Victorian Farm: Rediscovering Forgotten Skills

Period Farms

by Alex Langlands, Ruth Goodman, Peter Ginn

No electricity, no gas, no flushing toilet . . . and no tractor! Could you survive a year on a Victorian farm? In this fascinating time-traveling experiment a team of historians spend a year recreating farm life in 1885. Accompanying the television series, this book follows the team as they try to run a farm using only materials and resources that would have been available to them in the Victorian era. This was a crucial period in the history of Britain—rapid industrialization had radically changed life in the cites but rural communities used a mixture of centuries-old and pioneering modern practices. Packed with informative text and photographs from the farm year, this book reveals exactly what the Victorians ate and wore and how they managed their animals, farmed the land, and organized their lives. In-depth features describe revolutionary advances in more detail, including new inventions, new breeding methods, and advances in agricultural science. Practical projects allow you to join the historians in rediscovering Victorian crafts, cooking, and homecare.
 
Providing a real insight into life on a Victorian farm, this series is also a fascinating reminder of how history comes full circle. The organic diet of 1885, use of natural products for cleaning and healthcare and interests in crafts and gardening are of increasing relevance today as we look for a more responsible way of living over 120 years later.
 
• The official book to accompany the new BBC2 6 x 1 hour primetime series, Victorian Farm

• Includes extensive photography of the farm workers’ experiences
• Diary entries offer a personal take on this historical experiment
• Join in Victorian life with authentic recipes and practical projects

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Victorian, Reference, Historical, Experimental Archaeology, Gardening

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2008

About the author

Alex Langlands is a British archaeologist and historian, also known for his work as a presenter of the educational documentary series on British television.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating book for many reasons - the fact that the authors (and presenters of the show that it accompanied) lived and experienced the life style and so made it come alive not just for themselves but for the observer too but also because (since I grew up in a village farming community) I can see many of the echoes of the Victorian farm era still present. To disused farm machinery at the back of the meadows, to the strange little building attached to the back of the farm house I was never quite sure what they were used for.
On one hand this book shouts back to a age now long passed (and for many reasons that is not a bad thing) but also shows us where the foundations of todays farming were firmly set. for anyone interested in the subject this is a fascinating book with a very human touch - no stuffy text book here

[Jayne Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book packed full of information

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you've watched "Victorian Farm" and felt the distinct lack of "special features" accompanying it, this companion book is for you. It provides some background info to the show, such as how they ended up filming it at the Acton Scott Estate as opposed to another surviving Victorian-era farm in Britain. It also "talks through" the tasks and technologies that appear in the show. As you might expect, some aspects of farming life are better rendered on-screen, such as how a seed fiddle works or the process of making a cart wheel, whereas others (the two-page "laundry list" of tasks related to doing the laundry in this period, oy) do add something to the relatively brief depiction of the laundry process in the show. Peter, Ruth, and Alex alternate in writing the short articles about each topic, and it's fun to hear from them about their individual triumphs and frustrations. I wouldn't recommend this book as a robust stand-alone source about Victorian farming, but it does enhance the experience of watching "Victorian Farm."

[Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good book to accompany the series packed full of information covering their year on the farm and their experience of rural Victorian life. This book marks the entire Victorian period with technological advances and the consequences of them, as well as the more traditional crafts and practices of the time. Really enjoyed reading this :)

Now I just need to find the book on Wartime Farm!

[Alison Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both this book and the TV series were useful after discovering in my family history that one of our great great great grandparents owned a farm in the 19th century.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the show and/or Ruth Goodman, you'll love this book! They go into detail about everything, more so than the show covered. There are also recipes and lovely photos.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite portrayals of Victorian life. Very fascinating, educational, and beautiful.

[Norain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is complimentary to the television series Victorian Farm and if you love the series then you will love this book. But as a stand alone it reads more like a text book. It is not detailed enough as to be sufficient for those with academic interest in the Victorian Era but not quite introductory either. It was arranged in the way as to invoke one’s curiosity so that after we shut the book we may start to look for other books that can explain more about what we have already found out.

Loved this book and the series was among the most interesting series that I ever watched (and certainly a thousand times better than those crappy reality television programmmes about singer and what-nots).

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the TV series (and the subsequent ones!) and it is great to read some of the background information that for one reason or another doesn't make it onto the screen, there are snippets of the diaries kept by Ruth, Peter and Alex and these provide an insight into how the day to day drudgery (laundry anyone?!) is overcome and even enjoyed, these three work well together on screen and that comes through in the book as well - well worth a dip into :D

[Miss Lemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living history with warts and all. As close as modern day people can experience the true life of a country Victorian. For a year three artisans/living history experts live the 1885 life. Each chapter details an aspect of everyday life. Photo's galore, funny and eye opening.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well...not really read, but more like skimmed, which is perfect for this kind of book, which is really like a coffee table book.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great companion for the BBC series!!

[Sally Bushnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

These guys really did live it without any moaning unlike the 1900's house and further more they didn't cheat.

[Lindsay Eaton]

Loved the TV series - loved the book.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice book with a little information on a lot of things. I am going to have to look for the DVDs now.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that accompanies the BBC series.
It was an enjoyable read about their time on the farm and how things were done in the Victorian Era.

[Julia Lose · Rating 2 out of 5]

not what I expected, but well written and interesting.