A Day in the Hayfields (1904)

Very often when people think of England, they conjure up images of an idealised rural landscape on a hot summer's day; in 'A Day in the Hayfields', Cecil Hepworth gives us just that. We see the men and horses reaping and stacking as the village babies play in the piles of hay, throwing themselves into the soft grass with unalloyed abandon.

The film is a classic example of the 'interest film' - in one of its manifestations, the interest film would document agricultural or industrial process from beginning to end - here we see the haymaking from reaping to the finished rick, filmed with an eye for the picturesque.

Although made before the book was even written, the film will strike a chord with anyone who has read Flora Thompson's 'Lark Rise to Candleford' - this is the genuine article. (Bryony Dixon)

You can watch almost 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• Edwardian
• 1900s
• countryside
• farming
• horses
• children
• Lark
• Rise
• Candleford

[KYGuyz]

This is the way we still farm. I think the world would be alot better place if more people still did!

[the1rjmac]

I was born in the first half of the last century-really don't want to say when- and I did this sort of thing as a teenager. I don't remember it as being so hard but it did raise a sweat and cool water never tasted as good.

Lots of laughs in those days. And no---I am not as old as this film. thanks for the posting.

[JimStall]

I loved this video> it was very heart warming. Can't really explain it. Thank you.

[OmegaWolf747]

I always get a slight tinge of melancholy when I watch these old films. I can't explain it.

[britfan90]

I swear I did this as a kid. Like ten years ago :p

[truckereleven]

45 years later in the state of Maine, we mowed, turned over, raked and loaded the hay wagons exactly the same way. The only thing we didn't do was play in it the way it shows in the video. Too hot, dusty and extremely itchy to do that.

Thanks for the video, brought back great memories of a time we cannot go back to.

[MrMjym]

i am 59 and i work with these old farm machinery

[chanctonbury63]

@asonofleemarvin Ill give you a clue. Its in the title.

[chanctonbury63]

We used to roll around in the hay like that at my Grandmas. She was a smoker and when we came in for supper shed light one up and then burn the ticks of each of us in turn.

[chanctonbury63]

Where is this?