Is The Hardacres based on a true story? Historical accuracy of books explained

As a movie critic with a penchant for historical accuracy and a soft spot for rags-to-riches stories, I must say that The Hardacres has piqued my interest. Hailing from a small fishing village myself, I can appreciate the authenticity of the setting and the struggles of the working class depicted in this series.

As a cinema enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that I recently discovered an engrossing period drama available for binge-watching on Channel 5. From what I’ve seen so far, The Hardacres seems poised to join the ranks of beloved cozy series that everyone can’t stop discussing.

The story titled “From Rags to Riches” tracks the main characters as they transition from laboring at the fish docks to establishing their own successful herring company.

1890s Yorkshire serves as the backdrop for this upcoming series, where we’ll delve into the lives of the Hardacres as they navigate their transition to upper-class life over the next few weeks.

However, does the latest series draw inspiration from real-life events? Dive in as we explore the facts behind The Hardacre family and their depiction of historical truth.

Is The Hardacres based on a true story? Historical accuracy of books explained

Although “The Hardacres” isn’t a retelling of real events, it’s adapted from the popular book series “The Hardacre Family Saga Books 1 & 2,” penned by author CL Skelton.

According to director Rachel Carey, it was crucial that the series be as historically authentic as possible.

In my approach, I aimed to strike a balance between reflecting contemporary perspectives and preserving historical integrity. This idea served as our guiding principle throughout the project. I made it a point to handle historical facts with care and precision.

Rather than following a traditional approach, I emphasized revealing lesser-known historical aspects, doing so authentically and dramatically. It’s a story about rising from poverty to wealth, a theme not often portrayed in period pieces, particularly focusing on the working class.

My goal was to achieve a film-like authenticity, portraying the charm, fun, and vitality of our characters.

When discussing the main hurdle during filming, Carey remarked, “The primary issue we encountered was securing suitable locations. It proved challenging to find settings that accurately reflected the era for our shoot.

When photographing anything, wherever your camera aims seems to have issues – either a smoke alarm malfunction or faulty wiring. Exterior scenes? They’re virtually impossible! Finding something free from restrictions is quite the challenge. It often necessitates creative problem-solving and careful arrangement of elements to make it workable.

To maintain historical authenticity of the dock areas, Derek Wallace, the set designer, emphasized: “I’ll dive back into research – books, museums, you name it! I’d chat with anyone who knows about boats and docks. It’s all about adding those intricate details, even if they’re hidden in the background, to make them feel real and functional.

We discovered details such as the design of fish processing tables, the types of knives employed, and the clothing preferences of the employees. Many workers wore flour sacks on their hands for protection due to the high number of cuts that occurred during the fish gutting process. Since it was mostly women who performed this task, their hands were frequently injured, and the flour sacks helped keep them safe.

He added: “There was a lot of discussions backwards and forwards with maritime museums, and various people in the north of England about how they would have looked and how we could recreate them.”

The show also explores the lives of individuals with disabilities during that time, a topic seldom addressed in period pieces. Speaking about its significance, series lead Zak Ford-Williams, who himself has cerebral palsy, emphasized: “As both a person and an actor, I felt strongly about portraying a character with a disability that I truly identify with.

Simultaneously, I’m quite passionate about history, and my fascination led me to wonder how someone with cerebral palsy, or what was known as ‘Little’s Disease’ back then, might have lived during that era.

Is The Hardacres based on a true story? Historical accuracy of books explained

He went on to share: “I often recall an incident from my time with a former tutor. During drama school, we spent much time learning period dances. In the drama school, there were numerous young, attractive, and athletic individuals, and dancing as a disabled person, I must admit, I never felt entirely at ease.

In simpler terms, the character might have thought they couldn’t complete the task, then consulted their mentor who explained that disabilities were far more prevalent back then. They were advised to disregard other period dramas where everything is done flawlessly because those representations have shaped our cultural perspective on this matter.

In many instances throughout history, individuals may have been left with disabilities due to various factors such as wars, lack of adequate healthcare, or starvation.

In the past, people were quite flexible and adaptable. They’d dance and move in whatever way suited them, and the working class was especially known for making their own modifications.

Ford-Williams continued: “Among the elite, it’s much more common, which is intriguing for Harry as he navigates between these two social classes. It can be accurately stated that there were significantly more people with disabilities back then compared to today. Today, one in five individuals are affected.

Though it’s seldom portrayed in period pieces for historical authenticity, it offers a unique and distinct feel to our perspective.

In my opinion, presenting period dramas holds significant value since they tend to shape our collective understanding or impression of those particular historical eras.

In a simpler and more conversational manner: “Leaving out characters with disabilities from period dramas can give the impression that such individuals didn’t exist during those times, even though they did in reality.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I firmly believe in portraying historical accuracy authentically on screen. It’s crucial to avoid sanitizing history, erasing the unique qualities and struggles of different individuals. Instead, let’s strive to provide an honest glimpse into these bygone eras, showcasing the diversity and complexities that defined various groups of people during those times.

The Hardacres premieres tonight at 9pm on Channel 5.

2024-10-08 18:04

Is The Hardacres based on a true story? Historical accuracy of books explained

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