A West Country Farm

Old ICI film of Archer Neave and Morwell Barton originally thought to have been made in the early 1960's. However, following a comment from one of the original cast (thanks, CMN!) we can now date the film to 1954/55.

[@richardsimms251]

A lot of endless work. I once worked on a farm in 1965.

[@pseggons9512]

It's now late December 2023. Just searched Morwell Barton, it was up for sale in 2022. The Grade 1 Manor House and 243 acres were up for £4.5 million. How times have changed !

[@pleatedskirt18]

It's interesting you say this - in the course of my professional life I come across and visit many of the big houses in Devon. In the course of my conversation I often ask where the people are from [most certainly don't have a local Devon accent!] and almost always they are "escapees" from London, having made their money they move here, forcing up prices and forcing out the locals who simply cannot buy property on the minimum wage many of the local jobs pay. To highlight this, there is one house I know quite well that is now for sale at about £6 million. The current owners use it for just two weeks each year! It is not a family home in any way, it is merely yet another investment for the owner. To further illustrate the absurdity of the housing market, the same house used to be owned by another of my clients - again incomers who spend most of their time in London - and they sold the house because the landyof the house didn't like the bats flying round the mimstres' gallery! To end on a lighter note, when our son was in the 6th form of his grammar school, he said to me, "They use the house for two weeks each year?" '"Yes," I said. "You know where the key is kept?" "Yes," I replied. "You know the alarm code?" "Yes, " I again answered. "May I have a party there?" "No," I answered. You do have too admire his optimism.

[@johnsawyer2516]

@@pleatedskirt18 Yes and you are part of the system that supports these rich incomers.

[@mandynewey7215]

I love these old farming videos. Was privileged to spend some time on a farm 2016-18 in Yorkshire and it was one of the best times of my life. Hard work but wonderful being outside among animals.

[@neildelaney5199]

A lovely reminder of old England and how farming developed after the war, most if not all the Tractors were Fordson e27n petrol tvo, thanks for showing

[@gerryoconnor8751]

What a brilliant video, I was born in 1955, that man was years ahead of his time. I really enjoyed it. It brings back memories to me of alot of the things I did to build up a 400 cow herd for my son to take over.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

Nice cattle and fields! ❤👍 Some of these farmers were doing regenerative farming (with large hedge rows); long before it became popular (again) in the 21st century. It looks like some of the cattle might be Heritage breeds; or herds in transition from Heritage breeds to the larger, hybrid, commercial breeds that became popular after WW2. Thank you for sharing. 😊

[@paulchapman5865]

Brilliant film the cows and calves look fantastic shame it's not the same today

[@henrytomlinson3634]

When men were men ! fantastic thank you for sharing. All the best from Henry Central UK

[@derekmcguinness6916]

Great footage from a simpler and better time. Super looking stock.

[@vespasian266]

Better time?. you must be on something, it was hard work, a lot harder work.

[@chrissmith3509]

​@@vespasian266And where does milk come from now??

[@gerhardschindler5223]

Alle Generationen denken, die Generationen zuvor waren eine bessere Zeit. Q

[@candide1065]

@@vespasian266 Some people actually like to work and don't try to run from it, little.

[@candide1065]

@@gerhardschindler5223 Lern englisch.

[@woollas]

The cows are Ayrshire's by the look. I was brought up milking a very similar herd. It was the 70's then in South West Cornwall, but everything was pretty much the same. Much nostalgia.

[@colmanlong1032]

What a super video, cows look in great nik ,that man was very forward thinking.

[@DavidWilliams-zj8wo]

If it is 1955 how come there aren’t one or two new Diesel Majors working alongside the old E27Ns? Surely this farmer would have had them by this time? Lovely film though, a really well run unit which would have been considered quite large in those days!

[@johngilbert5430]

Brilliant film, the man was ahead of the times with his thinking

[@ianmarshall170]

No Beer bellies on them workers must be all that gym work they do after work!!!😅

[@stephenrice4554]

Good comment , made me chuckle

[@michaellynskey7124]

Absolutely marvellous to see how dairy farms used the land men and machinery to their best abilities 🇬🇧🇮🇪.

[@here_we_go_again2571]

michaellynskey7124 Regenerative farming on small farms with Heritage breeds of cattle, sheep and pigs is now becoming profitable again with the Internet. As well as niche markets. The Heritage breeds do not require grain to sustain themselves and the fields can be restored to a more natural state that is beneficial for the environment and the animals Heritage breeds do not offer the large yields of milk and meat like the hybrid, breeds. But they can survive on only forage and cut hay, with a mineral block ("salt" +) to supplement what the grass lacks. It is being done in both UK and USA as well as in continental Europe.

[@willmears1111]

Loved my memories of Nightingale Farm, nr. Swindon, Wilts.

[@Castlebravo100]

At 11.55 did I hear the commentator say the the kale seed was treated against flea beetle? Happy days.

[@44birdie44]

Yes, I picked up on that one. Must have been some concoction of chemicals to give that level of protection!

[@Castlebravo100]

@@44birdie44 I've been working in the agricultural industry since 1978 and I find these films about the times before my career began delightful to watch.

[@44birdie44]

@Castlebravo100 I'm not working in ag. But we have rented out land. It's too far away to farm traditionally. My wife's family are farmers and I'm very interested in all things farming. I agree with you, this is fascinating to see how things were done. I must say this particular farm was very advanced for the time. I see the place was for sale a couple of years ago. Seems to have changed hands several times since this film was recorded. Are you still farming?

[@Castlebravo100]

@@44birdie44 I worked on farms when I was young then I went to agricultural college and then became an agronomist which I have been for 40 years now. I have one or two years to go before I retire and I have found it a very interesting and satisfying career. I find it fascinating to follow how farming, particularly crop production, has changed over the past 60 plus years, both technically and through Government interventions. I imagine the next 10 years will see many more changes, but I shan't be involved anymore. What type of farming is your wife's family involved with?

[@cmn1949]

Brilliant...however...the film is from 1954/55..I know as I was in it LOL 😇

[@JohntyNich]

That farm must have been well ahead in its day. Forking that silage about would be seriously hard work. Must have been unpleasant working with the lime.

[@glennlingard7851]

@@JohntyNich l just seen them lime spreading as well, what a bloody job, wouldn’t surprise me if that bloke smoked as well!

[@ADMacLeanTrust]

Thanks for that - details have been updated accordingly.

[@SH66667]

Fantastic to see how it was back then, where did it all go wrong for british farming.

[@المطربضياءالرساممدينةمنبج]

Brot

[@adamfontana537]

That was fantastic

[@dubns]

@ 24:50 It talks of 1956, so it has to be after that.

[@robnewman6101]

Farming of the Century.

[@davidbrennan3613]

Those farmers worked very hard back in those days,very nice video

[@matthewbutterfield7233]

They still do!

[@davidbrennan3613]

@@matthewbutterfield7233 most job's are done with machinery nowadays

[@bigsnibes8604]

We still work just as hard, we just get more done 💪

[@barkershill]

@@davidbrennan3613 I know tractor drivers who regularly work 18 hour shifts for £10 an hour

[@davidbrennan3613]

@@barkershill foolish men

[@sukiandsarahlovelife]

I wonder what is this farm like today in 2023

[@jjgermancarsdontsignal7746]

If you search for "Moorwell Barton Tavistock"you should find some info about the property.

[@shakey5623]

Please do another one

[@Mickymaxywonder]

When men were men and women were women and cows were cows and tractors were tractors and milk was milk and work was work and life was life!

[@aajalAnwar]

Hi

[@volkerkalhoefer3973]

Roger Ramjet in the Wild West 😂😂

[@MikeM-qy9zz]

How would they do it without the bags of fertilizer and gasoline?

[@gentlegiants1974]

omg all that fertiliser. Would break the bank today. Totally different climate and soil here, nothing grows from October to April, 200 acres would never feed a herd that size.

[@Jiali-liqi]

That was the England we knew and loved, church bells on Sunday mornings,cricket on the village green. A time when everyone got on,a time before Islam came here

[@davycrawford1795]

Brillant video

[@charliedoherty5965]

Them cows r in great order

[@joemalone9380]

unfortunately not all dairy farmers really know how to look after cows. there is a good example of this on yt.

[@charliedoherty5965]

Fat score 3 a dairy cow should run.

[@684ih4]

Class!👌

[@OFM1209]

Beginning song?

[@robnewman6101]

Wow.

[@johncourtneidge]

Magnificent! Thank--you. A onte porary account would be of great interest!

[@yeoo5106]

1 Acer for 12 shillings and 6 pence in today's money that's about £40, 1 acer near me is about £12,000 now

[@noname-lm2nq]

I like the old time how the people working and living.

[@Happygirlscouts]

I like the cows so its a dairy ayershire its only a Norwegian red crossed in then the black n white Friesian just became more popular

[@robnewman6101]

R.I.P Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the II. 70 Years Regin on The Throne of The UK and The Commonwealth 1952-2022. Elizabeth 1926-2022. Final resting place at Windsor Castle, down in the Valut of St George's Chapel.

[@hugoagogo9435]

The good ole days when diversity targets didn’t exist

[@jorgecapillera1841]

👏👏👏👏👏👍

[@kervarchegjean-yves943]

J'ai affiché les sous-titres en français proposés par la transcription automatique : c'est CATASTROPHIQUE ! des non-sens et des aberrations en tous genres ... sans parler du vocabulaire inadapté ! quelle tristesse que ces traductions automatiques !