and help out. 593 00:38:22,167 --> 00:38:24,840 We're about to make our first cheese of the year. 594 00:38:24,887 --> 00:38:29,517 And this is our vat - which is just a great big box, that we're filling up with all the milk. 595 00:38:29,567 --> 00:38:32,001 We've got to raise it right up to... 596 00:38:32,047 --> 00:38:34,242 - Was it 85 degrees? - Yes, 85 degrees. 597 00:38:34,287 --> 00:38:37,484 85 degrees, which is... Fahrenheit, that is. Fahrenheit. 598 00:38:39,127 --> 00:38:42,517 This is our method of warming the milk. 599 00:38:42,567 --> 00:38:47,038 This is the old and traditional method of bringing the milk up to a temperature, 600 00:38:47,087 --> 00:38:51,717 so that when we add the rennet, the magic will happen. 601 00:38:51,767 --> 00:38:56,238 lf the milk is too cold, no matter how much rennet we add, no reaction will occur. 602 00:38:56,287 --> 00:38:57,925 We'll just have milk. 603 00:38:57,967 --> 00:39:02,995 lf we can get the milk to the right temperature, when we pop the rennet in, 604 00:39:03,047 --> 00:39:06,926 the milk will then separate into the solids, which are the curds - 605 00:39:06,967 --> 00:39:08,639 which is what you make cheese out of- 606 00:39:08,687 --> 00:39:11,360 and the liquids called whey, which you feed to the pigs. 607 00:39:11,407 --> 00:39:14,046 Every time the water cools in these jugs, 608 00:39:14,087 --> 00:39:18,558 we take the jugs out, fill them full of boiling water and pop them back in again. 609 00:39:18,607 --> 00:39:19,562 (Sizzling) 610 00:39:19,607 --> 00:39:22,883 Once the temperature reaches 85 degress, the rennet is added 611 00:39:22,927 --> 00:39:25,316 and the split into curds and whey begins. 612 00:39:26,567 --> 00:39:30,958 Right, so now we need to cut the curd into little cubes. 613 00:39:31,007 --> 00:39:35,797 That starts to help the whey be released from the curds. 614 00:39:35,847 --> 00:39:38,315 ln the old times we would have done that with our hands. 615 00:39:38,367 --> 00:39:44,761 You literally put your fingers apart and gradually, very slowly, drew your fingers through. 616 00:39:44,807 --> 00:39:50,120 But by Victorian times, you could purchase marvellous, gorgeous curd knives. 617 00:39:50,167 --> 00:39:51,566 Do you want that one? 618 00:39:51,607 --> 00:39:57,204 You draw it across the vat. The curd has to be treated very gently at this stage. 619 00:39:57,247 --> 00:39:59,158 That's it. 620 00:39:59,207 --> 00:40:00,481 Really smells horrible. 621 00:40:00,527 --> 00:40:01,596 (Ruth giggles) 622 00:40:01,647 --> 00:40:02,966 l'm sorry, it's horrible. 623 00:40:03,767 --> 00:40:06,486 lt smells like baby sick. lt's really nasty. 624 00:40:06,527 --> 00:40:09,803 - Well, it is, isn't it? lt's cow baby sick. - Eurrgh! 625 00:40:09,847 --> 00:40:11,724 - lt is. lt's milk. - Look, it's all cubey. 626 00:40:11,767 --> 00:40:14,122 lt's milk and the juices from a calfs stomach. 627 00:40:14,167 --> 00:40:15,725 l mean, that's what... 628 00:40:15,767 --> 00:40:18,964 - lf a baby calf was sick, this would be it. - lt's still horrible. 629 00:40:20,247 --> 00:40:22,044 Ruth is making Cheddar cheese. 630 00:40:22,087 --> 00:40:25,284 And it's now that the process of Cheddaring takes place. 631 00:40:25,327 --> 00:40:29,240 The liquid whey is drained off, heated and returned to the vat. 632 00:40:29,287 --> 00:40:32,597 lt then heats up the curd which sets into a firm mass. 633 00:40:32,647 --> 00:40:35,400 They should stay solid. Yes, see? 634 00:40:35,447 --> 00:40:38,325 The curd is then piled up in blocks. 635 00:40:38,367 --> 00:40:42,246 By turning it we're starting a very gentle press, 636 00:40:42,287 --> 00:40:45,677 just using the weight of the curd itself to press whey out. 637 00:40:45,727 --> 00:40:50,847 lf we didn't do this Cheddaring process, we'd have a cheese that would only last a short while. 638 00:40:50,887 --> 00:40:52,639 You'd have to eat it within the month. 639 00:40:52,687 --> 00:40:56,441 But by doing this process, we'll have a cheese that can last six, eight, nine months 640 00:40:56,487 --> 00:40:58,125 and still be nice. 641 00:41:02,207 --> 00:41:04,198 (Buzzing) 642 00:41:04,967 --> 00:41:07,561 - Thanks for coming down again, Brian. - That's fine. 643 00:41:07,607 --> 00:41:11,805 Alex has asked beekeeper Brian Goodwin to help with one final task. 644 00:41:11,847 --> 00:41:14,441 lt wasn't a job l felt l could do myself, to be honest. 645 00:41:14,487 --> 00:41:15,681 (Brian chuckles) 646 00:41:15,727 --> 00:41:16,876 (Buzzing) 647 00:41:19,647 --> 00:41:21,638 - That's freshly-made wax. - lt is. 648 00:41:21,687 --> 00:41:26,203 And if l scrape off that bit of wax with the hive tool, 649 00:41:26,247 --> 00:41:28,442 you can see that there is honey underneath it. 650 00:41:28,487 --> 00:41:31,684 - That's what we've come for. - That's what we've come for. 651 00:41:31,727 --> 00:41:35,481 The first step in extracting the honey is to get the bees off the comb. 652 00:41:36,407 --> 00:41:39,126 You can see that this comb's got rather a lot of bees on it. 653 00:41:39,167 --> 00:41:42,637 They're very quiet at the moment and when l shake them off into the box, 654 00:41:42,687 --> 00:41:45,406 you'll find that they become rather more agitated. 655 00:41:45,447 --> 00:41:47,756 This is the time that you've got to beware of them. 656 00:41:47,807 --> 00:41:49,798 So, they don't like me doing this. 657 00:41:58,167 --> 00:41:59,600 - So back to the cottage. - Yes. 658 00:41:59,647 --> 00:42:02,207 We've got two different types of extractor. 659 00:42:02,247 --> 00:42:04,841 So it will be interesting to see how they work. 660 00:42:10,967 --> 00:42:12,639 Right. 661 00:42:14,047 --> 00:42:18,916 First, the beeswax must be removed from the comb in a process called uncapping. 662 00:42:18,967 --> 00:42:24,041 And it's a slicing action that gets it off fairly easily across the comb. 663 00:42:24,527 --> 00:42:27,325 And these are traditional honey knives, are they? 664 00:42:27,367 --> 00:42:33,317 They are. These are what are called Bingham honey knives, made in the 1 880s, 1 890s. 665 00:42:34,527 --> 00:42:36,916 Then it's time to bring out the extractor. 666 00:42:38,087 --> 00:42:42,160 You put the frame inside the extractor, resting against the wire grid, 667 00:42:42,207 --> 00:42:45,085 which supports it when it's revolving at high speed. 668 00:42:46,207 --> 00:42:47,526 Right. There we go. 669 00:42:47,567 --> 00:42:49,683 The faster you turn it, the faster the honey 670 00:42:49,727 --> 00:42:53,606 will be flung out by centrifugal force against the metal container. 671 00:42:53,647 --> 00:42:58,243 But the higher the risk then of it skidding off. Right, there we go. l think l've got it. 672 00:42:58,287 --> 00:42:59,436 (Squeaking) 673 00:42:59,487 --> 00:43:02,479 The idea of using centrifugal force to extract honey 674 00:43:02,527 --> 00:43:07,806 was hit upon in 1 865 by ltalian army major Francesco De Hruschka. 675 00:43:07,847 --> 00:43:12,841 lt requires quite a high level of concentration, this. 676 00:43:12,887 --> 00:43:15,924 Legend has it Hruschka came up with the idea 677 00:43:15,967 --> 00:43:19,164 after seeing his son playing with a basket of honeycomb. 678 00:43:19,207 --> 00:43:24,679 The boy whirled the basket in the air and his father noticed a few drops of honey come out. 679 00:43:24,727 --> 00:43:27,799 - Have a look in there. - l'll take the comb out. 680 00:43:27,847 --> 00:43:30,998 And you can see where the honey has been flung out of the comb, 681 00:43:31,047 --> 00:43:34,278 up against the wall of the main body of the extractor. 682 00:43:34,327 --> 00:43:37,080 But you can see that this extractor isn't very efficient. 683 00:43:37,127 --> 00:43:41,245 Once the principle of using centrifugal force was established, 684 00:43:41,287 --> 00:43:44,597 it wasn't long before improved extractors hit the market. 685 00:43:44,647 --> 00:43:49,516 This was a major advance, because you can extract four combs at once in this extractor. 686 00:43:49,567 --> 00:43:51,558 Right. 687 00:43:51,727 --> 00:43:54,799 The secret is to place the extractor firmly within your knees 688 00:43:54,847 --> 00:43:56,280 because it could be unbalanced. 689 00:43:56,327 --> 00:43:58,795 - And you need to grip it fairly tightly... - Right. 690 00:43:58,847 --> 00:44:00,326 ..as you extract it. 691 00:44:00,367 --> 00:44:02,358 You turn the honey quite fast 692 00:44:02,407 --> 00:44:06,286 and you can see immediately, if you look down in the gap, 693 00:44:06,327 --> 00:44:09,399 - you can see the honey coming out. - Wow! Look at that. 694 00:44:12,367 --> 00:44:13,516 lt's amazing. 695 00:44:13,567 --> 00:44:16,798 When l was a lad, l used to sit in the kitchen alongside my father. 696 00:44:16,847 --> 00:44:19,122 - Did you? - He would be uncapping the combs 697 00:44:19,167 --> 00:44:21,635 and l would be turning the handle furiously. 698 00:44:21,687 --> 00:44:23,678 And that was my job. 699 00:44:27,607 --> 00:44:29,962 - Right. Here we go. The moment of truth. - Here we go. 700 00:44:30,007 --> 00:44:32,646 - Wow. - You would get that golden liquid coming out. 701 00:44:32,687 --> 00:44:35,724 Look at that. This is a dream come true, Brian, this is for me. 702 00:44:35,767 --> 00:44:37,439 - ls it? - Yes, to see this. 703 00:44:37,487 --> 00:44:42,038 And we tip it back now, ready to close the gate valve. That's it. 704 00:44:42,087 --> 00:44:44,396 That's absolutely amazing. Look at that. 705 00:44:48,087 --> 00:44:50,476 OK. l'll have to do it one block at a time. 706 00:44:51,967 --> 00:44:56,006 Victorian technology is also coming in handy in the dairy. 707 00:44:57,047 --> 00:45:00,881 This curd mill was made in the factory of local inventor Thomas Corbett, 708 00:45:00,927 --> 00:45:03,680 whose products were sold all over the world. 709 00:45:05,287 --> 00:45:07,323 So having got it into these solid blocks, 710 00:45:07,367 --> 00:45:11,838 l think it's rather ironic that we then have to grind it down into a crumblyness. 711 00:45:11,887 --> 00:45:13,718 Yes, it's a bit weird. 712 00:45:13,767 --> 00:45:15,678 The blocks help to develop flavours, 713 00:45:15,727 --> 00:45:17,718 develop texture. 714 00:45:17,767 --> 00:45:21,726 You can't mix in the salt or pack it evenly into a press 715 00:45:21,767 --> 00:45:24,156 if it's in great big thunking lumps 716 00:45:26,087 --> 00:45:30,683 Being a dairy implement, this is women's work. Doesn't make it any easier, does it? 717 00:45:30,727 --> 00:45:32,080 No. 718 00:45:33,047 --> 00:45:36,596 After mixing salt into the curd and packing it in a mould, 719 00:45:36,647 --> 00:45:38,956 it's time for the final piece of equipment - 720 00:45:39,007 --> 00:45:40,565 the cheese press. 721 00:45:40,607 --> 00:45:41,881 Flipping heck. 722 00:45:42,687 --> 00:45:47,477 This is very much a standard, basic, farmyard cheese press. 723 00:45:47,527 --> 00:45:49,404 And you see hundreds and hundreds of them. 724 00:45:49,447 --> 00:45:52,359 They were made in vast numbers and they survive in vast numbers 725 00:45:52,407 --> 00:45:56,082 because they're really sturdy and they do the job beautifully. 726 00:45:56,127 --> 00:45:58,880 The pressure gauge is really rather useful. 727 00:45:58,927 --> 00:46:01,441 Just want it so that the whey will run. 728 00:46:02,727 --> 00:46:05,400 - There it is. Starting to see the first run. - Yeah. 729 00:46:05,447 --> 00:46:08,280 - ls that running? - Just. 730 00:46:10,567 --> 00:46:13,718 Over the next three days, the pressure will be gradually increased, 731 00:46:13,767 --> 00:46:15,962 until most of the whey has come out. 732 00:46:21,687 --> 00:46:25,362 lt's still raining and the hay still can't be cut. 733 00:46:25,407 --> 00:46:29,685 With every day that goes by, the crop is losing nutritional value. 734 00:46:32,487 --> 00:46:37,083 To cheer themselves up, the team are having their first taste of the farm's honey. 735 00:46:42,767 --> 00:46:44,758 That is absolutely stunning. 736 00:46:45,447 --> 00:46:47,915 - lt's so good. - lt's so alive, isn't it? 737 00:46:47,967 --> 00:46:53,280 Brian said there is no better-tasting honey than the honey you get from your first extraction. 738 00:46:53,327 --> 00:46:55,283 And l think l have to agree with him. 739 00:46:55,327 --> 00:46:56,237 (Laughter) 740 00:46:59,167 --> 00:47:03,046 While they wait for the rain to stop, Peter's making some provisions. 741 00:47:03,087 --> 00:47:06,397 l'm going to make some ginger beer for the hay harvest. 742 00:47:10,847 --> 00:47:14,283 This is The Family Save-All, Ruth's book, that she's given to me, 743 00:47:14,327 --> 00:47:16,045 with the best ginger beer recipe in it. 744 00:47:16,087 --> 00:47:19,523 lt's white sugar, lemon, lemon juice, honey, 745 00:47:19,567 --> 00:47:21,364 ginger, which we've got, 746 00:47:21,407 --> 00:47:22,203 water. 747 00:47:22,247 --> 00:47:24,363 And then it's just, basically, boil it up, 748 00:47:24,407 --> 00:47:28,719 mix in all the rest of the stuff, and then add some yeast, and leave it. 749 00:47:28,767 --> 00:47:32,999 lt's a pretty simple recipe, which is lucky, cos l've never done this before. 750 00:47:35,887 --> 00:47:37,878 lt's flown everywhere. 751 00:47:45,367 --> 00:47:47,642 And that, l would say, is bruised ginger. 752 00:47:48,327 --> 00:47:50,318 This is honey that Alex has given me. 753 00:47:50,367 --> 00:47:52,517 So hopefully it will give it a nice flavour. 754 00:47:55,487 --> 00:47:58,160 l've never been one for exact guidelines. 755 00:48:01,207 --> 00:48:02,196 (Laughs) 756 00:48:06,727 --> 00:48:08,524 This is a very, very sharp grater. 757 00:48:09,007 --> 00:48:12,477 Careful my fingers don't go the same way as The Family Save-All. 758 00:48:15,207 --> 00:48:16,606 Yeast - 759 00:48:16,647 --> 00:48:18,638 which l've got here, it's a brewer's yeast. 760 00:48:18,687 --> 00:48:22,441 l'm going to leave these for a couple of days, just to ferment. 761 00:48:22,487 --> 00:48:25,081 Let the yeast act and it will all start frothing up. 762 00:48:26,687 --> 00:48:29,201 So...fingers crossed it will work. 763 00:48:32,527 --> 00:48:36,202 The ginger beer will be ready to drink in about ten days'time. 764 00:48:36,847 --> 00:48:39,520 But the cloudsjust won't clear. 765 00:48:39,567 --> 00:48:42,957 We've got a nice bit of sun here, and we've got some wind as well, 766 00:48:43,007 --> 00:48:45,077 so you'd think it was good haymaking weather, 767 00:48:45,127 --> 00:48:47,402 but l'm just looking at the cloud formations 768 00:48:47,447 --> 00:48:50,883 and it's just starting to break up into what we call a mackerel sky. 769 00:48:50,927 --> 00:48:53,919 And the old rhyme goes, ''Mackerel sky, mackerel sky, 770 00:48:53,967 --> 00:48:56,435 Never long wet, never long dry''. 771 00:48:56,487 --> 00:48:58,762 And that's not good haymaking weather, 772 00:48:58,807 --> 00:49:02,322 so we're going to have to leave it for another couple of weeks. 773 00:49:10,287 --> 00:49:12,278 (Rustling and giggling) 774 00:49:13,767 --> 00:49:15,758 (Giggling continues) 775 00:49:18,847 --> 00:49:20,439 lt's Midsummer's Eve - 776 00:49:20,487 --> 00:49:24,878 a night that in Victorian rural folklore held powerful meaning. 777 00:49:25,767 --> 00:49:28,440 Of an evening like this, in the 1 880s, 778 00:49:28,487 --> 00:49:31,240 young women working on farms 779 00:49:31,287 --> 00:49:35,280 often liked to use a whole range of folklore practices 780 00:49:35,327 --> 00:49:37,318 to work out who they were going to marry. 781 00:49:37,367 --> 00:49:39,927 Who were the young men who would strike lucky? 782 00:49:42,807 --> 00:49:46,641 Many of these rituals took place in churchyards at night. 783 00:49:46,687 --> 00:49:50,043 Ruth's daughter Catherine has decided to try one out. 784 00:49:50,087 --> 00:49:54,524 Ow. There are so many thorns. lt really hurts. 785 00:49:56,407 --> 00:49:57,635 You all right there? 786 00:49:57,687 --> 00:50:01,043 - Can you see? - Yeah. OK. There we go. 787 00:50:01,087 --> 00:50:04,636 - She's got to scatter hemp seed. - Can you remember what l'm supposed to say? 788 00:50:04,687 --> 00:50:08,965 BOTH: Hemp seed l sow, hemp seed should grow. 789 00:50:09,007 --> 00:50:10,406 Erm... 790 00:50:10,447 --> 00:50:13,166 RUTH: He who will marry me, come after and mow. 791 00:50:13,207 --> 00:50:14,526 - There we go. - Right. 792 00:50:14,567 --> 00:50:17,400 - l can't remember that. Ready? - Ready. Go on, then. 793 00:50:17,447 --> 00:50:18,926 Erm... 794 00:50:18,967 --> 00:50:22,721 Hemp seed l sow, hemp seed will grow. 795 00:50:23,807 --> 00:50:26,605 He who will marry me... 796 00:50:27,967 --> 00:50:29,958 ..come after and mow. 797 00:50:30,007 --> 00:50:31,645 (Ruth giggles) - There we go. 798 00:50:31,687 --> 00:50:33,678 (Bell tolls) 799 00:50:36,967 --> 00:50:40,277 - What's supposed to happen now? - He's supposed to appear. 800 00:50:40,327 --> 00:50:42,079 Like a ghost. 801 00:50:42,127 --> 00:50:44,880 - You see any ghosts? - l don't think it's worked. 802 00:50:46,287 --> 00:50:49,324 - Which young man had you in mind? - No-one. 803 00:50:49,367 --> 00:50:50,959 (Both laugh) 804 00:50:51,007 --> 00:50:52,645 - Really? - Really. No-one at all. 805 00:50:52,687 --> 00:50:55,201 - No-one at all. - No little prospective...? 806 00:50:55,247 --> 00:50:58,045 No, not at all. Not in the slightest. 807 00:50:58,087 --> 00:51:01,602 You might dream him, you know. Might come as an apparition in your dreams. 808 00:51:01,647 --> 00:51:03,797 That's even more creepy, OK? 809 00:51:03,847 --> 00:51:07,203 l just have to say, that is hugely creepy. 810 00:51:09,567 --> 00:51:12,445 Back at the farm, the cheese has been pressed. 811 00:51:13,287 --> 00:51:15,676 While the unsettled weather continues, 812 00:51:15,727 --> 00:51:20,801 the team are taking a trip to explore one final piece of Victorian dairy technology. 813 00:51:21,287 --> 00:51:23,278 (Train whistle) 814 00:51:24,127 --> 00:51:26,118 Doesn't that look magnificent? 815 00:51:27,567 --> 00:51:30,639 - That is the future, Ruth. - lt is the future. 816 00:51:30,687 --> 00:51:32,837 lt is the future. 817 00:51:33,607 --> 00:51:38,635 From the 1 840s onwards, the railways opened up a crucial new market for dairy farmers. 818 00:51:38,687 --> 00:51:45,240 For the first time ever, fresh milk could be sent in bulk from the countryside to the town. 819 00:51:45,287 --> 00:51:46,879 Beautiful. 820 00:51:46,927 --> 00:51:49,566 - Oh, and the carriages too. - Look at that. 821 00:51:51,007 --> 00:51:53,396 - Right, and this is where our milk goes. - Right, OK. 822 00:51:53,447 --> 00:51:58,441 To get a flavour of this breakthrough, the team's come to the Talyllyn Railway in Wales, 823 00:51:58,487 --> 00:52:02,924 one of the few railways still preserved as it was in the 1 9th century. 824 00:52:02,967 --> 00:52:04,958 - OK. - Shall we have a ride? 825 00:52:05,007 --> 00:52:07,999 - Yeah, let's get on for a ride. (Ruth chuckles) 826 00:52:08,047 --> 00:52:11,642 - Ah, l'm so looking forward to this. - l'll see you at the next station. 827 00:52:11,687 --> 00:52:13,643 - Green flag. - Righto, we'll go. 828 00:52:13,687 --> 00:52:14,676 (Whistle) 829 00:52:14,727 --> 00:52:19,801 Alex is travelling with one of Talyllyn's most dedicated drivers, Phil Higginson. 830 00:52:26,207 --> 00:52:28,198 ALEX: This is the way to travel. 831 00:52:28,247 --> 00:52:30,920 lt's got all its original locomotives and rolling stock. 832 00:52:30,967 --> 00:52:33,117 - Right. - We're on an original train. 833 00:52:33,167 --> 00:52:36,204 - We're on a time capsule from the 1 860s. - Completely. 834 00:52:36,247 --> 00:52:37,680 Think about it. 835 00:52:37,727 --> 00:52:42,243 These engines have gone back and forth on this bit of line since 1 865. 836 00:52:43,527 --> 00:52:47,964 lmagine it back in the 1 860s when this was the cutting edge of engineering. 837 00:52:48,687 --> 00:52:52,760 This was hi-tech. This was like having the internet arriving, broadband at your house. 838 00:52:54,527 --> 00:52:56,518 (Train whistle) 839 00:52:56,887 --> 00:52:59,447 This is the most fantastic train, isn't it? 840 00:52:59,487 --> 00:53:01,443 lt is indeed, yes. 841 00:53:01,487 --> 00:53:05,526 lf you think about the development in the railways within Queen Victoria's lifetime - 842 00:53:05,567 --> 00:53:10,004 in 1 830 the speed world record for a steam train was 30mph. 843 00:53:10,047 --> 00:53:13,039 - Yeah. - ln 1 895, it's 90mph. 844 00:53:15,207 --> 00:53:18,563 And there's so much more network than there is nowadays in modern Britain. 845 00:53:18,607 --> 00:53:22,646 lt's something like four times as many stations in 1 880, 846 00:53:22,687 --> 00:53:25,759 as there are in the 21 st century. 847 00:53:25,807 --> 00:53:29,356 These things, they absolutely revolutionised dairy farming. 848 00:53:29,407 --> 00:53:32,843 The whole production of raw milk going into cities and towns, 849 00:53:32,887 --> 00:53:35,720 where before it would have gone off before you got there. 850 00:53:35,767 --> 00:53:38,122 Now you can get your churns to a station. 851 00:53:38,167 --> 00:53:40,806 - Yeah. And it's away. - Away. Off you go. Quickly. 852 00:53:40,847 --> 00:53:42,405 lt arrives in a brilliant state. 853 00:53:42,447 --> 00:53:46,440 - Sellable, straight off. - The rocking might turn it into butter. 854 00:53:46,487 --> 00:53:48,637 (Train whistle) 855 00:53:48,687 --> 00:53:51,121 (Hissing of steam) 856 00:53:53,207 --> 00:53:55,323 That was great, wasn't it? 857 00:53:55,367 --> 00:53:58,086 That was absolutely fantastic. 858 00:53:58,127 --> 00:54:00,880 - There he is. - Cheers, guys. 859 00:54:00,927 --> 00:54:03,885 - Thank you very much. - Thank you so much. 860 00:54:07,327 --> 00:54:09,318 (Train whistle) 861 00:54:12,247 --> 00:54:14,886 Back on the farm, the weather is worse than ever 862 00:54:14,927 --> 00:54:16,918 and the hay is now in real jeopardy. 863 00:54:19,167 --> 00:54:21,965 Fresh grass is growing up underneath the hay crop, 864 00:54:22,007 --> 00:54:26,285 making a thick layer that would be difficult for Victorian machines to cut. 865 00:54:28,207 --> 00:54:32,962 ln a brief gap in the rain, the boys have decided it's now or never for the hay harvest. 866 00:54:33,007 --> 00:54:37,603 They've called in expert local horseman Brian Davis to help. 867 00:54:38,327 --> 00:54:40,761 Gee up! Gee up! 868 00:54:40,807 --> 00:54:42,798 Gee up! 869 00:54:44,407 --> 00:54:46,796 - Just not cutting, is it? - No, it's not. 870 00:54:46,847 --> 00:54:48,166 lt's just so thick, isn't it? 871 00:54:48,207 --> 00:54:50,357 Try it again, Brian? 872 00:54:51,287 --> 00:54:53,278 Gee up! Come on. 873 00:54:53,327 --> 00:54:55,318 Gee up. 874 00:54:55,367 --> 00:54:58,882 l'm really feeling for Alex at the moment. He was so up for this. 875 00:54:58,927 --> 00:55:02,397 He's put so much effort into it, and it's just not working. 876 00:55:03,247 --> 00:55:06,603 lt's so thick and so wet as well. 877 00:55:06,647 --> 00:55:09,639 lt's soapy. lt's what's called soapy. 878 00:55:09,687 --> 00:55:12,406 - Look at that. - Peter's wringing it out. Look at that. 879 00:55:13,087 --> 00:55:14,315 Wringing it out. 880 00:55:15,287 --> 00:55:18,484 To become hay, the grass must be able to dry in the field. 881 00:55:18,527 --> 00:55:22,918 But this grass is so wet, it's more likely to rot away instead. 882 00:55:22,967 --> 00:55:25,765 - lt's like a carpet, isn't it? - Shagpile. 883 00:55:25,807 --> 00:55:29,641 For a Victorian farmer, this would have been disastrous. 884 00:55:29,687 --> 00:55:33,316 A failed hay crop would leave him with nothing to feed his animals over winter. 885 00:55:34,487 --> 00:55:36,478 So the boys aren't quitting. 886 00:55:36,527 --> 00:55:38,916 Give it a few more tries maybe, Brian. 887 00:55:38,967 --> 00:55:40,958 Back. Back! 888 00:55:41,007 --> 00:55:42,998 Back! Back! 889 00:55:48,127 --> 00:55:51,199 But eventually they come to a painful decision. 890 00:55:51,247 --> 00:55:53,238 l'm afraid we've had to give up. 891 00:55:55,047 --> 00:55:57,766 lt's just too thick, this crop. lt's too wet. 892 00:55:58,727 --> 00:56:00,524 And we've had to admit defeat. 893 00:56:05,687 --> 00:56:10,886 ln this situation, the Victorian farmer would have had to buy in his hay for the coming months. 894 00:56:12,807 --> 00:56:16,083 That would mean raising money from elsewhere on the farm. 895 00:56:17,287 --> 00:56:20,962 So everything now rests on the success of the team's wheat field. 896 00:56:21,007 --> 00:56:26,081 They need a bumper and profitable crop when they harvest it in a few weeks'time. 897 00:56:27,647 --> 00:56:33,279 - Bloody rain. Rain, rain, rain, rain. - Let's hope it doesn't affect the wheat, eh? 898 00:56:34,167 --> 00:56:36,965 Yeah, there's more clouds on the horizon, isn't there? 899 00:56:37,007 --> 00:56:40,795 Every cloud has a silver lining. Just got to work out what it is. 900 00:56:40,847 --> 00:56:42,519 (Laughter) 901 00:56:42,567 --> 00:56:45,559 Hopefully it will be your ginger beer, my good friend. 902 00:56:47,487 --> 00:56:49,478 - Hi, Ruth. - Hello. 903 00:56:49,527 --> 00:56:52,405 - Oh, gosh. You're back quick. - We are. 904 00:56:52,447 --> 00:56:55,564 - Sadly, it's not to be. - lt's not to be, unfortunately. 905 00:56:55,607 --> 00:56:58,280 Not today. And probably not ever. 906 00:56:58,327 --> 00:57:00,761 - Really? - Not this year, anyway, for us. 907 00:57:02,087 --> 00:57:04,476 - lt's just too wet. - lt was too thick. 908 00:57:04,527 --> 00:57:05,596 Too thick. 909 00:57:05,647 --> 00:57:07,717 - Oh, what a shame. - lt is a shame. 910 00:57:07,767 --> 00:57:10,201 l was really looking forward to doing it. 911 00:57:10,247 --> 00:57:12,920 - We've got that ginger beer of yours. - Shall we give it a go? 912 00:57:15,647 --> 00:57:17,285 lt looks the part, it really does. 913 00:57:18,887 --> 00:57:20,878 Well, here's to a better wheat harvest. 914 00:57:20,927 --> 00:57:23,236 - Yes. - Here's to a better wheat harvest. 915 00:57:26,407 --> 00:57:28,284 Mm. That's gorgeous. 916 00:57:28,327 --> 00:57:30,557 - lt's not bad, is it? - That is delicious. 917 00:57:30,607 --> 00:57:32,404 (Ruth laughs) - lt really is. 918 00:57:32,447 --> 00:57:35,598 - l don't like ginger beer, but that is good. - Really nice. 919 00:57:35,647 --> 00:57:39,526 - Something's gone right. - Thank goodness. Thank goodness. 920 00:57:39,567 --> 00:57:41,842 What are we gonna do if the wheat doesn't work? 921 00:57:41,887 --> 00:57:44,640 - lt will, it will. - lt will work, we'll make it work. 922 00:57:44,687 --> 00:57:46,678 We've got to. 923 00:57:48,007 --> 00:57:49,406 We've got to. 924 00:57:49,447 --> 00:57:52,086 Next time on Victorian Farm.. 925 00:57:52,127 --> 00:57:54,687 the year-long project nears its end. 926 00:57:54,727 --> 00:57:57,844 But first the team face their toughest challenge - 927 00:57:57,887 --> 00:57:59,878 the wheat harvest. 928 00:57:59,927 --> 00:58:02,316 (Ruth whoops and laughs) 929 00:58:02,367 --> 00:58:04,562 There are urgent repairs to be made. 930 00:58:04,607 --> 00:58:05,756 Water. 931 00:58:05,807 --> 00:58:07,479 Yes, right. 932 00:58:07,527 --> 00:58:08,960 Cutting-edge technology - 933 00:58:09,007 --> 00:58:10,998 Victorian-style. 934 00:58:12,647 --> 00:58:14,683 - Yes or no? - No. 935 00:58:15,407 --> 00:58:18,240 And crucially, they need dry weather. 936 00:58:18,287 --> 00:58:22,166 Otherwise, a year's work will have been in vain.