Cotswolds - The Way We Were | Part 3: Earning a living

The third film in the series explores the world of work in the Cotswolds. From Cobblers to Milkmen, Farm Hands to the Masons who gave us the famous Cotswold cottages we know and love today.
Gibbs and Williams even document the industrial beginnings of the 'Fast Fashion' phenomenon and its impact on village artisans.
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In the late 19th - early 20th century, Joseph Arthur Gibbs and Alfred Williams documented everyday life in the villages of the Cotswolds.
Using their evocative descriptions from Gibbs, Williams and a handful of others who knew the Cotswolds intimately, combined with a wonderful collection of old photographs and archive film, this fascinating series brings to life the Cotswolds of a bygone age.
If you share our love for the Cotswolds please let us know in the comments and be sure to like this film and subscribe to our channel to see more

[@paulmaryon9088]

Wonderful stuff, thank you

[@pleatedskirt18]

Far from an easy life, but it was a REAL life; a life of working on the land, of getting your hands dirty in the soil, of seeing and knowing nature and of watching the changing seasons, of knowing your neighbours and of being content with the simple things in life. No 100" TVs dominating small rooms, no air conditioned cars to sit in on clogged-up roads or at some faceless drive-through coffee outlet, no detestable shopping centres but rather real shops run by real people in your village or town. Yes, it was a hard life and life expectancy was low, many diseases were rife and sanitation was all but non existent, but it was better that the cheap imitation we are now all-but forced to live.

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I'm in the USA. Haywagons and implements such as are shown here were in use on our family land, although my grandfather quickly switched to petrol-powered tractors to replace horses and steam traction engines. We enjoyed our visits to the Cotswolds and this series resonates with me, even though the times have long changed. Well, the architecture remains outstanding!

[@crispinaske8293]

Thoroughly enjoyed that.

[@Serenity07-10]

How absolutely gorgeous ❤thank you.

[@lorrainerichardson3280]

Thank you for this series. My ancestors were ag labourers like many. Not in the Cotswolds but the work would be similar in other parts of England.

[@simongee8928]

'It's an age of cheapness all round'. Much the same as now.

[@dereks1264]

"The pigs unable to distinguish one bell from another..." ...much hilarity ensued.

[@outoftownr3906]

I wish I lived in the old days but would need to be rich

[@stephencrowther524]

With a Time Machine to access modern medicine….

[@NutritionalHealthService]

Very nostalgic and thank you very much.

[@debbiesittard7653]

Perfectly said, " An age of cheapness." I can't stand it either and I refuse to succumb to it.

[@paulsquires9117]

Fascinating. Thanks for posting it.

[@britainonfilm]

Our pleasure!

[@rob213chappel]

Chasing the cocK!!! What innocent times they lived in :)

[@bertiewooster3326]

Id probably be the local squire in this era.

[@juliasandra-s3s]

The house at 5.14 is my family home and it is for sale.

[@pleatedskirt18]

And how it has changed, I'm sure. Which agent is it listed with?

[@keithfowler2013]

Was that the dinner bell ,Porky ??

[@livetwice7702]

And no woke …….beautiful

[@lostinsomerset6002]

Just village idiots apparently

[@Zoro007]

Both great and heartbreaking at the same time....a country and lifestyle now completely obliterated...find it hard to watch to be honest..!!!!!

[@MaureenSnell]

Why hasn’t man changed? 😢

[@deanbaker6456]

lets go back to these times

[@eddieharris6004]

No thank you, like the convenience of the local Lidl, my transport dosen't need a stable, double glazing keeps me warm in winter.....but would love to visit.

[@luke8329]

​@@eddieharris6004 I'd swap every modern convenience to have our cultural issues and demographics restored.

[@eddieharris6004]

@@luke8329 totaly agree....fortunately i live in the shires so the demographics/culture havent changed that much.

[@adrianbew9641]

Unfortunately the world wouldn't allow us technology rules too much. Also the younger generation would never cope or tolerate the hardships this life produced .

[@svenmarksven]

I suppose you’ll say it was the good old days , a very old friend of mine was stood next to me one day at a horse ploughing match and the commentator said about the good old days , my old friend just muttered under his breath. “ the good old days “ that was never said by anyone that had to pick stones for a penny a bushell , I’ve never forgot him saying that , keep the good old days from what I know