The 1900 Island

-Daddy! -Is it good news? (male narrator) In the early 1900s, our sailing boats traded across the globe. (Arwel) Dead ahead 80 yards.

(male narrator) And our fishing fleets fed the nation. It's a time that we often look back on with nostalgia. (Mickey) In it comes, in it comes quickly. Herring, brilliant, boys!

(male narrator) But what was it like for everyday communities who made their living from the sea? (Gavin) Whoa! (male narrator) Four modern-day families are heading back over 100 years to the start of the 20th Century. (Cheryl) Oh gosh, look!

(male narrator) To live for a month as a small fishing community on the wild exposed coast of Anglesey. (Lydia) We're about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. (Gavin) One hand you're thinking it's pure magic, it's beauty, the next minute you're carrying out five kids worth of pee. (male narrator) In a time of hand-to-mouth existence.

-At the moment we are skint. -What you looking for? (Cheryl) Want something to eat? (male narrator) Of hard physical graft.

(Kate) I'm not gonna lie, I can think of easier ways to make a living. (male narrator) Both at sea... -Keep coming. -It's caught.

(Mickey) Rip it, rip it. (male narrator)...and at home. (Natalie) I am going to make lunch, I am going to wash your clothes and I am gonna make some bread and then I am going to go cockling as well. (male narrator) The families will have to come together to help each other.

(Lydia) We just wanted to extend our love to you. (Natalie) Oh my goodness, Lydia. (male narrator) Will they fall in the love with the past? Or will they fall apart?

(Kate) This is our end now isn't it? This is actually our end. (male narrator) On the 1900 Island. (Gavin) I'm not giving up for a second, not a chance.

(Arwel) We smashed it. (birds cawing) (lively music) (female narrator) The beautiful tidal island of Llanddwyn off the coast of Anglesey in North Wales. A remote location jutting out into the Irish Sea. No one has lived here for the past 70 years, but all that's about to change.

Just a few miles up the coast, four families with a passion for the past and a longing to escape the demands of the modern world are about to spend the next month living as a 1900 fishing community. (Gavin) Whoa, here we go. -Yeah! -Woo!

(male narrator) The Davies Family of seven are from the Wirral near Liverpool. (Natalie) Yay! (male narrator) They're 39 year old mom, Natalie, 40 year old customer services manager, Gavin and their five children. (Gavin) My three times great grandfather was a laborer in a fishing community just up the coast from Anglesey.

I think the transition from 9-5 office worker to the harsh realities of a fisherman's existence. How I will cope with that I honestly don't know. (Natalie) I always say, if I could just go back in time just for a small time, if I could just have a little look at what it was like, what it was like to wear those clothes and things like that. I think I just want to wear a corset.

(chuckling) (speaking Welsh) (uplifting music) (male narrator) The Powers are a Welsh speaking family of five from Cardiff. They're 40 year old qualified accountant, Lydia, her 36 year old husband, sports development officer and leader in their church, Gareth, and their three children. (Lydia) I think there'll be beauty in the simplicity of the experience of life back then. From the age of about 10 to 18 I lived in a little village called Llansaint.

It wasn't unusual for us to go cockling and have supper that evening of fresh cockles. (Gareth) It is such a unique opportunity to get back to maybe some of the core basics and think and reassess priorities in life. (speaking Welsh) (male narrator) 38 year old geography lecturer, Kate Evans and 36 year old blacksmith, Arwel John are a new couple from Swansea. (Kate) I would love to get out in the fishing boats and have a go, reality is that I'm not sure that was what women were able to do in that period.

(male narrator) Arwel's lived off-grid for several years. (Arwel) I'm a practical guy, so I'm more than happy to-- to sleep rough in the woods and lots of my friends have gone when the zombies come we're gonna knock on your door you're going to be leading our team of survivors 'cause you got the skills, Arwel, it's gonna be great. (male narrator) And the final family are retired couple, 70 year old Clive Barker and his 68 year old wife Cheryl, from Kent. (Cheryl) People of our age don't get this sort of opportunity very often.

I think it's a massive thing to be able to do. (male narrator) They've been married since 1968 and back then, Clive worked as a fisherman. (Clive) I was fishing at Whitstable. I was there for probably nearly five years, I suppose.

Looking back on it, I really enjoyed it. It was just--it was very fulfilling way of life. (male narrator) As the families near the island, the conditions turn. (wind howling) An Atlantic weather front, Storm Ali, is sweeping in from the south west.

(chuckling) (shrieking) Heading for Llanddwyn, with winds gusting up to 80 miles per hour. (Gavin) Oh, this is a glimpse of the next four weeks isn't it? (dramatic music) -Absolutely Stunning. -Speechless.

-It is just... -Completely Speechless. (uplifting music) Shall we walk up and have a look, Arlo? (Cheryl) Oh, gosh Look.

-Welcome Home! -Whoa! (Gareth) Oh, you've got your name on it. -It's the Power House.

-The Power House. (Gareth) The Davies on the end, end of terrace. (Gavin) All the wind. (male narrator) These four cottages, a boat shed on the beach and a community hall which doubles up as a tavern and school, will be home for the next month.

-Go on, Arlo. -Look, Daddy. -Whoa. -Oh, my goodness.

(male narrator) The Davies Family are in Cottage Number One. (Natalie) Oh, the scales. (Gavin) It's a bit on the grim side isn't it? -Is that your bed?

-Yeah. -Gav? -Yeah? (laughing) (male narrator) For Gavin and Natalie, 15 year old Ruby, Lily, 13, Jude, nine, Evan four and two-year-old Arlo, this will be a squeeze.

(Gavin) Shall we go and play the rocking horse? -Oh my goodness that's steep. -Be careful Bud. (Natalie) Please be careful.

(male narrator) In 1900 it was common for parents and children to share rooms and even beds. (Gavin) It's gonna get cold in here, get wrapped up. (male narrator) For the Davies' hardship isn't completely unknown. (Gavin) The toughest period we've been through as a family, I lost my job.

(Natalie) Okay, two hands, okay we're gonna go right over, that's it. (Gavin) And we couldn't put food on the table for the kids, we were on the verge of food banks. We were getting calls from our mortgage provider, credit card companies and then on top of that, Natalie was pregnant. It really was awful.

(dramatic orchestral music) (Natalie) I feel like we're just coming out of it now. But there's always that niggling doubt in the back of your mind that, you know, it could happen again, and it could happen to anybody, we never thought it would happen to us. -Oh, wow. -Spacious.

(Kate) This is home. (male narrator) Next door are Kate and Arwel. -The main bedroom. -Oh, yeah.

(Kate) We've been together just over a year now. -I think, yeah, year and a half? -Year and a half, -something like that. -Something like that.

(Arwel) Right, wanna cup of tea then? (Kate) We don't have children, we don't have any ties in that respect at the moment. (Arwel) Pantry. (male narrator) Living the life of a new couple in the 1900's means their cottage is sparse, with few possessions.

(Arwel) Well the first thing that struck me was seeing my name on top of the door, the Johns. (Kate) Yeah, so in a way I'm deleted out of that. And so more than likely we actually probably -would've had to get married. -Just to live together?

(Kate:) Just to live in a community like this. I mean it's not a big place. I think it will be interesting to see how the freedoms I'm used to now, as a 21st century woman, will be different. (Arwel) But if it's the John household -then I'm the boss.

-Mh. (speaking Welsh) (male narrator) In Cottage Number Three are the Powers. (speaking Welsh) (Lydia) Oh my goodness. Mae dafi cramp.

(Gareth) Cramp, incredible. (male narrator) Lydia and Gareth's children are seven-year-old Phebe, five-year-old Daf and Gruff who's just two. (speaking Welsh) (male narrator) Their 1900 home is a world away from their three-bed suburban semi. (Gareth) I think for the children it's going to be a massive change.

-Adjustment. -A massive adjustment for them. I guess they don't fully understand what it is that we're leading them into. (Lydia) This is where you wash your hands everyday.

What do you think of that Pheb's? There's no tap, there's no running water, it's basic but it's ensuite. (chuckling) I would hate to go there and just be on my own in the house. I'd love to say come on, come over to mine or I'll come over to yours.

I would love for us women within that community to do things together. (wind rushing) -Oh, wow. -Wow, this is-- (male narrator) And in Cottage Number Four, are the Barkers. -Oh, it's lovely.

-Lovely, this is nice isn't it? -Why, it's pretty big isn't it? -Yeah. -Knitting wool, scissors.

-Yeah. (male narrator) As the oldest family, Clive and Cheryl's home reflects a lifetime of acquiring possessions and skills. (Cheryl) If anyone's cold I can knit them a shawl, I can knit and I can sew. And if anyone needs their children looked after then I can do that as well.

(male narrator) The Barkers own three children have long since flown the nest, and along with their eight grandchildren are spread across the world. We love them, we don't see enough of them. (Clive) I'd like to see them more, obviously but it's great when we see them. (Cheryl) It'll be really good to be a part of a bigger community and to help each other.

I can see us sitting here at night, playing cards and-- (Clive) I could do with a pipe-- a clay pipe. -You don't smoke. -I might take it up for a little while. (Natalie) Ruby, have you seen your knickers?

Look at the size of them. (male narrator) It's time to strip away the last vestiges of modern-day life. (Arwel) My watch, I'm assuming I'm not gonna keep the watch. (male narrator) As the families remove their 21st Century clothing.

(Natalie) Right, dive in. (male narrator) And put on their 1900 attire. (laughing) (Natalie) Oh my goodness. (Cheryl) It's my knickers, I've just realized.

(chuckling) Oh, not only knickers, these are crotchless knickers. (Clive) Free-traders they used to call them. (Cheryl) So I can pee standing up. (male narrator) But not everyone's finding it quite so amusing.

(speaking Welsh) (male narrator) The clothing would have been homemade, from rough wool for warmth and durability but not necessarily for comfort. (Gareth) Wow, Gruffs. (speaking Welsh) (male narrator) The men's clothes aren't that different from today. (Kate) You look like you're from a bad boy band of fishermen.

(male narrator) But it's a world apart for the women. (speaking Welsh) (male narrator) They have to wear up to 13 items of clothing which can weigh well over a stone. (Clive) Oh, you've got a jacket, as well? (Cheryl) This is my blouse, it's not a jacket.

I haven't got the skirt on yet. (Clive) Really, I thought that was it! (Kate) At the back here those buttons can be undone -and it makes a full dress. -Oh, that's good, I like that.

(lively music) (Gavin) You really look the part. -Do I look good? -You look amazing. (waves crashing) (male narrator) As a stormy dusk settles over the island, the families shelter in their cottages preparing for their first night.

-Come on Dad. -Watch out or we're going to burn ourselves, stand here for me. Go on, go on, yes. (male narrator) The stove is the heart of the 1900 home and needs to be kept alight day and night, it's their only source of heat, hot water and cooking.

(Arwel) It just needs gentle encouragement here and there that's all it needs, just need to kind of know how these things work. (Cheryl) Good God, you need to do this early 'cause I can't see now. (Clive) That's just what I thought. (male narrator) And with no electricity the families will have to rely on candles and lanterns.

(Clive) Ah, nearly time for bed. (chuckling) (Speaking in Welsh) (energetic music) (waves crashing) (male narrator) It's the start of Day Two and Storm Ali is still pounding the UK coastline. The waters near Llanddwyn were once described by Admiral Nelson as "One of the most treacherous stretches of sea in the world." And with gale force conditions today, fishing is out of the question. With no mod cons, just keeping on top of home life is work enough.

They have to brave the elements to use the toilets, get coal and fetch water from the one standpipe serving all four cottages. (wind whirring) (Gavin) It's like an amazing morning. One hand you're thinking it's pure magic, it's beauty. The next minute you're carrying out five kids worth of pee.

Who wants to clean the chamber pots? -Not me! -Right, are we ready -to get you dressed. -No.

(Natalie) Good boy. We can go outside then, can't we? (Arlo) Yeah, whoa. (Natalie) The little ones just slept right through, but it was windy, it was noisy, and that was scary at times wasn't it?

-But it's so dark. -Yeah, it's just black. (Natalie) Really is just black. You just couldn't see a thing.

(wind howling) (Lydia) The waves look really rough so I don't think the men will be venturing out on any sailboats today, which I think is a really nice thing actually. I think it'll be nice to have Gareth around the home just as we settle in and to help settle the kids. -Nat? -Yes?

(Gavin) What do you want to wash these dishes in, a bowl or? (Natalie) Yeah just something big enough, a bucket, a bowl or... (lively music) (Gavin) There's got to be a better way of doing all this surely. (Lydia) That's hand soap.

That's your washing up. Did you notice I said your? (Gareth) I did notice that, what's that all about? (chuckling) (Lydia) I love you Gar.

(male narrator) In 1900, women and girls were responsible for all domestic chores, but not every household's following the social norms, just yet. (Lydia) Oh, isn't Daddy good, look how Daddy's got the fire roaring, it looks brilliant. (male narrator) As well as adjusting to male and female roles, the modern families will have to live frugally. In 1900, families tried to save money and stockpile provisions to survive lean times.

-Ew. -Do you want me to help, mum? (Natalie) I don't know, I don't know what it is. (male narrator) Each family's been given a small amount of cash and food.

-That's got a bone in it. -Bleh! (male narrator) With rationing, it should see them through the first couple of days. (Natalie) Vegetables, milk, apples, and we've got cheese, butter, lard.

(male narrator) They also have a small vegetable patch to supplement any fish they catch. (speaking Welsh) But with the storm still raging and fishing too dangerous they'll have to manage their limited supplies and cash very carefully. In 1900, 60 percent of the weekly budget went on food. (Kate) I had a look at what was in the house already and if I do this today, I can top it up and keep it going tomorrow and then we can just add stuff to it.

(wind blowing) (Cheryl) It's lovely looking out and seeing the children -running about, it's so nice. -Yeah, its nice. (male narrator) For 70-year-old Clive, life's less carefree. He's developed a case of gout.

(Clive) Just burning. (male narrator) It's a recurring illness he's had for years. (Cheryl) This is where the problem is, on the ball of the foot here, if you touch it's very hot. The big toe here is very swollen and it's now spreading to those two.

(Clive) You can't put your foot on the ground it's so tender. I can't really get a shoe on at the moment (male narrator) With modern medicine Clive's gout can be managed, but at the start of the 20th century, minor illnesses could easily become fatal. Life expectancy was shockingly low 48 years for men and 52 for women. (Cheryl) It's extremely painful and he really needs to be sitting with his foot up but he won't so yes, I do worry about it.

(male narrator) It's bad timing for the Barkers, in 1900 there was no formal social support, until Clive's condition improves he won't be able to fish to eat or sell. (orchestral music) (Gavin) Look at these waves. (waves crashing) Whoa, kids don't go too far. (male narrator) When the fishing families of 1900 were storm bound, the men would take whatever manual labor was available.

(lively music) while their wives often had second jobs to supplement the family income. (Natalie) Lots of flour and there's lard in there as well. (male narrator) Keen home baker Natalie, will run the village bakery. (Natalie) Haven't got a clue what I'm doing, this is different to any bread I've sort of made before, I just don't really have a clue what I'm doing.

(male narrator) As a qualified accountant, Lydia's bookkeeping skills will help her run the small shop. (Lydia) Cheryl, potatoes, bacon and pears. (Cheryl) Okay, that's great. (male narrator) The Barkers will use the community hall to run a Tavern in the evenings.

(Cheryl) Can you work out how many tots in a bottle? (Clive) Yeah, 25 tots I expect if you're really mean. (male narrator) And for Arwel, who grew up on a farm, and his partner Kate, there's a flock of chickens. (imitating chicken clucking) Apart from fish, eggs are one of the only other sources of protein readily available on the island.

(speaking Welsh) (Arwel) Oh, loads, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine eggs. (male narrator) At a penny each in 1900 prices, eggs were a valuable commodity. (Arwel) We're made, we're fine. (Lydia) I think the people who've got the best deal here would be Arwel and Kate with all the eggs.

Because the thing is the level of profit isn't massive in the shop. I'm getting 10% profit which is tiny, they're getting 100% profit. I think everybody's money may end up funneling their direction. Even if we're hungry, even if we're tired, we've gotta maintain the unity of the community, cause that's how--that's key.

That's key to us all flourishing here I think. (Daf) We're not going to collect eggs. -They're our eggs. -Oh, you mean.

(Gareth) That as a community or as a team you know, if we start to fragment, -then we're in-- -Yeah, we're in trouble then. (Gareth) We're in trouble, so that can't happen. (wind blowing) (male narrator) As Day Three dawns, the sea is still too rough to fish. (dramatic music) The families are down to their last three meals.

But that doesn't seem to bother Cheryl. (Cheryl) We're having porridge, followed by bacon, eggs and fried bread. -I'm gonna get you. -No.

(male narrator) In the Davies' house, with seven mouths to feed, the mood is very different. -Who's hungry? -Me, I'm starving. (Natalie) Everything worries me, everything worries me and everything keeps me awake at night, it's how much food do we have?

You know, are their bellies full enough going to bed? -No. -Why not? (Gavin) So you give the kids the best and we just pick up the scraps, and we'll like fry up the fat, the rind and we'll eat the rind.

Yeah, can you make sure you're eating please? (Natalie) I will do yeah. I just tighten my corset if I feel a bit hungry, just tighten it a bit, and that gets rid of it. (wind whirring) -Hello.

-Hello, oh, hello, who's this? (Joe) My name's Joe, I'm your shipwright. (male narrator) Joe Ormond has over 20 years experience as a boat builder and he'll be working in the boatshed on the beach for the next four weeks. (Gareth) So you're gonna be working on your own down there or have you got some help?

(Joe) I'll be on my own most of the time I think but there will be days when I'll need another set of hands. (male narrator) Throughout this era, shipwrights were to be found in most of the fishing villages dotted around the coast. (Joe) I guess you guys will all be out trying to find food and fishing. -Predominantly, yeah.

-But not today though right? (Gareth) No, not today. (Gavin) If the weather's like this and we can't get out to sea then he said there might be a bit of work for us to do, so we can get down there and earn a few bob, I suppose. Hopefully he pays well, above the minimum wage.

-I do a lot of ironwork. -Oh, you're the blacksmith? -I'm a blacksmith, yes. -Okay, that might be quite handy.

(male narrator) Arwel's skills could be just what Joe needs. -Excellent. -Is this all the stuff you've got, do you want a hand carrying it down? (Joe) Oh, you can give me a hand carrying my bag down -that'll be nice.

-Yeah. I'm sure we can work something out between us. (Joe) Yeah, that'll be good. (male narrator) Office workers, Gareth and Gavin, have missed out on an opportunity.

(Gavin) It's great fetching everything and I like keeping the stove going and all that but I'm itching to get on the boat now. I feel like I need to contribute something other than fetching water and keeping things hot. (Natalie) When you've got the weather against you, at home, it doesn't make any difference, just hop in the car and you go to the shops, but here, it's so much stops you. Our main income's gonna be Gav fishing, that in this weather is not gonna happen.

(dog barking) (Joe) Uh, Only--only to back it. So you only put it close to the nail so it just takes the bounce out of it. (Arwel) Oh, okay, right, gotcha. (Joe) So if I nip along there and drill those.

(Arwel) Okay. (waves crashing) Have you ever been out in this kind of weather or? (Joe) Uh, no. -Would you go out there?

-I probably would but... -Would you? -Not far. (Joe) I don't think you'd last long out there.

(Arwel) When will I know when it's safe? (Joe) When it's nice and flat and there's no wind. (wind whirring) (Gavin) To look at the raw power that nature is unbelievable but at the same time, it's so frustrating 'cause we can't get out there as fellas and provide for our families. We know that all our money is out there and we're stuck on shore unable to get anywhere near it.

And it is, a little bit starting to do my head in. (wind howling) -You alright son? -Yeah. (wind whirring) (melancholic music) (Lydia) Today was the last of the meat.

I've got just over half a dozen eggs I've just got to wait for the men to go out in the boat. The kids had a little bit of a wobble before they fell asleep and Phoebe started crying and said (speaking Welsh) "I don't like it, I want to go home." (children shouting) (birds cawing) (male narrator) It's a new day and overnight the storm has finally blown itself out. (uplifting music) After three days of no fishing, and food supplies running desperately low, at last there's a welcome sight on the horizon. (Arwel) I can see a boat and it is heading this way, it's getting bigger which means it's getting closer, so can only assume that's ours.

Jude, do you wanna tell your dad the boat's on the way in? (male narrator) A fishing vessel's been spotted off the coast. (Jude) Daddy! (male narrator) And is heading for LLanddwyn.

(Arwel) It's calm everywhere I can see, even out in the rough part yesterday, that's looking pretty flat, so I'm just getting quite excited now, going to go out fishing, first time, it's gonna be good. (Gavin) I am feeling like it's first day at school so the nerves have started to kick in, you know, it's a little bit strange 'cause I have no experience at all of fishing whatsoever. -Just please, anything today. -If there's anything you can-- (Natalie) I don't want any, I don't care how much you retch and how much you're sick, please bring home fish, we really need it for everyone.

-Yeah I'm really gonna go for it, I'm going to go for it. (Natalie) He better come back with a decent catch because those kids are hungry, really, really hungry. They're really struggling now. (male narrator) One of the fishing boat crew is on his way to pick up the men, it's time to say goodbye.

(speaking Welsh) -Be safe. -Of course I'll be safe. I'll be absolutely fine, you're now more worried than I am. (Natalie) Sorry.

(male narrator) Fishing was a dangerous job. In 1901 alone, more than 2,500 people drowned in UK waters and almost every British fishing community contained families who'd lost loved ones at sea. (speaking Welsh) (Gavin) I just hope I can go on there and be heroic. You know, pulling out fish after fish rather than slipping around and falling on my backside.

(Lydia) Ta-ra. (dramatic music) (Gareth) I am excited, I'm looking forward to it, but it is a step into the unknown and I think I am gonna be very far outside of my comfort zone. (male narrator) The men are going out to sea in a Nobby, a type of fishing boat first used in the early 1800's and one that was found along the west coast of Britain, from Cardigan Bay up to the Scottish border. (Stuart) And you can use these lines now, push the two boats together as you stand up and then you can step up into here.

(male narrator) Nobby's like this didn't have engines, they relied on sail power, and fisherman had to be as good at sailing as they were at fishing, if they were to survive. -Hi, so we've got Gavin, Arwel. -Gareth. -Huh?

-Gareth. -Gareth. -Nice to meet you. (male narrator) Gareth, Gavin and Arwel have no real sailing knowledge so Stuart Gibson, a sailor with over 30 years of experience, is Skipper.

(Stuart) Nice and calm, bit of breeze, good to learn and more importantly I think, good to go fishing so... (male narrator) And Mickey Beechey's in charge of fishing. (Mickey) The fishing industry is probably the most or one of the most dangerous industries you can-- you can be involved in. (male narrator) Mickey's been fishing along the Welsh coast since he was eight and is now a professional fisherman.

(Mickey) That's why I was telling these boys they got to concentrate on what they are doing. It's a tough industry, it doesn't matter what era you are in. (male narrator) In 1900, life jackets were virtually unheard of and many fishermen couldn't swim, those that fell overboard often drowned. (Stuart) If we have someone overboard, we do actually need to put out a distress.

(male narrator) The men are wearing modern life jackets on top of their traditional clothing as the only concession to the 21st century. (Stuart) Choke up first, pull them both together. -Pull, Gav. -Do it now.

(squeaking) -Nice one, Gav. -Good boy, Gav. (Gavin) I just put that mainsail up, see that? And I'm knackered.

That was amazing. -Wave. -Say bye-bye. (energetic music) (male narrator) The men are heading out into deeper water where mackerel tend to feed at this time of year.

(Stuart) Okay the staysail is still pushing us around now you can let the staysail go on this one. Keep it straight now and we want to be heading towards -the far land. -Okay. (orchestral music) (male narrator) Three miles out and it's time to start fishing.

(Mickey) Have any of you boys seen anything like this used before? (Arwel) Only little kits for crabbing you see in the seaside shops. (Mickey) Right, okay. (male narrator) Today, the men will be using a very simple handline.

(Mickey) So basically, you've got your frame but obviously, as you can see you've got a leaded weight at the end and then you've got a series of hooks. As you can see that they're tied up with a feather, right? (male narrator) Once in the water, the feathers look like small sand eels, tempting bait for mackerel and herring. (Mickey) I'll put the line out first now so you can see what's happening.

(male narrator) Traditionally, a net would have been used alongside the handlines, but Mickey's decided to take the training one step at a time. (Mickey) You're just feeding your line out slowly like that, give it a tug, 'cause you may hit mackerel straight away. (male narrator) Finding fish is a mix of hard graft and good luck. They hope to hit a shoal, which could be near the surface or deeper down.

(Mickey) When you catch something this is what you're gonna feel. -Okay. -Okay? -Happy with that?

-Guess, I'll give it a whirl. (Mickey) I will be watching them closely to see that they're doing it right. Hopefully by the end of four weeks they will all be able to cope on their own. And when they get that first catch, it'll be like all their Christmases come at once.

(male narrator) But first they have to learn to cope with the swell. (Gavin) I'm fishing and holding my breakfast in. -Untangle that. -Multi-tasking.

(male narrator) Particularly, Gareth. (Mickey) Those are fine, let the line go again. Let's get some fishing done. (male narrator) In 1900 Mackerel was in plentiful supply.

(Mickey) Tight line, boys, is what they say. (male narrator) And it wasn't uncommon to land 1,000 fish in a day. (Mickey) There's nothing on there, we'll persevere for now, and just keep going. (male narrator) Nowadays, fishermen still rely on trial and error but with much reduced fish stocks, they also have modern tools like sonar to increase their chance of catching.

But living as 1900 fishermen means that Mickey and the men have to rely on their wits and experience alone. (Gavin) We've now reached a point where this is the real hand-to-mouth existence. So it's pride really, I don't wanna go back empty handed. Come on, must be something in here.

Seeing the kids having full plates and full bellies and sleeping without that, that rumbling going on, so yeah, it's of huge importance. (Natalie) Whoa, there's nothing else. There's just nothing. I know, I know, I know, I know, I know.

-I'm still hungry. -Shall we go -and have some carrot? -No. (Natalie) That's all we keep having, bits of raw carrot.

(dramatic music) I don't know whether he's gonna be back for tea. I don't know whether he's gonna be back before the kids go to bed tonight, no idea. If Gav came back with a real big catch, that would be amazing. I think that would boost his confidence and that would make him feel better 'cause he hasn't really been able to do anything like that yet and we really need it, we really need it to eat.

(male narrator) As the weather takes a turn for the worse, the men are relying on traditional oilskins, to keep them dry. (Mickey) This is more like it, this is proper fishing. (Gavin) How are you doing, Gar? (Gareth) A little bit rough to be honest, a little bit queasy.

(male narrator) And now the swell is increasing. (Gavin) Focus on that horizon. (Gareth) That's what I am trying to do, it's not really working. (Mickey) Let's have a bloody look here, see if there's any bloody fish here.

(male narrator) After four hours out at sea, they still haven't caught a single fish. Research shows that UK fish stocks have fallen by 94 percent since 1889. (Mickey) Back in 1900, you wouldn't have had the big sort of factory trawlers that suck up shoals of mackerel in one go with all sorts of technology to assist them that they've got these days. It's the sign of the times I am afraid.

(coughing) (Gareth) Uh, there we go. This is the life, eh? (Gavin) Incredibly frustrating at the moment I think we had visions of dragging a load of fish in, to eat and make some money but right now doesn't seem the luck's with us. (male narrator) It only goes to show how precarious the life of a fisherman can be.

(orchestral music) (Mickey) Okay, boys, we're going to get the lines in. Unfortunately, we haven't caught anything. So bear in mind the bad weather coming towards, so we'll try and move ahead of it and make our way in. (Arwel) It's a shame it is, but what I'm most not looking forward to is going back to the village now empty handed.

(Gareth) I'm disappointed we haven't caught any fish. I am liking the thought of going home. (laughing) The whole community will rise and fall on how we do on the boats. We're all in this together, we've all gotta work together to make this work so that our community back home can thrive and be well fed.

(Natalie) Oh my God, they look amazing. I am just made up, made up to see them. Oh, I hope it's good news. I hope they have got loads of fish with them.

(Lilly) I'm excited, I'm so excited to see what fish he's got. (Kate) Apprehensive. I mean, they're late back, that may be a good sign. (Gavin) Are you hungry?

-Yes. -It's staying that way. -Is it? -Not one fish.

-Really? -Yup. (Natalie) Nothing all day? -Nothing at all.

-Did you not get anything? -No, nothing. -What! You were out there all day!

(Natalie) Carry on, carry on, just carry on moving forward. Come on, just carry on. (dramatic orchestral music) (male narrator) With no catch, the families will have to make their remaining supplies stretch even further. (Gavin) I'm just--I'm just so sorry I've not been able to bring anything back.

-Please don't, don't worry. -'Cause we're all dreading coming back because we've been talking about having fish to sell, fish to eat. To come back with absolutely nothing, after putting so much effort, was a killer. (lively music) I think, back in modern-day life we're very much paid for our time, you know we're paid for a sick day, we're paid for holidays.

We've now got no earnings for what has been a lot of effort. So the contrast between then and now, is huge. (Natalie) He's massively proud of, you know, providing for his family, so yeah, this'll--this'll hit him hard so it's got to be just-- it's fine, smoothed over. (waves crashing) (male narrator) Another day and with the sea once again too rough to use the boat, the women have decide to try their luck on shore instead.

They're going cockling. (uplifting music) (Lydia) It's lovely to get out actually. I haven't seen the island yet so it's really nice to see around. (male narrator) The cockle beds on the mainland, near Llanddwyn, have been worked since pre-Roman times.

The nearest is just over a mile away and, while the tides out, they can walk there. (Lydia) You're looking for the wet sand where the tide has gone right out and there's a tiny bit of water left. I think, let's walk around there and see if the sand's different over there. (Natalie) I've no idea what I'm doing.

I'm following the lead completely. (male narrator) Cockles live in the sand, filtering sea water for nutrients. They were particularly popular in the early 1900's and fetched a good price at market. (speaking Welsh) (Cheryl) Ah look a spit, look, look, look.

There's loads of spits you've got to get in quickly. (male narrator) As the cockles burrow down, they often spit out sand, a tell-tale sign of their location. (Lydia) Rake it my way and chuck them all in--see, see all those bubbles? (male narrator) Traditionally they're raked up and passed through sieves that allow the small ones to drop back onto the beach.

(Cheryl) There's nothing, you can see, no. Nothing. (Lydia) I just feel like we're wasting time. (Kate) Here we are, there's bubbles here.

(male narrator) A rich cockle bed can contain more than one million cockles per acre. As long as you know where to look. -Have you found anything? -Nope, nothing.

-Oh, man! -It's really hard. (Cheryl) Oh, Natalie, your face says it all. -Yep, cold, wet.

-Are you cold? (Natalie) Yeah. (Lydia) You know, when I think of my village, it was a half a mile walk down to the beach, we all knew where the cockles were, well they all knew and that information was handed down generation to generation. So you knew where to go and it was a matter of just scooping up bags and bags full of cockles and it didn't take-- didn't take all day.

(orchestral music) (male narrator) The women have been out for hours and it's in danger of being another fruitless journey. -Lydia, it's a mussel bed! -Huh? -Mussels!

-Mussels! (Cheryl) Here, yeah! (male narrator) Mussels weren't worth as much as Cockles in 1900. (Cheryl) What do you think, I think reckon we can almost fill your -basket with these don't you?

-Yeah. (male narrator) But could be sold as bait to fisherman. (Cheryl) They are very dirty, but they'll clean off so yes! (energetic music) (Natalie) We're all starting to feel a little bit dejected.

We just sort of thought another wasted trip but we're but going home with something. (Cheryl) I think they should be pretty impressed. -Yeah. -Yeah.

-It's coming in fast. -It is coming in. -Okay, let's get down. -It is.

(Kate) Yeah. (male narrator) With a good haul of mussels, now word can be sent to the local fishmonger. (Lydia) We went to the limit today really, but we kept going and we found. (Cheryl) And now I need a cup of tea and a pee, I'm afraid.

(Chuckling) (lively music) (wind whirring) (waves crashing) (male narrator) Day Six and there's lots of work to be done. If the community is to make the most of the fishmongers visit this afternoon. (Gavin) Ah, you women are amazing. (Cheryl) I know they're horribly messy and they're going to take a hell of a lot of cleaning but we can do that.

Yeah, it's bit of a personal challenge for us all. (children) One, two! (humming) I know the tune, yeah, I know the tune. (humming) (male narrator) Gathered in the Davies house, all but one of the families are hard at work preparing the mussels.

(Lydia) It is easier of you go down from that end, down. (Cheryl) I think so, yeah (male narrator) It's a labor intensive job but the cleaner mussels, the higher their value. (speaking Welsh) (coughing) (wind howling) (male narrator) While the rest of the community work on the mussels, Arwel has his own plans. For the past few days he's been assisting Joe, the shipwright, hoping to earn some extra wages.

-Hi Joe -Arwel, you okay? What do you have for breakfast then? -An egg. -Just an egg?

(Arwel) An egg, could have done with another one. (Joe) There's something you might want to have with your eggs -tomorrow morning. -Oh, good man! (Joe) Straight out of my garden, dug last night, in the rain.

-They taste really good. -Oh, thank you very much. (Joe) And I got you some--some apples. (Arwel) Oh!

(Joe) It's to say thanks for the help. (Arwel) Well, thanks Joe, that's really good-- (Joe) And one last thing, some peppercorns. (Arwel) Yes, I'm gonna give you a hug for that. -Thank you, that is amazing.

-So enjoy. -Nice one Joe, cheers. -Thanks for your help. -Excellent -Cheers, Ta-ra.

(lively music) (male narrator) It's a great boost for the Johns. -Good news! -Oh, amazing! (Arwel) It's cooking apples, he said they're good for stewing.

(Kate) Yeah. (Arwel) But best of all. (Kate) Is this what I think it is? This feels like Christmas.

-Oh, it--Oh, Pepper? -Yeah. (Kate) Oh! (Arwel) I even gave him a hug.

(cheerful chuckling) (male narrator) In the 1900's Pepper was a highly valued spice and would have been a luxury for the working classes, it was often referred to as Black Gold. (Kate) Good job, Mr. John. (speaking Welsh) They're excellent, really pleased with that.

-They're mussels. -Huh? (Lydia) Mussels. (speaking Welsh) (Gruff) No, thank you.

(indistinct chattering) (Arwel) I'm not going to stay long, just bought some knives for you. (Cheryl) Are you not helping us? (Arwel) I've got a few jobs I want to get done down in the boatyard but I'll come back up -as soon as I can then. -Okay.

(Lydia) Arwel, what job what do you do down the boatyard then, huh? (Arwel) Well, yesterday I stuck all the ribs into the boat. -How is he paying you, food? -Food, yeah.

-Got some pepper this morning. -That's expensive. (Arwel) Yeah, which has made my day. I'm really chuffed with that.

(Cheryl) Do you have enough to share a little? (Arwel) Check with Kate, I don't know. (Cheryl) I mean I'm not being funny here but you're down at the boatyard getting something, we're here preparing these and you're going to benefit from this so we all need to benefit, you know, we need to share everything don't we? (Lydia) You'll share what you've got won't you, Arwel?

(Arwel) Oh, yeah, happy to share, yeah, but I've no idea how much we've got. I do feel a little bit bad that I've got all the pepper. I'm in such a good mood that I mentioned it to everyone basically, everyone that I've seen, and I think a lot of people are getting a little bit jealous about that. (Clive) You can't have one person taking everything and the others sort of starving at their feet, you know, you all have to share.

(Arwel) I could share or could just sell it. Uh, I could just keep it all to myself. (Lydia) We all chip in, we all give whatever we're not using. (Arwel) It might be a good bartering tool.

If I can calm someone down by going, "Here, here's a corn of pepper, shut up." It might be a bit useful. I'll check with Kate first because she's looking after all the food, but it would be nice to share some of that wealth around, if possible. (lively music) (indistinct chattering) (male narrator) After six days of rough weather, finally, the sun's out. And it looks as though the better weather has boosted community morale.

Kate and Arwel have decided to give some of their food to their neighbors. (Cheryl) We're sharing, that's the whole point. I mean we are all trying to share. Without being unkind they just needed a little nudge, that was all.

So I said it, I felt awful afterwards having said it. I did feel terrible, but there we are, it's done, it's cleared the air and we've got the apples, that's the main thing, we've got the apples. (chuckling) (Natalie) So the fishmonger is on his way and I'm really hoping he gives us a good price for the mussels we collected yesterday 'cause that was hard work. We're all cut to ribbons with, uh, scraping all the barnacles off and everything.

(Cheryl) It's a very big moment, it will be our first. -First earnings. -Outside income. (Clive) We can stock up with a few basics again.

-Bit of bacon. -Pay my tab in the shop as well. (Clive) Yeah. (birds cawing) (suspenseful music) (male narrator) Mike Heard, the fishmonger, comes from the nearby town of Caernarfon.

He's the 4th generation of his family to run the business. (speaking Welsh) -Hello. -Hello. (speaking Welsh) -We've got some mussels -Are they any good?

-They're delicious. -Fresh? -Fresh. -Fresh when?

When did you pick em? -Yesterday. -Yesterday? (male narrator) Alongside running the household finances, it was traditional for the women, also known as fishwives, to deal with the fishmonger (Lydia) We've cleaned them all up ready for you (male narrator) And Lydia's been nominated by the families to be chief negotiator.

(Lydia) So, there's no barnacles on them. -No barnacles. -And we've picked out all the small ones so they should all be a good size for you. (Cheryl) And they're really plump and full shells.

-Full of meat, are they? -Full of meat. -Absolutely full. -The nicest mussels I've ever tasted.

What do you think? (Mike) You haven't put stones in the bottom -to make the weight up have you? -Not at all! -Not at all!

-Are you sure? (Lydia) You can pour them into another bucket if you'd like to test. (Cheryl) You can tip them into a bag, whatever. (Mike) Well, we'll tip them into a sack and we'll see how much is in a sack, shall we?

-Okay. -Okay, great, yes. (clinking) (Mike) What would they call that? Third of a sack?

-Half. -You've got half a sack there. -Half? -Well, you got to tie -the top off you can't leave it.

-Oh, yes, half there. (Lydia) Half. -Half a sack definitely. -I say a third.

(Lydia) No, it's much more than a third. (Mike) Well, for this time, seeing as it's your first time, we'll pay half a sack. (Lydia) Could we do just over? -No, no, no, no, no.

-Are we happy with half, half a sack, yes? Wonderful! -I usually pay five. -Do you know what, as the sun is out and you're clearly impressed with our first catch we'll go for six a sack and we'll take three off you today.

(chuckling) And It's lovely--Oh! It's lovely doing business with you. (male narrator) For the families it's finally payday. But after two days of hard graft they've only managed to earn nine pennies per household, the equivalent in modern-day money of just �3.

-Thank you, goodbye. -Thank you. (male narrator) Although after a week of nothing, it's a sweet success. -That was our first sale, woo!

-Well done girls. -Excellent. -That is a great income from those mussels. (Natalie) I think the children are after getting some bonbons from the Powers shop.

I think Gav has already spent it in the pub tonight. (Cheryl) Seven, eight, nine, this will get every--Clive, open that bar up quickly, while they're holding cash. (energetic music) (Natalie) For me, what's the best thing for us to spend it on, you know, yeast and things like that so I can carry on baking bread. -90 each.

-90 each. -Yeah. -Great, thank you. It's good to have the cash in our hands it was worth it, yeah great.

(male narrator) Next time. (Mickey) Come on, boys, pull them in. (male narrator) The men hit the seas again. (Gavin) Oh, there's something on that.

(male narrator) And get their first taste of success. (Cheering) But tension surfaces in the community. (Kate) Could be our big earner and their big earner. (Arwel) I'd rather it was our big earner.

(Kate) Yeah, yeah. (Lydia) There needs to be a spirit of generosity amongst the community. -What you looking for -Uh. -Oh.

-Because you cannot have children going hungry. (male narrator) And life on the 1900 island gets the better of Gavin. (Gavin) Half a cheese sandwich in 24 hours. Just can't feed ourselves, it's as simple as that.

(dramatic theme music)