Surrounded by the Yorkshire farm lands, the original village was Beckindale, when the television program began in 1972. In 1994 the village was renamed Emmerdale, as it remains today. Located 39 miles from Bradford, and 52 miles from Leeds, the community revolved around the farms and farming in the dales.
Although the parish church, St. Mary’s, has its origins in the ninth century it wasn’t until the mid-1900s that the village population began to grow. By 1972 Beckindale had a post office, stores, a village hall and two pubs, The Malt Shovel and The Woolpack, which continues to be a social meeting post for residents.
Emmerdale Farm was owned by the Sugden family. The fertile land was good for cattle, sheep, barley, and kale. The farm also hosts a handful of chickens and a few geese. For more than 100years, the Sugden’s had worked this land of the original 320 acres.
Milfield Estate, also known as Home Farm, was owned by the Verney family. The manor house is a grade-II-listed building dating back to the 1500s. The land itself included 65 acres of mixed grazing land, a fish farm, 250-acre shoot, and some smaller holdings.
Zoom in to Emmerdale – The Tour
With the village school closing in the 1970s scholars travelled to Hotten for their schooling. Being the nearest market town Hotten housed a police station, cattle market, shops, a library, and The Feathers Hotel and restaurant. Hotten was also home to the Hotten Courier newspaper.
For fifty years families have come and go, have returned, and have remained a part of village life, welcoming viewers from around the globe a look into life in a Yorkshire village.
On the Web
IMBd – The television program at the Internet Database.
ITV – The current home for the television series.
Nostalgia Central – A look back to the way things used to be on Emmerdale Farm.
Wikipedia – Emmerdale according to the Internet encyclopedia.
Emmerdale Farm Episode 1 – October 16, 1972
Books at Amazon
More to Explore
Coronation Street Memories – A tribute to 60 years of drama on the street. Including Betty’s Hotpot recipe!
Merry Britmas – Created by the BBC and ITV, Britbox, the streaming service offers many British television favorites, including many to discover during the holiday season. I recently enjoyed a weekend streaming the Christmas collection and offered below, are a selection of my favorites.
Tune In! – Sharing old-school television to current streaming services.
Classic Film – Articles and resources about the Golden Age of cinema.
Shop With Me – As an independent content creator my income comes from purchases via my affiliates. These hand-picked partners were chosen with care. This shopping directory provides an eclectic shopping experience and I appreciate any purchases you may enjoy as it supports my efforts to provide content.
Resource Consulted
The Emmerdale Companion – The Complete Official History
by Anthony Hayward, 1998
Orion Media, London, UK
