Cranford BBC1

[cathaldus]

We are going to get the usual comparisons between the Bronte girls and Elizabeth Gaskell,  while "Cranford" is on the tele and that will always be a matter of opinion.   I have read both "North and South" and "Mary Barton" and found them to be lightweight.  I recollect that Simon Schama,  in his history of Great Britain,  was affected by the word "clemmed" as used in Mary Barton,  which literally means "starving".   It is in that connexion that I always view the 18th. and 19th. centuries with the advent of the middle classes and the brutal treatment of the working classes.   I must admit I found the first episode of "Cranford" somewhat middle class,  with the Home Counties accents creeping in here and there and forelock tugging self evident.  I do hope it gets better and projects something truthful about my beloved North of England!!

[toni*]

i watched it  and thought it was great.

my fav actress has to be Julie Walters unf. shes not in this but Imelda Staunton and Judi Sench to name but 2 members of a great cast.

oh and Judi Dench's daughter.

[mshrmh]

the fact that I missed the first episode due to a relative arriving before it had started (the television is turned off when we have visitors). Only hope that it is on catch up so that I can still watch it.

old rowley

According to the Radio Times (N W England edition) it is repeated on Sunday 25 November BBC1 5.50.

[patrish]

Loved Cranford, think I am right in saying that the village of Laycock is owned by the National Trust.

[Ruskie]

Yes, you are right Patrish - and gorgeous it is too!

[patrish]

I have been past it but never actually been there, must make a point of visting 

[Ruskie]

Oh yes do!

I do wonder how being owned by the National Trust works - do the people who live their own their homes, do they lease them?

Obviously there will be restrictions to what they will be allowed to do to their properties .... their are some more recently built homes on the outskirts of the village but they are in character ....

just curious .... are there any other National Trust owned villages in the British Isles?

[Lydart]

Yes ... the National Trust owns (I think) Dolaucothi Gold Mines, near Pum(p)saint in Carmarthenshire, in Wales (must check on Google) ... and part of the associated village of Pumpsaint (meaning five saints) ... I seem to remember that the old cottages and houses owned by the trust are all painted in the same colours ... but its years since I went there, so can't quite remember the details.   But well worth a visit to the mine if you are in that part of Wales, with an underground tour (not for those with claustrophobia !)

I guess the peopel who live in the N.T. houses must have them on some sort of lease ?

[mshrmh]

I guess the peopel who live in the N.T. houses must have them on some sort of lease ?

Lydart -  if you're interested there's a piece about "House Letting Policy" on the National Trust's website at
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-chl/w-countryside_environment/w-land_country/w-land_country-housing/w-land_country-house_letting_policy.htm
There's also some general information about Lacock Abbey & the village and a photo gallery for both.

just curious .... are there any other National Trust owned villages in the British Isles?

Ruskie the link I've posted includes
"The Trust provides a substantial proportion of the housing in more than 40 villages and in some areas we are the principal provider of rural housing."