Old Country
Jack Hargreaves explores rural life reflecting on its character, traditions, history, folklore, and the skills that passed from generation to generation
- 1983-1985
- 3 seasons
- Documentary
Jack Hargreaves explores rural life reflecting on its character, traditions, history, folklore, and the skills that passed from generation to generation
Season 3 Episode Guide
20 Episodes 1985
Episode 1
Skittles
Jack Hargeaves watches several different versions of village skittles being played, and explains how this ancient game of Nine Pins became Ten Pin Bowling
Episode 2
Sheep Dipping and Battlesden Cart
The mobile sheep-dip comes to the farm and Jack is there to watch. Back home, he describes the features of the horse-drawn Battlesden Cart, of which he has two.
Episode 3
Sheep Washing and Flower Drive
Jack Hargreaves visits his animal trainer friend John Holmes where the sheep are having a bath. The Bluebells are flowering as he drives his cart home through the woods
Episode 4
Bantams and Manes & Tails
Having discovered that two of his chickens are actually rare Porcelains, Jack decides to try and breed them. In Hampshire, he visits a new heavy horse centre
Episode 5
Fjord Pony and Spinning
A breed of pony from Scandinavia catches Jack Hargreaves eye. Then his friend Elizabeth demonstrates the ancient method of turning a wool fleece into yarn
Episode 6
Driving Event and Driving & Fire Engine
Jack is pleased with the result when his horse, Joe, takes on his first driving trial. Then he issues a warning to anyone wishing to buy an antique Fire Insurance Plaque
Episode 7
Lessay Dogs and Gudgeon Fishing
Jack Hargreaves crosses the Channel to Normandy to visit a sale of sporting dogs. Then on the river Nadder in Wiltshire, he goes fishing for Gudgeon
Episode 8
French National Stud and Lessay Fair
Jack Hargreaves returns to Normandy to visit a horse in stud in Saint-Lô and the giant annual agricultural fair in the small town of Lessay
Episode 9
Artificial Insemination and Potter
One of the dairy cows is in season and the man they call the bull in the Ford Escort has been sent for. Jack then asks the village potter to make some stoneware pots
Episode 10
Pole Fishing and Huntaway Dogs
Jack goes fishing with a pole, one of the earliest and largest of fishing rods. He then watches a breed of sheepdog from New Zealand, the Huntaway, at work
Episode 11
Duncliffe Hill and Boadicea's Horse
Jack Hargreaves discusses the rich history of Duncliffe Hill in Dorset, then visits Exmoor to look at the ponies that have existed since before the time of the Romans
Episode 12
Country Houses
A house that features in Thomas Hardy's novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles is one of several old Manor Houses that Jack visits on a tour through Wessex
Episode 13
Chub Fishing and Horses & Cobs
Jack Hargreaves goes fishing for Chub using a method familiar to the 17th Century fishing writer Isaak Walton. Then by popular request, he shows us some heavy horses.
Episode 14
Eel Net and Dipper
Jack makes himself an Eel net using traditional methods. Then a bird rarely seen in Dorset is spotted at a local river, Jack Hargreaves heads there in the hope of seeing it
Episode 15
Long Net and Farm Sale
In broad daylight, Jack Hargreaves demonstrates a method of rabbiting normally performed at night. He then finds himself being nostalgic as he spies some unusual items in a farm sale
Episode 16
Wickhams Fancy and Vet's Examination
Jack shows us a selection of flies used by Trout fishermen and reveals the only one that he uses. Then the vet arrives to examine a pony that Jack is hoping to buy
Episode 17
Cider and Cows' Feet
The apple harvest is in and Jack takes his apples to Charlie, the owner of the local cider press. At the dairy farm, the mobile cattle chiropodist has arrived
Episode 18
River Care and Ponds & Wild Flowers
Jack Hargreaves is stocking his river with native Brown Trout. He then laments the widespread loss of ponds in the countryside, but finds one that is thriving
Episode 19
Mink Hunt And Geese
Jack goes to watch the methods being used to control the non-native Mink population in the countryside, and then pays a visit to a goose farm
Episode 20
Pub Crawl
Jack Hargreaves takes his friends on a trip through the country in his horse-drawn waggon to visit three of his favourite village hostelries