Do you have an Ag Lab in your tree? TV programme

[DebbieG]

I am really enjoying the series - but I am biased,  cos I know Ruth,  I have been fortunate to work with her as a volunteer 3 or 4 times in the past (her speciality period is Tudor).  The reason they can't sleep in the house will be to do with health and safty,  and insurance,  the rules for staying overnight in some of these historic buildings are just over the top.

 

[kerryb]

May not be very authentic at all but it is interesting to see some of the machines and jobs done and used by my Ag Lab ancestors.  I was fascinated by the range that they installed last week, I just about remember my gran cooking on one of those into the 1960s/1970s when I was a child.

Kerry

[genjen]

Yes, the machinery and household equipment are really fascinating, as are the meals she is preparing. What she did with that tongue last night....

But I still say it all looks a bit too clean. The clothes thay are wearing do tend to look freshly laundered and whilst I am sure the smalls were washed regularly, I'm equally certain that the outer garments, made from heavy and less easily managed fabrics, would not have been quite so pristine.

Don't get me wrong, I am enjoying it and learning from it, I'm just not convinced of the authenticity of some parts of it.

[Jean McGurn]

But I still say it all looks a bit too clean. The clothes thay are wearing do tend to look freshly laundered and whilst I am sure the smalls were washed regularly, I'm equally certain that the outer garments, made from heavy and less easily managed fabrics, would not have been quite so pristine.

Suppose as it's the start of the series all the clothes are new. Maybe towards the end of the 'year' they will look quite grubby. 

Jean

[Hodgkiss]

I think you just have to take it for what it is. I think the important part of the show is just to inform you of how they lived, and to give you a feeling to how it was.

[cms]

Well said, Hodgkiss.

I think it is one of the best things on telly - no, THE best at the moment. I like the really knowledgable people, all with a sense of humour and willing to try things. Ok they may not be living in the house but does that matter? They have real lives too.

Well done all involved I say.

Caroline

[Viktoria]

I am enjoying the programme very much,I too can remember a big black range like that and during the war when I was evacuated to a relative`s Shropshire farm many of the old machines were resurrected to save on petrol and the horses came back into their own again .However some of the "gadgets" like the mangold wurzel chopper had never gone out of use in an area where electricity was not installed until the late 1950`s 
I could not understand why washday took so long-4days-O.K things were soaked the day before  in cold soapy water and then scrubbed and boiled the next day  etc. And when dry at least a day later it was ironed  but not 4 days solid and my relatives had the same conditions-no running water, we carried it from the rainwater butt , and a copper boiler with fire underneath, old dolly tub and posser and a mangle. I couldn`t see why Ruth talked about starching AFTER the washing was dry- that was done in the final rinse in which the starch and dolly blue were dissolved . Ruth didn`t seem to have soapy sudsy water either. But it is a lovely programme. For anyone interested there is a book called "Never on a Sunday"   which describes in their own words the lives of Shropshire mining and farming communities . It`s title was chosen because these very Godfearing people NEVER did any work on Sundays that was not absolutely necessary-cows were milked and animals fed but cooking was done on Saturday and you could not play or sew or read anything that was not  to do with religion  . But they were lovely people and I know I was very lucky to have spent time with them .Book reference:-ISBN:1-874200-10-6  Published by SCENESETTERS. BUCKNELL SHROPSHIRE SY70AL   ShropshireRootsChatters would enjoy it.  Viktoria                                                                                                                                                                   

[DebbieG]

I liked this tongue in cheek comment on the program from another site I visit

'The people on The Victorian Farm are far too competent and enjoying themselves far too much.

When do we get to vote one of them out?'

 

DebbieG

[coombs]

Hi

Even though it is not stated in censuses, I reckon many ag labs had a responsible role such as being in charge of the ditch digging and controlling a team of 5 or 6 other ditch diggers, or an ag lab in charge of 5 other ploughmen, ie a line leader who ranked just below the foreman and farmer.

Ben