Edwardian Farm at Morwellham



Following on from the hugely successful Victorian Farm, archaeologists Alex Langlands and Peter Ginn and domestic historian Ruth Goodman returned to BBC Two to experience life on an Edwardian farm. With an epic 12 episodes following life on the farm over a whole calendar year, Edwardian Farm went deep into a lost rural world where life was tough and working together was the only means of achieving anything.

Setting up home at Morwellham Quay, in Devon, the intrepid trio have to get to grips with the trials and tribulations of life at the turn of the 20th century. This was a time of great social change and tumult – a time when farming was becoming increasingly mechanised at home and abroad the world was moving gradually towards war.

Alex Langlands, Peter Ginn & Ruth Goodman

Back in Edwardian and Victorian times 1000s of tourists began coming to the Tamar Valley by paddle steamer every summer. The combination of reduced working hours and greater mobility encouraged a new form of tourism – day-tripping. Workers from towns and cities like Plymouth flocked to rural spots like Morwhellham Quay for festivities. Local farmers cashed in on the visitors - selling cream teas, fruit, postcards and anything else they could think of and The Ship Inn and our village shop would have been part of this. Many farmers also used the steamers to send their produce to market.