BBC historic farm series
BBC Two's historical farm series are five documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two from 2005 to 2013. They illustrate the lives of people: farmers, labourers, fishermen, housewives, etc. in a variety of historical contexts. Historians and archaeologists play the parts of ordinary people and live and work immersed in the time specified. The team perform the everyday crafts such as hunting, gathering, sowing and reaping as well as experimenting with more specialised work like blacksmithing, woodcutting and mining under the eyes of an experienced tutor. Each series has taken place at a public living history site that provides external in-period experts, experience, and flavour. The Wartime Farm series includes conversations with men and women who remember the time. All were produced by David Upshal for Lion Television.
| - | - | - | - | - | |
| Tales from the Green Valley | Victorian Farm | Edwardian Farm | Wartime Farm | Tudor Monastery Farm | |
| 2005 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
| Starring | Ruth Goodman Peter Ginn Alex Langlands Stuart Peachey Chloe Spencer | Ruth Goodman Peter Ginn Alex Langlands | Ruth Goodman Peter Ginn Alex Langlands | Ruth Goodman Peter Ginn Alex Langlands | Ruth Goodman Peter Ginn Tom Pinfold |
| Director | Peter Sommer | Stuart Elliot | Stuart Elliot | Stuart Elliot Naomi Benson | Stuart Elliot |
| Era | 1620 | 1837-1901 | 1901-1910 | 1938-1946 | 1457–1509 |
| Public Locale | Gray Hill, Monmouthshire | Acton Scott Historic Working Farm | Morwellham Quay | Manor Farm Country Park | Weald and Downland Open Air Museum |
| Episodes | 12 | 6 | 12 | 8 | 6 |
Related series
Several other shorter series featuring the same people and production staff have been made:A Tudor Feast at Christmas, at Haddon Hall, 1 episode Victorian Farm Christmas, 3 episodes Victorian Pharmacy at Blists Hill Victorian Town, 4 episodes A Wartime Farm Christmas Special, 1 episode Secrets of the Castle at Guédelon Castle, 5 episodes at Blists Hill Victorian Town, 4 episodes- courtesy of British Rail, 6 episodes, filmed predominantly at the Beamish Museum. 24 Hours in the Past, 4 episodes
Other "living history" BBC series
The Victorian Kitchen Garden at Leverton, Berkshire, 13 episodes.- * The Victorian Kitchen, 1989.
- * The Victorian Flower Garden, 1991.
- * The Wartime Kitchen and Garden, 1993.
- * Harry's Big Adventure, 1994. The Sweet Makers at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Shrophire, 3 episodes and a Christmas special.Victorian Slum House in the East End of London, 5 episodes - London slum life during Victorian era. Coal House, at Stack Square in the Welsh hills of Blaenavon, 2009 – a 1920s Welsh mining community, including a 1944 wartime special.The 1900 Island, at Anglesey, 2019 - a 1900 fishing village in AngleseyTurn Back Time – The High Street, at Shepton Mallet in Somerset, 2010
- * , on Albert Road, at Morecambe in Lancashire, 2012-2012\. Back in Time for..., 2015; each series takes one "typical" family or multiple individuals relating to the topic and immerses them in life of past decades.The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts, 2019