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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: LizzieL on Thursday 07 May 15 19:05 BST (UK)
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Anyone watching this?
I was a bit dubious at first - watching "celebs" do strange things isn't my cup of tea. But having seen Ruth Goodman in several "living the past" programmes, I watched it because of her involvement.
It seems to be shaping up to be quite an interesting series.
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I've been watching and so far I'm enjoying it. Kind of makes me want to have a go.
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Yes I've been watching. They make it all seem very real, so dirty though, and hard work too.
rayard.
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I've been watching too! It shows what some of ancestors might have had to do! :)
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Yes I am really enjoying it. :)
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Found an episode on YouTube, thanks Lizzie for the heads up :) Very interesting & very well produced! Can't help thinking how courageous those celebreties were :)
Jane
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I found myself sitting there when they were going through all the dog-dirt and bones, etc., and wondering however they'd got through health and safety or risk assessment on it! That sent me off into a fantasy about specially cleaned dog-poo being planted in fake horse manure, with plastic bones carefully "distressed" by platoons of prop-makers......
Actually, it is interesting. I'm afraid I watched it rather despite Ruth Goodall, but fortunately her presence wasn't intrusive. Ann Widdecombe seems to be hamming it up for the cameras, but one would think she'd been a Union-card carrying socialist politician, rather than a Conservative....??
It has been well set-up, and researched, and I hope that it will continue in the same vein.
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After watching the two episodes it has made me think that we are all so lucky to be here. Our working class ancestors must have made of strong stuff, very hard working and resiliant to survive the conditions of the time.
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Lizzie have been watching and enjoying. I love all the programme s Ruth Goodwin does. Would love to do the same.
Yorky is right I think they all playing to the cameras. And I am sure everything has been cleaned up for them. Nevertheless still a very interesting insight into how hard it was for our ancestors. As Alistair McGowan said how did they find time for love and marriage and kids. Good job they did or we wouldn't be here!
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I read in my local paper that a later episode is filmed at the Southwell Workhouse, so I am looking forward to that as some of mine ended up there.
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I read in my local paper that a later episode is filmed at the Southwell Workhouse, so I am looking forward to that as some of mine ended up there.
Will look out for that one. I have just googled Southwell Workhouse, didn't realise it was preserved as a museum, would love to visit.
3 ancestors of mine, brothers aged 10,7, 2 ended up in a Workhouse in 1881 in Tonbridge.
Jane
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Visited Southwell workhouse a couple of years back - when I found myself having to do an overnight stay in the area because of a family funeral! Found it very interesting. I'd found one relative in an earlier census who was a Workhouse Master - wonder what quirk of character would lead you to want to do that job?
Still so fascinated by the thought of disinfecting dog-poo in order to comply with 'elf'n'safety!
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Still so fascinated by the thought of disinfecting dog-poo in order to comply with 'elf'n'safety!
I have trawled the net to see if I could find out how authentic programme is. I would love to tell you your dog poo theory was correct. No mention of that but apparently real rotting maggoty bones were used. I love your theories and the thought of disinfecting it!
All that aside it is a good informative programme I love it. We have it so easy today.
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Am loving this programme! And being a Black Country wench myself I adore the Black Country museum so was great to see it on TV. However both myself and my hubbie (who watches these sort of programmes in a long suffering manner) have been screaming at Ann widecome's refusal to do what she's asked time and time again! I said at the beggginging of last weeks episode "God I hope they send her to the workhouse!" And to my delight that's where their going next week!!!
Lisa
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Ann Widecombe has also driven me nuts. Had she lived in that time, she would have been in a ditch or under a hedge starving to death as no boss would have put up with her antics.
I hope we see some of the wonderful people who act as inmates and staff at the workhouse, they really bring the place to life. Like the senile old dear who wanders around looking where she can empty her chamber pot- or the old rougue who tries to rip off the visitors. They do a sterling job. I do recommend if anyone is near to go and visit when they have a "graft, gruel and good for nothings" event on.
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Ann Widecombe has also driven me nuts. Had she lived in that time, she would have been in a ditch or under a hedge starving to death as no boss would have put up with her antics.
Lol!!! That's exactly what we said! I'm sure in those days her taking the moral high ground every five seconds would have left her very hungry and very homeless!!
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Ann Widecombe has also driven me nuts. Had she lived in that time, she would have been in a ditch or under a hedge starving to death as no boss would have put up with her antics.
Lol!!! That's exactly what we said! I'm sure in those days her taking the moral high ground every five seconds would have left her very hungry and very homeless!!
Me too! I think she was a very bad choice, She does not bring anything to the programme except annoyance! I felt the same about Strictly Come Dancing, she is obviously trying to re-invent herself as a media star :o
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Poor Ann, she's been plucked out of the 21st century & plonked down in the 19th century. Much of her refusal to do certain things comes from her 21st century self rather than the inner Victorian she's supposed to be. Age is not on her side, nor her fitness level to do these manual tasks. I think she brings a lot to the group, she's certainly quite a character ;D
Jane
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It's been a very interesting programme.
I've not been able to see all of it, but I must say that the part of the Potteries programme that I did see left me feeling very very angry, as well as appreciative of the strength of mind and body, under abysmal conditions, demonstrated by my ancestors in managing to keep alive to produce a family and, in the end, me.
It reminds me of my father, who lived through the 30's and saw what life in London was like before WW11. He was always very angry when visiting Stately Homes and observing the luxurious accommodation and surroundings. I remember saying to him once that whilst I understood his feelings, he should try and put them on one side so that he could at least enjoy the beautiful art works
And recently I've been reading Golden Age Detective stories written in the 20's and 30's and they are also very informative about the attitudes to the 'servant class' even in the 20th century.
Today isn't perfect, but we've come on a lot.
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Oh, I agree, IgorStrav. I've recently been re-reading some 20s/30sfiction, and the patronising way "the servant class" are treated in fiction is irritating. I've had ancestors who were mostly fortunate enough not to be household servants, but some were ag labs, and tenant farmers, and that can't have been a load of fun in the 19th C., when you'd to be beholden to your "betters". Most of mine by then were tradesmen although they probably had to bow and scrape, they had a bit better lifestyle.
I've actually enjoyed this small series, as I've said earlier, and apart from Miss Widdicombe's playing to the (t.v.) gallery, enjoyed it. She does seem to have mislaid her Conservative principles, though. Women of her current age, late 60s, would have had to cope ... to earn ... to work, if they had no family to support them - or it would have been the Workhouse!!
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Having watched tonight, I think Ann was set up to act like that in order to show how people who rebelled were treated. If they had all conformed it wouldn't have been as interesting.
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Having watched tonight, I think Ann was set up to act like that in order to show how people who rebelled were treated. If they had all conformed it wouldn't have been as interesting.
My thoughts exactly!
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Mine too!!! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Not keen on the big brother type exit from the workhouse, with all the families waiting....
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I watched the series start to finish. And although I agree, health and safety these days would have put restrictions on certain things (human poo, dog poo and horse manure aside), it seems to have been as realistic as the producers could make it.
I for one would be up for having a go, though I admit to being a bit on the older side, and not as fit as I used to be. But after all, the old (some far older than my 57 years) lived worked and survived (one of my great x 4 grandmothers lived to be 98!
What it didn't show was that some people, just like benefit scroungers today, actually preferred to be in the workhouse. Now I'm not saying that they scrounged back then, they had to work for shelter and food, unlike today! But it did mean a regular meal, a bed and a roof over their heads, and a job, albeit what they were told to do. I too, have had ancestors having to go to the workhouse, when the husband/father died, not an easy life, but better than starving. In fact, my great Granddad b. 1875 d. 1935 was educated in the Industrial school at the age of 7 when his dad died, split up from his mother and other siblings. That must have been soul destroying, but it didn't kill him!...as the saying goes, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger"...
I wonder if they wll be doing another series?
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Having watched tonight, I think Ann was set up to act like that in order to show how people who rebelled were treated. If they had all conformed it wouldn't have been as interesting.
I too was of the same mind and it suited her nature to be rebellious and I think she enjoyed playing the militant one....I think it brought realism to the series.
It was a real eye opener and I admired them all for their strength ...I'm ashamed to admit that I wouldn't have lasted long.
I really enjoyed watching it.
Carol