https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/6421e5d4-e047-4fe6-ab25-22c4b5f5424f Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCddem5RlB3bQe99wyY49g0g/join Want to learn more about Periscope Film and get access to exclusive swag? Join us on Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/PeriscopeFilm Visit our website www.PeriscopeFilm.com This film "The Grassy Shires" is one in the "Pattern of Britain" series. It dates to 1944 and presents a profile of the Heart of England -- the shires of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Rutland, and Warwickshire, and their important roles in feeding the nation. The film was directed and written by Ralph Keene, and narrated by Tom Clarke. The film highlights the gentle, undulating countryside, rich farmlands, and quiet villages. It also discusses the historical and current significance of Leicester as a manufacturing town, known for its woolen goods, hosiery, boots, and shoes. Additionally, it covers the impact of ironstone quarrying on the land and the efforts to restore farmland. The film also delves into the dairy farming practices in the Vale of Belvoir, famous for producing Stilton cheese, and the various breeds of cattle raised in the region. It also touches on the changes brought about by World War II, including the plowing of grasslands and the involvement of the Women's Land Army and other labor sources in farming.Overall the film paints a picture of a region with a rich agricultural heritage, balanced with industrial activities and a strong sense of community. 0:30 - 1:05: Description of the Midland shires in England, highlighting the gentle, undulating landscape and quiet villages. 1:20 - 1:31: Mention of fine country houses and the sporting squires of the past. 1:41 - 2:00: The Midland counties are described as an island between industrial areas to the west and east. 2:05 - 2:40: Introduction to Leicester, a prosperous manufacturing town with a population of 300,000, known for its woolen goods, hosiery, boots, and shoes. 2:59 - 3:21: Discussion of ironstone quarrying in the region and its impact on the land. 3:29 - 4:10: Farmers' concerns about preserving topsoil during ironstone extraction and efforts to restore farmland. 4:37 - 5:00: Description of the Vale of Belvoir, known for its dairy farming and production of Stilton cheese. 5:02 - 5:35: Explanation of why the land is suitable for dairy farming and the history of Stilton cheese production. 5:41 - 6:09: Cooperative dairies and the use of whey for pig farming. 6:20 - 7:10: Discussion of different breeds of cattle and their characteristics, including their origins and qualities. 7:30 - 8:00: Grazing practices and the importance of managing pastureland effectively. 8:14 - 9:17: The skills required for successful grazing, including selecting the right animals and managing pastureland. 9:43 - 10:12: The process of preparing cattle for market and the impact of wartime changes on cattle markets. 10:15 - 11:00: Wartime cattle markets and the role of government in purchasing cattle. 11:01 - 11:57: The social aspect of cattle markets and the local life they reveal. 12:14 - 12:28: The impact of World War II on farming practices in Leicestershire, including plowing up grassland. 12:37 - 13:17: The role of the Women's Land Army and other labor sources in wartime farming. 13:29 - 14:14: Efforts to drain waterlogged land and the use of soldiers and local labor for harvesting. 14:17 - 15:28: Post-war farming practices, including crop rotation and maintaining grassland traditions. 15:31 - 15:55: The potential for Leicestershire to continue producing dairy and beef while also growing crops. Motion picture films don't last forever; many have already been lost or destroyed. For almost two decades, we've worked to collect, scan and preserve the world as it was captured on 35mm, 16mm and 8mm movies -- including home movies, industrial films, and other non-fiction. If you have endangered films you'd like to have scanned, or wish to donate celluloid to Periscope Film so that we can share them with the world, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us via the weblink below. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sv69GTbhgNY Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 15:08:14 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/6421e5d4-e047-4fe6-ab25-22c4b5f5424f All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.