Episode 4 Stuck on Sheep Mountain

Two ordinary families are about to go on a journey of a lifetime.

They're travelling back in time over 120 years to 1890.

For one month, they'll live like Victorian hill farmers,

looking after all these animals.

I think ten out of ten hard.

Coming up, there's a blizzard,

and the families are battling for survival.

I'm worried that if this lasts three or four days,

we're effectively marooned up here.

The money and the food are running out.

I'm frightened to eat just in case we haven't got anything left.

Things are so bad, nine-year-old Jac has to work in the quarry.

I feel like... like a man.

And back at school, Ela has to cover up for her brother.

Jac is ill in bed, sir.

And the kids throw a party, a hen party.

Chick, chick, chick, chick, chicken!

Two families, one mountain, one month.

How will they survive,

stuck on Sheep Mountain?

Snowdonia, North Wales, and this Victorian hill farm, frozen in time,

has been home to our two families for the last three weeks.

Tommy and Leah Braddock have been living with no electricity,

no central heating, and no bathroom.

I can say I've been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

There's only an outdoor loo, and it honks.

It is very different. But we could get used to it.

Neighbours Jac and Ela Jones and their family live a field away,

and their house is even smaller.

What have been the highlights?

Nothing.

So far the families have struggled with life in 1890.

I can't believe people eat it.

Are you going to eat it? Yes.

-Yes.

-No.

-Of course you are. Yes.

-No.

They've almost run out of cash,

and the lack of food and money is stressing everybody out.

Respect. You lack it completely.

To give respect, right... If you give me respect, right, you get it back.

But there has been something to celebrate.

The weak lamb has made a full recovery.

It's a fighter, I think, so it'll fight.

They can breathe a sigh of relief for now,

but in 1890, there was always a problem just around the corner.

It's early spring on Sheep Mountain,

but this morning it looks like a winter wonderland.

Everything's covered in five centimetres of the fluffy stuff.

Even the veg is frozen.

Everybody!

School's been cancelled and everyone's gutted (!)

-Hi.

-Today we're off school.

Off school!

With no telly or video games, they must make their own fun.

But for Ela and Leah, there's one too many Jacks in this card game.

-Snap.

-Jac, get out the way!

They're playing snap. Yep, Leah's snapped.

Come over here, please.

-Jac's...

-He's a nightmare. He's not in school today.

I can hear you, Mum, I'm not deaf.

-Jac's a nuisance.

-Total nuisance.

I know he's frustrated, there's not a lot to do today.

-It's snowing and he can't really go out.

-But he is quite bad at entertaining himself.

If he was at home, he'd be sent to his room and he'd be staying there.

Tommy's not bored. He's braving the weather to build a snowman.

And Leah's helping out.

She's making the head.

It's huge.

You'll never lift that!

GROANING

Told you. Where's a grown up when you need one?

-Could you help us lift this one?

-And lift.

-Oops.

-Oh, dear.

Not the head that collapsed, the body collapsed.

This calls for some emergency surgery.

Now it's time to give him a face from the veg patch.

-What's that?

-A nose.

-A nose?

-Yeah, some kind of carrot.

There you are. There's the nose.

They're good arms. Looks like a quarry man.

The white stuff may be fun, but the arctic weather is snow joke for the pigs.

As for the Welsh mountain sheep,

they need extra grain to boost their energy.

The mothers are nice and warm in their woolly jumpers,

but the newborn lambs are underdressed, and they'll need special care in the snow.

It's the type of weather where you could start losing lambs and them dying

because they give birth in the spring when it's supposed to be nice weather, a bit warmer.

The safest place for the sheep and lambs is in the barn.

The families can't afford an expensive vet,

and all animals will be treated like pampered pets

until the weather improves.

The big brothers and dads will have plenty of time,

because the slate quarry where they work is shut.

Back then, no work meant no pay.

I'm worried that if this lasts three or four days, what are we going to do?

We're effectively marooned up here,

and find ourselves at the end of the week, short of food.

Food supplies are already running out for Leah and Tommy's family.

Big brothers Jordan and Jamie and Dad eat a lot,

and Mum's at the end of her tether.

I can't say to them, "Don't eat the food",

because they've got to eat the food

and there's huge arguments over it, so they've got to have it so...

Seems like Leah and Tommy's mum just can't take any more.

She has been trying her hardest

to keep everyone happy and herself happy

and she's started to lose it a bit,

um, which I understand why, because it is stressful.

Ela and Jac's mum is also finding life in 1890 tough.

A small cut has gone gammy.

Oh, sore finger, very sore finger.

I haven't slept a wink last night cos it was just throbbing. It's very painful.

I think all the juice is going to come out.

There was no National Health Service back then

and she can't afford an expensive doctor,

so she's got to remove the septic pus herself. Nice (!)

Juice!

Ow.

Juice. Green, yucky juice!

Bit faint at the minute.

The medicine penicillin wasn't discovered until 1928,

so many Victorians died of septicemia, a grim form of blood poisoning.

A cut as small as this could be fatal

but Mum's first aid has worked, and she'll be fine.

That was cool.

It's lunchtime. Leah and Tommy's mum is still stressed

about the lack of food,

but she'll be even more fed up in a minute.

The dreaded rent collector is here to carry out a surprise house check

and he'll find any excuse to issue a fine.

-Morning.

-Come on in.

-You well?

-Yes, fine, thank you.

I just thought I'd call just to make an inspection.

-Can I just have a quick look round?

-Yeah.

Bit of rubbish in the corner there.

-Needs a mop, doesn't it?

-Nice to see you, too (!)

The agreement says you really have to be keeping the place in a tidy condition.

The rent collector's not impressed,

and he's about to give a double whammy. He's had a tip-off.

I understand from the shop keeper you've been selling your produce in the local shop.

Some cake's been sold, so again, we should have some percentage out of that.

The landlord doesn't mind them selling cake so long as he gets his slice,

the equivalent of two days' worth of food.

-All right, we'll see you again.

-Yep, thank you. Bye.

There's no way they can afford to pay their rent now.

He's on his way to Ela and Jac's.

Thankfully, their mum's spotted him.

-Quick.

-Action stations.

Oh God! We need a genie!

Maybe they can avoid a fine.

Five, four, three,

two, one.

-Hello, Mr Jones?

-Good morning.

-How are you, all right?

-Yes, lovely weather.

-Nice to see you. Mrs Jones.

-Morning, how are you?

Obviously difficult to keep clean,

but this needs some sprucing up, doesn't it?

Unfortunately the kids are off school, so I won't be able to do much cleaning today.

But I'll try.

Yes, well, we need to. Let's have a look at these walls here.

It was OK when we did the first inspection, wasn't it?

Wet at night. Damp for the kids in bed.

Well, you'll have to see if you can get it sorted out somehow.

The house is damp and leaky, and back in 1890, that could cause illness.

But many landlords didn't care about the families who rented from them.

There's dust on here.

It's not clean enough, so Jac's mum and dad are fined.

They're handing over money that could buy three days' worth of food.

That's not all. He's on the lookout for the poacher

who's been stealing fish from the landlord's river and trying to sell them.

We've seen him about, but obviously we've refused to buy anything off him.

Right, OK, fine, if that's the case.

But it's a very serious thing.

Obviously, I'm going to have to fine very heavily on that.

-You can check the sheds. There's nothing.

-OK.

Nice to see you, Mr Jones, Mrs Jones.

After that warning, they'd be crazy to buy anything from the poacher.

Some day soon, he'll be back for the rent, money the families can't spare.

But for now, they're not going to let it bring them down.

It's a free for all, and even Peggy the Pig's trying to hog the action.

It's really good to be out in the fresh air,

and a bit of banter between both families.

But of course, there's always more banter from Jamie, as usual.

Everybody hates Ronaldo in football because he's the best,

so everybody hates me because I'm the best at throwing snowballs.

Shall we take him down, guys?

Looks like Jamie's for it.

I enjoyed it, but when Jamie hit me in the face, I didn't enjoy it.

I was on the sideline,

and I reckon that man of the match was Jac, definitely.

Well done, Jac.

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

It's nearly supper time. The cows Ceridwen and Ruth have been milked,

and the animals have been fed.

At Leah and Tommy's, they've got through all the food they were given when they arrived three weeks ago.

There's no meat left, so tonight, Mum's defrosted some veg from the veg patch and made soup.

Everyone's finding the food really dull.

-What did you have for breakfast?

-Oats.

-What about yesterday?

-Oats.

-The day before?

-Oats.

I miss... Hmmm, tuna.

What did you have for dinner the night before the night before?

Potato, potato, potato.

I'm missing chocolate a lot.

I'm reckon when we finish,

we could be wobbling out of this place looking like potatoes.

There's only one man who can save them from coming out in spuds,

the poacher.

He's been stealing fish from the landlord's rivers,

and he's going to try to sell them.

If the families are caught buying the fish, they could be thrown out of their homes.

But it's tempting.

-Are they poached fish or...?

-Er, yes.

-Cos we've had the landlord's agent out today.

-Oh, yes?

-And he's warned us about buying goods that are poached.

-Oh.

So we don't really want to get into any trouble.

-I think we should buy the fish.

-Yeah.

-I think so as well.

-I don't think.

-It would be nice to have a change.

-How big is it?

Quite big. Would you like to see them?

Back in 1890, people were so hungry, they'd do anything for a proper meal,

even break the law.

-Is it tuna fish?

-No, it's trout.

But is it worth being thrown off the farm?

-We'll have to decline this time. You know what it's like. Rent.

-Oh, yes.

No, not this time.

OK, bye.

Goodbye, yummy fish. Hello, veg soup.

Over at Ela and Jac's, it's a very different story.

Dad's going to break the law.

-No.

-We'll take one, shall we?

-Two.

And Ela's terrified they'll get found out.

Don't eat it. You're going to get caught.

-Don't worry, Els.

-I'm not talking to you.

We won't get caught.

We'll keep moving the fish around, Els, all round the house.

So that people that might think they know where it is...

Let's hope the landlord doesn't smell something... fishy.

OK, we'll hide it.

In 1890, every day was a battle for families to put food on the table

and keep a roof over their heads.

Early next morning, and overnight, the snow has started thawing,

and everything's slowly getting back to normal.

The lads and dads will be able to earn money at the quarry, hurrah!

And the children will be going back to school. Boo!

Cos I would rather be at home, playing in the snow.

Like maybe have another snowball fight or something.

Instead of going to boring school.

Ooh, there's some post.

Dad, something's just come through the door.

In 1890, hill farmers didn't have a regular postal service,

so it must be important.

It's the worst news they could possibly have.

Their old friend the landlord is threatening to triple the rent

by asking for three months' rent,

instead of the one they thought they'd be paying.

That's serious money.

It's all too much for Leah and Tommy's mum,

who can't even afford to feed the family, let alone pay the extra rent.

I think it's been building up.

You know, when you're watching the food get less and less and less.

You have good days,

but I know that a big lump of food in this house doesn't last.

You know, there's six of us.

I feel dizzy.

At Ela and Jac's, they've received the same letter.

A letter for Mr Jones.

"Dear Mr Jones."

Give it to Dad, then.

"Mr Cornwallace..."

It's full of big words.

"I am currently in..." I can't read that word.

But Dad can read them.

"I am currently undecided as to the rent that will be collected this month."

"I reserve the right to demand a full quarter rent payment."

They can't afford three months' rent,

but dad's got a plan to bring in some extra cash.

-Do you want to come and see what it's like in the quarry?

-Yeah.

See if there's a job for you. See if we can make a bit more money.

Ela will have to make an excuse that you're not well for the teacher.

-When do you usually arrive?

-We arrive to start at nine o'clock.

Be there or we get a fine. That's why you need to get your socks on.

Cos if we get a fine, it comes out of my money.

-You're the apprentice today.

-Am I Alan Sugar?

Let's hope he doesn't get fired.

In 1890, children had to go to school until the ripe old age of 12,

so by sending Jac to the quarry, his family are breaking the law again.

Desperate times mean desperate measures,

but if they get found out, the family will be fined,

so Mum's come up with a convincing story.

And remember to say Jac's really ill in bed with flu.

Just apologise to Sir, OK?

He'll be back tomorrow.

OK? Have a good day. Bye.

Now it's down to Ela to tell a fib to the teacher.

This would have been terrifying. Victorian teachers had the power to physically punish children for lying.

But can Ela hold her nerve?

Does anybody know the whereabouts of Jac?

Um, Jac is ill in bed, sir.

He's ill in bed.

-He's got the flu, sir.

-The flu? I hope the doctor's been?

Yes, sir. He'll be back in school tomorrow, sir.

Short-lived flu.

-Yeah, he's getting better, sir.

-Good.

He bought it.

Back then, families had to stick together.

But there are limits to Ela's loyalty.

If Sir finds out, I think he might be angry at Jac,

but I had nothing to do with it, really, I just lied for him.

But if they ask me why I lied, I'll just say my dad asked me to do it.

Stand up, please.

Children who skipped school missed out on valuable lessons,

and it would affect their chances in life.

Today, Leah, Ela and Tommy are learning about measurements using some Victorian equipment.

Now then, Tommy, will you read out what it says on the end?

-One chain.

-One chain, so will you take that end, please, and go as far as it will take you?

Forget centimetres, metres and kilometres.

Victorians used the Imperial system to measure,

so they'll have to brush up on inches, feet, yards, chains and miles.

Tommy's got the hang of it.

Stretch it out.

The measure of a chain, 20.12 metres,

is still used today as the distance between the stumps on the cricket pitch.

But for Leah, Victorian school just isn't measuring up.

It's the lessons, they're boring.

And it's torture. It's horrible, it's mean, it's... cruel.

How many inches make a foot?

-12.

-12.

How many feet make a yard?

Jac really doesn't know what he's missing.

After a long walk, Jac's reached the slate quarry.

In 1890, North Wales was the centre of roof tile production,

but it was dangerous, dirty, exhausting work.

Time to meet the boss. Will he mind that Jac's a bit young and should be in school?

Who's this young man, then?

This is my son, Jac.

We thought we might need a bit of extra help at the quarries.

And how old is Jac?

Er, Jac's nearly ten.

-Nearly ten? That's good. He'll be able to work, then.

-Yes.

Jac's only nine. He should be in school.

But the boss doesn't care. He knows he can pay Jac less than a man.

Before they can make any roof tiles,

Jac will have to help clear all the snow.

Children would be expected to do a full day, and work just as hard as the grown ups.

Keep going.

And the boss seems to like what he sees.

Well done, Jac, that's the way.

He's showing these men how to do it already, as you can see.

I may have to sack Jamie and take you on, I think.

Get rid of Ben as well, that's it. Have you got another brother?

Jac's so tired he can barely speak. Makes a change.

I just feel like one of the men because I'm in the quarry.

And it's just kind of hard work.

What's important, Jac, is when you're cutting it,

there's a little bow, a bend in the slate, and you've got to put it that way up.

Young apprentices would spend five years learning to make roof tiles.

They weren't allowed to touch, just watch.

But working in the quarry was a risky business.

No-one wore face masks back then,

and many men died from breathing in the fine slate dust.

Painful lung disease was common amongst quarry men.

Jac, I think the men need a cup of tea in ten minutes. Can you put the water on?

One of the apprentice's most important jobs was to make the tea.

And being wound up by the rest of the men was all in a day's work.

Go and ask Mr Humphries for some tartan paint.

No, I know we don't have any.

Tartan paint! Whatever next? A left-handed shovel?

At school, it's also break time, and Tommy's missing his buddy.

It's quite boring without Jac

cos he normally is jumping up and down

and then kind of makes it fun.

I'm the only boy here, and they're skipping, which I don't really feel like doing.

Jac'll probably be winding up everyone at the quarry.

I kind of feel sorry for them,

having to put up with him for six hours.

It's going to be a long day for Tommy.

Back on the farm, Tommy's mum's also having a bad day.

They're running out of food again.

I'm just frightened to eat in case we haven't got anything left.

So...

Sorry it's just been a rough morning.

For the last three weeks, food has been a big deal at Leah and Tommy's.

There are six hungry mouths to feed, and never enough food.

It's caused a lot of trouble.

Respect. You lack it completely.

Dad, I...

To give respect...

If you give me respect, you'll get it back.

Jamie keeps eating all the food, so Daddy's shouting at him.

And then I just get out the way.

I go over Ela's and Jac's.

So now Mum's going next door to ask for help. She's on the scrounge.

It's got to be done, hasn't it, otherwise we'll starve.

Back then, families had to rely on each other.

It's when neighbours became good friends.

We don't go through that much.

As well as sharing some flour for baking bread,

she hands over an armful of veg, and even meat.

That's a real treat.

You can have a... I could give you half of that.

I can give that to the boys, the older ones.

That's dinner sorted tonight.

But she's no idea what she'll do tomorrow.

It's really very neighbourly, very nice of her to give me some of her food.

Because obviously she needs her food as well.

So, yeah, she's been very, very generous.

While the mums have been pulling together, at the quarry, Jac's been pulling his weight.

Unlike big brother Ben.

-Chop, chop, come on.

-Nearly finished.

-And his partner in crime Jamie.

I was taught not to waste, sir.

Waste what? My time.

That's what you're doing. Wasting my time here. Come on!

Nearly finished.

You will be finished in a minute.

Come on.

Today they've been slacking again. They're more interested in making mischief than making roof tiles.

If you look up my nostrils, you can see my nostril hairs.

And why would we want to do that, Jamie?

# Go split some slate, then dress it well

# We need it big and strong

# We'll do our best, we'll beat the rest

# This is a quarry song #

Whoo!

All that song-writing's made Ben sleepy.

What's going on here? Get out! Get up.

Get up.

If you dodged quarry work in Victorian days, you'd be fined.

-I'm cloud watching.

-Just get back to work. Now.

That's another tuppence fine for you, Ben, OK?

That's four pence today now already.

Ben will have to make ten more roof tiles to pay for it.

Now it's down to little brother Jac to bring home the money.

The apprentice's last job of the day was to tidy up.

-He's done well, haven't you, Jac? Did you enjoy yourself?

-Yes, sir.

Well, here you are, I've got some money. Don't tell anybody, OK?

Oh, how much is he going to get?

Sixpence here for you, for your hard work here today.

I'm hoping to see you in the quarry in a few years' time.

Sixpence? It's enough to buy a loaf of bread but not much else.

But Jac's happy.

You did well today.

I did my job and got my money so quite a good day.

I feel, like, a bit older,

but not, like,... I feel like a man.

After a nine-hour day, children would then be expected to make the long walk home

before doing it all again tomorrow.

They're all back home for the evening,

and they're having a party, a hen party.

Come on, lay your cards down.

With a card game thrown in.

We have two Aces. We have a pair. What do you have?

They're trying to win eggs.

Makes a change from chips.

Hey, they're my eggs!

Stop egging him on, Leah.

Jac's lost his winnings. So he's trying to rustle up some more.

Chick, chick, chick, chicken.

It's no yolk, but it's cheered up Mum no end.

It's the Queen of hearts.

Shame there's always one party pooper.

Thanks to Ela and Jac's mum,

Leah and Tommy's family sit down to a slap-up supper.

The ham she donated has been roasted

and is being served with boiled leeks with butter, crisp jacket potatoes,

and a rich parsley gravy.

It's like Masterchef.

Can someone pass the gravy?

-What word goes at the end of that?

-Please?

But should she have saved some of it for tomorrow?

Am I allowed some more veg? Yes, please, that will do.

Everyone's grateful, especially 19-year-old Jamie, who's been constantly hungry in 1890.

I think after this, I'll have a whole different outlook on food

and appreciate food a lot more than I do.

The meat will keep them all going for now,

but they can't keep borrowing from the neighbours.

Drastic measures will have to be taken.

Next time, the magic lantern's in town,

and guess who's got front-row seats?

It's results day at school, so who's going to be top of the class?

The highest mark overall goes to...

You'll have to wait and see.

And after a month on Sheep Mountain, it's time to go home.

The most best experience of my life.

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