Exploring the17th Century Roads of England

Exploring the17th Century Roads of England - Jack Hargreaves

Рет қаралды 198,241

6 ай бұрын

In this fascinating episode of Old Country (formerly Out of Town on Southern Television), Jack Hargreaves explores the historical journey of England's roads at the end of the 17th century and the challenges faced by traveler's. Learn about the state of the roads, their maintenance, and the impact on transportation. Discover the transformation brought about by Turnpike Roads in the 18th century, built by local gentlemen with toll gates to fund maintenance. Follow a modern-day journey along one of these historic roads using a horse-drawn cart, experiencing the landscape and encountering remnants of the past, such as milestones and crossroads. Encounter a traveling family living at the pace of the 18th century, preserving traditions and adapting to the road conditions. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of the King's Highway, reflecting on a bygone era when this route played a crucial role in the country's travel and trade.
#JackHargreaves, #OutofTown, #Dorset
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Пікірлер: 620

@mainstay. 6 ай бұрын

I know Jack Hargreaves is extolling the quality of life from a 'bygone' age, the old English Countryside of the 17th century but I watch his shows to reminisce of the bygone days of England in the 1970's and 1980's !.

@davebloke829 6 ай бұрын

Me too! It's heart breaking really!

@TheGreatest1974 6 ай бұрын

So true. 👍🇬🇧

@rahawa774 6 ай бұрын

Same… I watch old Crimewatch episodes for the same reason.

@keithrose6931 6 ай бұрын

@rahawa774 A much whiter and less diverse line up in those days.

@damoog5985 6 ай бұрын

Chasing our youth

@pteppicsmith1631 6 ай бұрын

Thank you Dave Knowles , for keeping Jack Hargreaves alive in the 21st century along with his brilliant storytelling and reminiscences i was born in the 60’s and grew up watching Jack on Sunday mornings , even in the 70’s and 80’s the world was a much nicer more gentle place to live , again thank you Dave and Jack

@alcatraz3539 4 ай бұрын

The good old days when Britain was a lovely country to be raised and live in. Brings back great memories of great times.

@user-po7ks4iz4q 6 ай бұрын

I live in Thailand at the moment it's hot sweaty and dusty. When I see Jack and the beautiful English countryside I get so homesick. Jack reminds me of my Grandad who I loved so much. Thank you so much for posting this it's very special to me

@mark-shane 6 ай бұрын

yes me also.. I will visit my home area Somerset and Dorset in April

@rogerspencer9698 6 ай бұрын

my grandad passed in 1986 - watching these makes me feel like he is with me again - he loved Out of Town and Old Country

@bobroberts6155 6 ай бұрын

I love watching these wonderful programmes but the sense of nostalgia they evoke is so powerful as to be almost painful. I wondered why for a while before I identified the feeling as grief. Where did my country go?

@Mark-zi4jb 5 ай бұрын

So very well put. The pain you describe is absolutely real

@keithadams1538 6 ай бұрын

These films are priceless. After watching I always ask the question where the hell have we ended up

@Musrusticus- 6 ай бұрын

I remember watching Jack as a child and remember that world he’s in very well. Gosh, but I miss it…

@HarryDoddema 6 ай бұрын

I love these. It always sounds like Mr Hargreaves lived all this history himself, and I would totally believe he did.

@Calaburn 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for posting this. A fascinating and relaxing journey into the past. These programs are a soothing balm in todays world.

@lesallison9047 6 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊 A short escape from the pandemonium of modern times. I'm so glad I was born in the 60s. ✌♥️ 🇬🇧

@mikew55555 6 ай бұрын

6,30 of a Friday evening Jack was on the TV, always watched it as a kid, we'll never see his like again. Thank you Jack.

@mattwillis9173 6 ай бұрын

Something I wanted to share was the origin of the term ‘pot hole’ in a road. From medieval times the passage of carts on the old roads would expose pockets of decent quality clay. The local pottery would dig this clay out leaving a large hole. So having filled with water another traveller could smash down into this hole possibly breaking the axle and gave birth to the expression of having hit a pot hole in the road. Sorry - enthusiastic .

@tillybinkieking7258 6 ай бұрын

How very interesting. Living on the higher terraces of River Thames. Somewhat clay, there was a place on the Wimbledon Common called Brickfield, (near Caesar's Well). Also visited Brownsea Island, Poole. Interesting story about clay there. People hoped to make a fortune by making good quality wares but unfortunately, the clay was only good for underground pipework.

@lesallison9047 6 ай бұрын

Interesting, thank you.

@markhartfield8186 6 ай бұрын

I didn't realise at the time how privileged I was to watch these programs growing up in Britain

@dungbetel Ай бұрын

A time when programmes on television took the trouble to explain things about life, the environment, countryside etc, without gimmicks, just an old boy who knew what he was talking about and could get it over to the audience in calm and spellbinding manner. Obviously, the attention span of people in those days was a lot greater than today. Good memories.

@nomore6939 6 ай бұрын

Never has anyone filled this man's shoes and never will they

@billguyan1913 6 ай бұрын

Jack Hargreaves' knowledge of rural life was amazing. I used to look forward to "Out Of Town" when I got home from school.

@david_v2.1 6 ай бұрын

Only 40 years ago but seems like a different world. Great to see these programmes again

@Jack-pu4rf 6 ай бұрын

Jack Hargreaves has a voice and a way of telling things that I find intoxicating and could listen to his knowledgeable commentary without getting distracted or bored, my grandfather and I would watch his show, RIP Jack Hargreaves 🌹

@mark-shane 6 ай бұрын

What a wonderful way to spend the evening on the hill as the horse grazes watching the sun go down, Remember it well.

@petercarney56 6 ай бұрын

i love these videos i was born next to liverpool docks and at age 6 yrs [back in 1962] we moved to the outskirts amongst farms and stretches of countryside wow i was reborn again looked foreword to the school holidays when me and my mates would set out at 7-8 am to spend the day in the woods climbing trees lighting a camp fire and not get home until it was getting dark. i recently purchased the video set of out of town would recommend

@straighttalkingguy7366 6 ай бұрын

Reminds me of when I was a boy. Wild and free roaming the country side. Oh how I miss it

@kimholland9316 4 ай бұрын

A great broadcaster. So much knowledge delivered in such an interesting manner. Jack was one of a kind.

@ABW5662 6 ай бұрын

It's as if time took it's time to enjoy the beauty.

@CyberSlammer2024 6 ай бұрын

Watching this makes you want to time travel back

@paul-nx8fl 6 ай бұрын

Much appreciated uploads, always watched jack with my dad ,happy memories. Just hitting 60 ,seems like yesterday

@chrisst8922 17 күн бұрын

This is what I think of when I'm trying to get home on a Friday afternoon. Because of all the roadworks, accidents and traffic on the motorways, I have to explore the 17th Century roads of England.

@alisonjoy6325 4 ай бұрын

Thank you Dave for these films. I well remember my late partner religiously watching these every week. I didn’t really appreciate them then but I certainly do now!

@junkyardmagic 6 ай бұрын

Jack really was one of the true greats. Thank you

@cliveadams7629 6 ай бұрын

Used to love Jack Hargreaves, watched him on the telly after school. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

@richieixtar5849 Ай бұрын

@9.00, Watching Jack climb over that gate. I was always taught that if you had to climb a gate you should climb it at the hinge end which is the strongest part to bear downwards pressure. Hhhhmmm.

@user-eg7uw9ls4o 16 күн бұрын

Me the same

@Feddergenetics 3 ай бұрын

30 years since JH passed away now….. loved this series always will

@SmallWonda 6 ай бұрын

So grateful you are preserving this poignant History of an England they would have us deny. Happy New Year - keep safe Everyone!

@letranger-4306 5 ай бұрын

Who is 'they'? What are 'they' denying?

@szde 4 ай бұрын

Don't you know there is an all-powerful cabal who control world governments who are suppressing all knowledge of British nature and history documentaries from the 70s and 80s?!?@@letranger-4306

@ronseymour4976 6 ай бұрын

Jack Hargreaves made a big impact on me in my youth. There is something in his unrehearsed delivery that evokes a feeling of sanity and contentment in me. He has the ability to lead me into a world free of the entrapment that most of us feel today.

@user-jp5rv1fs2j 3 ай бұрын

I love the respect he showed the gypsies. 'and here's a family who have stopped for a rest' no need to preface it with 'gypsey' or 'traveller' they were just a family. What a gentleman.

@Packyboy 3 ай бұрын

Jack saw people not labels.👏👏

@TerryC69 6 ай бұрын

Hi Dave! Was not old Jack an amazing man? Such a romantic and natural teacher. Thank you for sharing these wonderful efforts!

@syncrosimon 4 ай бұрын

We have lost so much, very sad😢😢

@goddam9925 6 ай бұрын

Always brings a tear too my eye thanks again for posting !!

@deborah85728 6 ай бұрын

I didn’t want it to end , it was so relaxing to watch , thank you for sharing these .

@Redhackle 4 ай бұрын

I always find the theme music so sad. But it warms my heart. I have no connection to this Alice and Wonderland World we find ourselves in. All the best 🇨🇦

@WhammyBamber-wn2jv 4 ай бұрын

Every time I hear that tune....brings back childhood memories on life was simple but beautiful

@gavinstrachan1373 3 ай бұрын

Theme tune haven't heard it since childhood lovely to hear it again brings back lovely memories times gone past with family.😊

@martinwarner1178 5 ай бұрын

Every Dave I have ever met, has proved his worth. Thanks Dave for putting together these episodes. Peace and contentment is what it gives me.

@shogun884 6 ай бұрын

As always a great pleasure to watch these films, such depth of knowledge and wisdom, we couldn't be any farther away from such simple unhurried times if we tried . To watch this is to soothe the soul.

@porkstack 3 ай бұрын

The Best of the best. Almost forgotten history. Thanks Jack and to all those who make it possible for us to view it today.

@stevegarrod4764 4 ай бұрын

You can trust a man with a pipe! Thanks for loading this- I do remember watching these when I stayed with my dad. Happy days.

@christislord2832 Ай бұрын

Bob. Mortimer mentioned in his book that he loved watching these programmes, I read it today..then lo and behold …you tube brought this up as a suggestion to watch 😮

@m.brizzy5407 6 ай бұрын

Thank you David for posting this amazing footage by Jake. A most beloved filmmaker. I grew up watching Jack and he enthused me for the things of the countryside. I still live in the countryside, but in Germany.

@General813 6 ай бұрын

Very nice series that you can watch again and again... better times than today.

@pauljane3323 6 ай бұрын

Many thanks for your efforts in resurrecting Jack's fabulous programmes. Thoroughly enjoyable and could watch it for hour's.

@mattwillis9173 6 ай бұрын

I lived many years on the A40 east of High Wycombe in a village called Loudwater. Historically getting its name from the speed of the river Wye powering dozens of mills. There is also a 1760 distance marker showing exactly half way between Oxford and Uxbridge. There was of course an old inn there called The Halfway House. The pub I knew it as was mostly built into the old stable, which was absolutely vast.

@tillybinkieking7258 6 ай бұрын

Thank you. It is always fun to learn!

@billbarton9046 6 ай бұрын

I was born just up the road in Wycombe Marsh back in the 60s.In my teenage years I drank in the Halfway house pub.It was a bit of a hike, taking my then girl friend,back up to her house in Flackwell heath via Treadaway hill, after the pub.😅

@Kit-vb5rm 6 ай бұрын

Although I grew up watching and listening to Jack, I find it painful and sad now to look at the world in which he lived and described so faithfully. His learning and gained knowledge and his willingness to share and encourage by that sharing. I am now not that much older than Jack at the time of this recording and the momentous changes I see around me make me quite willing to go when my time comes, with any kind of luck I might meet Jack and maybe I will be able to tell him how my Great Grandmother would sell her fresh eggs to Joe Sainsbury to sell from his stall, or perhaps he had his first shop by then. Whatever God there is, may he bless you Jack.

@lesallison9047 6 ай бұрын

I feel the same way, there is not much left except to reminisce with people of your own age. There are though, lots of old films on utube, which make me happier while watching them. Regards and Merry Christmas 🎅 🎄

@Nnnuuk 4 ай бұрын

Some of the finest TV ever made.

@andrewjohnson388 6 ай бұрын

That was heart warming ...remember this as a kid, something warm and hearty of yonder.

@buskingkarma2503 Ай бұрын

I'd love to go back in time to the 70s take a journey with Jack in his horse drawn carriage!👌

@johnwelbourn3811 6 ай бұрын

What an astonishing video, so relaxing to watch, straight out of a Thomas Hardy novel.

@NeilofTamarind 4 ай бұрын

How delightful to be transported back to my early days, as well as the 17th century. What an irony that this is made possible by 21st century technology! I do miss the gentler pace of the 60s/70s, a time when we weren't bombarded with information from all angles.

@sherman4970 5 ай бұрын

Now this takes me right back. I watched when I was very young with my dad. Many years later I bought him the dvd box set. He has gone now but the memories are always with me!

@MarkWilliams-en9fv 6 ай бұрын

Thank you Dave and Steve for yet another great insight into ancient country life! I know the old turnpike road very well,as a child in the sixties my parents would take my sister and I to studland beach near corfe castle,then on the way home we would stop at the cashmoor inn for a bag of cheese and onion,and a cherryade! Wonderful childhood memories! I'm in my 60's now and live in Australia,and your unique films bring home to me just how much I miss the beautiful South england countryside,and the people like Jack who loved it too!

@pingpong5000 6 ай бұрын

Jack the gift that just keeps giving, I have watched Jack on TV since the days of How, always entertaining and producing in me the joy of learning, but now always with a little tear in my eye, not just from the loss of Jack but also the loss of our history as he shows due to the passage of time and the disrespect by people of what came before. What a little gem that Here and Herod comment was, every day that I learn something new is a good day, cheers Jack. Thanks for sharing this though I have many of his out-of-town series I do not remember seeing this one before.

@General813 5 ай бұрын

Just slow down and learn something and feel like you've been transported back to the 80s. Jack Hargreave is just great😊👍

@MrNaKillshots 4 ай бұрын

I put this on to soothe my mind.

@ruskinyruskiny1611 4 ай бұрын

Try scrumpy

@flashcracker1 6 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for posting this. I do however find it very sad with the realisation of how many wonderful things, people, events and customs we have lost in such a short space of time and , sadly, replaced with antisocial behaviour, litter, congestion and general lack of appreciation of the environment. Jack Hargreaves was a true ambassador.

@onionsyes 6 ай бұрын

The main source of antisocial behaviour that ruins these places is... cars!

@apacherider7110 6 ай бұрын

Great to Jack's old TV series. These need to be kept in the UK archives or this history will be lost and today's and future generations will have nothing to learn from.

@Daytona2 5 ай бұрын

It's archived on KZfaq 😊 ...and yes, governmets need to be ready to step in if KZfaq ever closes.

@birdance 6 ай бұрын

Oh Dave 🎉 your generosity has done it...this is in my opinion the greatest Jack Hargreaves episode, The Kings Highway! And yet there are still more greats on the DVD. As Jack said, it's a milestone 🎉 Blue and Jack among the magnificence of the old highway. It's time travel. And we are invited to join them. Thank you very much

@ditch46uk Ай бұрын

A great video. Jack reminds me of my grandfather, an old countryman who was fascinating to talk to. Now sadly long dead. What strikes me as well are the small sized vehicles and lack of traffic congestion back then.

@garypointing5825 6 ай бұрын

What a great film. The gypsys trying to live their traditional life. Sadly they have been stopped. Droves in my valley are now often overgrown and if it wasn't for horse riders would be lost

@peterfawcett9969 6 ай бұрын

Yes it the same in Yorkshire where many of the drove roads I recall of 40 years ago are now reduced to a foot path, due to vegetation encroachment.

@montyf2165 4 ай бұрын

A lovely filmed document illustrating the Britain rapidly diminishing today. Lovely to see genuine English travellers whose name is sullied by the so called travellers we see today. Historians of the future will not view our era well.

@alanwann9318 6 ай бұрын

An interesting subject Britains old roads

@nicbennetts9459 2 ай бұрын

Can remember pulling sickies to get off school if his daytime program had fishing I was hooked but then I realised this man had a way to get me interested in any subject he talked about I probably learnt more being of school than going 50 odd yrs ago but I miss those times thanks Jack rip

@paulleonard1862 6 ай бұрын

The wonderful soundtrack of my youth.

@peterfawcett9969 6 ай бұрын

I've waited for years for this, since I first watched it in the 1980s on TV. A wonderful record.

@ragwortrattle8798 6 ай бұрын

This is a great review of the history we were taught - in the old days! It's lovely to see these preserved programmes of Jack's to keep the knowledge available.

@hircenedaelen 6 ай бұрын

These videos REALLY help me when i'm struggling with stress, thank you so much

@turbosnail159 3 ай бұрын

I would love to have had a beer with Jack and Fred dibnah 🍻🍻

@keitcutmore497 4 ай бұрын

I love and remember these what a wonderful man.

@terryteed1903 4 ай бұрын

Went passed the Cashmoor inn this morning. Gone. All boarded up. What a shame.

@everready_mtb 4 ай бұрын

Do you know why it's shut?

@terryteed1903 4 ай бұрын

@@everready_mtb I'd guess lack of trade and extortionate beer prices🤷‍♂️

@everready_mtb 4 ай бұрын

@terryteed1903 I guess, but it looks like it was a decent pub stop 😕

@terryteed1903 4 ай бұрын

@everready_mtb It was a lovely pub, but it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere, a lot of the country pubs are struggling, it's another downfall of the second home market. That and folk just don't drink in them as often.

@Mickster71 29 күн бұрын

The Gypsy family bit was contrived, but overall enjoyable. Watched jack's programmes as a child with my family.

@londonbabe2467 4 ай бұрын

Loved Jack. Glad to see KZfaq has him on the channel.

@richleonard55 6 ай бұрын

What an absolute pleasure to watch. Thanks for posting!

@scottallan1441 4 ай бұрын

Marvellous ! Takes me back to watching this as a child. Thanks for uploading .

@michaelroyames 4 ай бұрын

Indescribable gratitude for this video, Jack. Absolute gold.

@colourconscious 6 ай бұрын

Great to see more of this series. Thank you

@matthewgabbard6415 6 ай бұрын

That horse looks like it loved being out pulling that cart.

@nigelbarrett3602 6 ай бұрын

Thanks as always Dave i was having a crap day watched this video of the great man himself was one of his best. Thanks for making my day a whole lot better wish i could go back to this time he is so missed but thanks to you Dave he still seems to be with us.

@lorrainemorris527 5 ай бұрын

I remember these when I was younger thank you for showing these ones again it's so relaxing and I love the music 🎶🎶🎶. And it's a shame how things have changed so drastically.

@davidmiller3709 6 ай бұрын

I can still sing the theme tune from ‘Out of Town’ sixty years later. I’m sure watching Jack Hargreaves in 1962/3 on Southern up in the Naval Estate on Portsdown Hill surrounded by countryside impressed on my imagination as a nine year-old. As was said in the obituary of Watkins-Pitchford, the author ‘BB’, “A lost voice in a lost world.”

@webrarian 6 ай бұрын

People have always been nostalgic for the things of their childhood. We were children then, and adults dealt with the worrying things of life, just as they have always done. I have very strong memories of watching 'Out of Town' at my grandparents' bungalow in Ramsgate. They'd already lived through two World Wars, separation, loss, growing up in the back streets of Lambeth, ill-health. I knew nothing of that, or of my grandfather beating his sons with his leather belt. All of that came with adulthood.

@muckle8 6 ай бұрын

Spare the rod - spoil the child! - they need to bring that back. Especially in Lambeth HNY to you

@markbur1503 6 ай бұрын

Such a great video Dave. Very clear images and excellent sound too. I do hope theres more of this one.

@vickyingramnymann8543 4 ай бұрын

This is pure escapism.

@skadiwarrior2053 3 ай бұрын

The fact so many people look for an escape says something about the modern world though.

@davebloke829 6 ай бұрын

Thank you for another upload Dave!

@tillybinkieking7258 6 ай бұрын

What a lovely mare was Blue.

@kj-759 3 ай бұрын

I think this one is my favourite of all time, I’d loved to have spent time with that family and horses dog and goat 🥰

@angelafoxmusic7265 3 ай бұрын

How fascinating, and such a gentle style of documentation. Also, that Blue is a very handsome horse. Thankyou for posting this.

@charlesfulcrum3170 5 ай бұрын

Thanks Dave, wonderful video. I’ve trodden the path that Jack follows in the latter part many times. It took me a while to spot it, but it’s ‘The Old Shaftesbury Drove’, that runs from the A30 east of Shaftesbury in the direction of Salisbury. I think he settles down for the night above Fovant Badges. Magical place. For those who are interested, he starts on the A354 from Salisbury heading towards Blandford Forum and passes the Cashmoor Inn (closed at time of writing). At 5.50 he’s driving on the same road, but in the opposite direction and passes the junction to Farnham, Tollard Royal and Shaftesbury. Finally, as mentioned above, he’s on the A30 heading east from Shaftesbury. He turns right up the gravel track about a mile or so after the sign for Berwick St John. Note. Don’t be fooled by the Google or Wiki entries for ‘White Sheet Hill’. There are several, including this one.

@DaveKnowlesFilmmaker 5 ай бұрын

I am so pleased you enjoyed the programme Charles. It is one of my favourites.

@jke360 5 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed this too.

@jke360 5 ай бұрын

Thanks l have spent 2 hours trying to work out the route he took looking on Google earth and thought I was going mad!. Thanks l finally found the route .

@tinkytinca 6 ай бұрын

Spent many a day walking the Kings Highways, including this one. Wishing I still could 😢. Thanx for your contined efforts making me feel old but for a few minutes of your films, young again🖖

@davidbarnes241 6 ай бұрын

A wonderful look back at the time of my youth 👍

@nimrod2550 4 ай бұрын

I visit my in-laws in Dorset a few times a year and always take the road from Salisbury across Cranborne Chase. I never knew the history of the Turnpike or the Kings Highway.Really fascinating. I will walk some of it with my son next time we're down, and raise a glass to old Jack at the end of the day.

@londonbabe2467 4 ай бұрын

Jack was marvellous

@mozdickson 6 ай бұрын

Wow what a bonus to see the Traveller family. Hope they are doing well, and Greetings to Gypsy John and family - from just outside Seven Springs - who kindly gave me this Kiwi passer-by his own almost new waterproof trousers to replace the ones I carelessly lost the day before , as I walked the Cotswold Way in August. I envy him travelling with his horse and wee cart, sleeping on the downs, all he lacks is a large hound!

@juliaforsyth8332 6 ай бұрын

Or a shaggy lurcher.

@salopianblue8765 3 ай бұрын

Stumbled on this by accident. Just superb. Feel like I’ve discovered treasure. Subscribed.

@kj-759 3 ай бұрын

you actually have!

@user-ku7bt4ge9b 2 ай бұрын

Overgrazing by sheep has indeed ruined our countryside.

@keithpilkington907 2 ай бұрын

Lovely thanks Mr Hargreaves and whoever keeps his memory alive all this knowledge will soon be lost thankyou for putting these old classics on he was a brilliant scholer and a gentleman god rest you jack

@pauleades9037 17 күн бұрын

You need to thank Jack's stepson Simon Baddeley, for enabling that!