An incompleted edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Farming Outlook transmitted regionally 20th February 1983 and again nationally as part of the About Britain series on the 1st July 1983. The programme begins by looking at the decline in rural communities by focusing on the village of Garrgill in Cumbria where many of the young have left to find employment elsewhere. In the second part a look at the work being done by the Joicey Estate around the villages of Ford and...

An incompleted edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Farming Outlook transmitted regionally 20th February 1983 and again nationally as part of the About Britain series on the 1st July 1983. The programme begins by looking at the decline in rural communities by focusing on the village of Garrgill in Cumbria where many of the young have left to find employment elsewhere. In the second part a look at the work being done by the Joicey Estate around the villages of Ford and Etal in Northumberland to incentivise young families to move to the area by developing new rural enterprises. A Cumbrian farm building near the village of Garrgill in the North Pennines of Cumbria with a large padlock and chain baring the door is followed by general views of both the building and surrounding farmyard. Another house or building without either windows or doors in a remote and snowy rural valley, a broken down farmgate stands not far away. In a field interview with David Cross from Rural Voice about the loss of rural jobs and a change in population with many young people moving away and ‘better off’ people coming in pushing up house prices. As Mr Cross continues to talk about the loss of essential transport services to rural communities’ views of the village of Garrgill near Alston. A metal road sign near the centre of the village with its name embossed in a semi-circle at the top is followed by more views of the village. Outside the village a farm in a valley surrounded by hillside criss-crossed with stone walls and possibly a discussed quarry or mine. David Cross explains that the lack of rural facilities such as schools is one of the reasons why it is hard to attract people to come work in the countryside. Parish Councillor Jean Riding stands chatting with another woman in the entranceway of what was once the primary school in Garragill. A stone plaque in the wall above them commemorates the girl’s school being built ‘by subscription’ in 1850. The conversation ends and Jean walks away back towards the village. Interview with Jean Riding about the bus services she helped set up from Garragill to Alston which only runs once a week. She talks about the need in the village for the bus service. Several older people walk through the village passing a building with a ‘For Sale’ sign on its wall and the parish church. A couple make their way inside ‘Garrigill Post Office’ where the assistant behind the counter brings over a loaf of bread and other supplies being purchased by the couple. The owners of the shop works nearby checking off new stock filling up the shop shelves. Outside the Post Office another older woman crosses the icy road with care changes to show more cottage in the village, many with ‘For Sale’ signs. Jean Riding believes more rented properties are needed for the young people as the costs to buy are too high. More general views of houses in the village changes to David Cross who would like to see more shared ownership in the village, he explains why and how it would work. Two hikers follow a snowy track along the Pennine Way up a hillside towards an old hill farm outside of Garragill which is being converted into an outdoor pursuit centre. Inside the owners Kate and Lindsay Williams are at work with Kate painting a wooden door frame while Lindsay marking a piece of wood before using a saw to cut it. Lindsay explains that the lack of employment opportunities in the vicinity has caused people to move away. The sequence ends with more views of houses and farms within the Garrigill area. [Blank] St Michael and All Angels Church in the Northumberland village of Ford, nearby Ford Castle. General views of the village of and embossed above the doorway of Jubilee Cottage a cameo of Queen Victoria from her Golden Jubilee Year of 1887. Nearby gulls fly over fields that form part of the Joicey family’s 15,000 acre estate changing to views of Etal Manor, the Joicey family home. In his office interview with the Michael Edward Joicey, 3rd Baron Joicey about how the estate now employs less people than in the past and how this has affected rural life. As he talks views of ploughed fields nearby. On one of the estate farms a tractor pulls a large trailer which distributes silage for cattle in a barn to eat. An old cottage on the estate lays empty changes to an interview with the Joicey Estate Manager Mark Codigan in his office about the work being done on the estate to convert unused building into workshops and to attract visitors, and why this is important. The River Till flows past Heatherslaw Corn Mill and a man turning a handle controlling the flow of water over the waterwheel. Inside the mill gogs and wheel turning the milling machinery. The nearby village of Etal with its whitewashed houses and the ruins of Etal Castle are followed by the Black Bull public house with its thatched roof and the Etal Post Office. Along the banks of the Till the estates old water powered electrical power house, inside the converted building Alan Green turning a piece of wood on a lathe while his partner Steve Taylor working to make table or chair legs. In voiceover Alan talks about the opportunity to take this workshop when it came up. Alan and Steve talks about both the workshop as well as living in village and fitting into rural life. Steve talks about a grant they were given by Northumberland County Council to buy machinery and improve the premises. As he talks about the potential of employing someone locally, he puts together the section of the chair he has been working on. Views of the nearby River Till at dusk with Alan commenting on the advantages of a country life ad his like of canoeing. In the Black Bull Alan and Steve perform as part of a folk band playing guitar and fiddle for the watching local drinkers. Another musician plays a squeezebox or accordion, the audience tapping along to the music. St Michael and All Angels Church again and the nearby Ford Castle now run by the local education department. Inside the castles old walled garden two women work a small nursery enterprise planting shrubs. Back in Ford village a red United bus heads south towards Morpeth and Newcastle passes The Lady Waterford Hall. Hidden in the bushes a sign for Northumberland County Council and the Ford Church of England Aided First School. Outside the local shop and Post Office owner Sharon Murray unloads a box of Hunters Cheese and Onion crisps from her car carrying it back to the shop. She talks about the difficulty of running a small business in a small countries area such as Ford. A field of sheep changes to one of the estates old hunt kennels where in the doorway the owner of a small slaughterhouse Steve Richardson is cutting off the fleece of a dead sheep. Nearby rabbit farmer John Staite walks over to another stable inside which he runs his small business tending to his rabbits. As he watches over his animals, he talks in voiceover about why he chose these premises, the challenges of setting up his business and the issues he presently has with the disease Coccidiosis. John walks over to another kennel where he is also breeding Labrador’s as gun dogs. As he approaches the kennel several Labrador’s jump up at him, he opens the gate and takes the dogs out for a walk he explains in voiceover why he also breeds Labrador’s and how this business is subsidising his rabbit enterprise. Back at Ford Castle Gardiner Burt Shields works with a colleague to mow the castles lawns, in voiceover he talks about the changes he has seen in the village with fewer people and families now working and living on the estate. He explains how the villagers have taken to the influx of tourists as well as all the new businesses being set up. Various cottages around Ford and Etal as well as the Black Bull pub changes to Baron Joicey in his office explaining why there isn’t any resentment with locals about these newcomers coming into the village taking the limited housing stock available on the estate. In a field a workman at the controls of a backhoe loader digs a trench for drainage pipes laying nearby changes to the smithy near Etal run by the Smith family and a traditional caravan parked outside. Inside Paul Smith works to shape a piece of hot metal using an anvil while nearby his father Neville turns a piece of metal on a lathe. In another part of the smithy Paul turns a piece of wood on a different lathe, part of a high-quality spinning wheel which he produces. As he continues to work, in voiceover he explains that in the short-term he won’t be setting up in business on his own and what it is like working in the quiet of the countryside. He is asked about the prospects for his business, as he replies he once again works at the anvil beating a piece of metal taken from the forge to make a fire iron. Examples of his work laid out on a table which will be sold to tourists during the summer months and the caravan outside. Neville Smith talks about the advantages and disadvantages of selling from such a remote location. Beside an open fire Bernice Smith spins wool using one of the spinning wheels produced by her son Paul, in voiceover Neville talks about the difficulty of getting a good local trade. The programme ends back in the Black Bull with Alan, Steve and the folk band continues to perform with the locals, including Neville and Paul Smith, singing along to The Beatles ‘Eight Days a Week’.