Country Matters
An anthology series adapted from plays and short stories by A.E Coppard and H.E. Bates, depicting English country life and rural romance at the turn of the 20th-century. It presents unsentimental stories of human relationships and raw emotions – heartfelt passions, crippling frustrations, unspoken love and destructive jealousy.
Seasons
1. Craven Arms
Air Date: 1972-08-20
Artist David Masterman has the pleasure of teaching an art class to a group of lovely young women. Three in particular are of interest to him: Ianthe and Katherine Forrest, who have little artistic talent but are both quite attractive, and Julia Tern, whose talents in some areas match his own. There are few young men around as it's just after World War I — and mores are changing. Masterman doesn't see himself as having the temperament to settle down with just one woman, but when one leaves for several months, he wonders if he has fallen in love.
2. The Mill
Air Date: 1972-08-27
At 17 years of age, Leslie Hartop's parents decide the time has come for her to make her way in the world. She moves in with the Hollands who live in a old mill. Mr Holland doesn't use the mill per se and is a scrap dealer by profession. Mrs Holland suffers from the dropsies and spends most of her time in bed either writing to their son, a soldier stationed in Germany, or reading letters he has written. Leslie is hard-working, but also quite innocent. When Mr Holland makes sexual advances, she submits but soon finds herself pregnant.
3. The Sullen Sisters
Air Date: 1972-09-03
19-year-old Tommy Adams is desperately in love with Rachel Sullens, the local postmistress. His desire to get married are thwarted by his possessive and suspicious mother.
4. Crippled Bloom
Air Date: 1972-09-10
Sisters Ruby and Nan share a house with the former's husband, and a bitter triangular relationships that ensues.
5. The Watercress Girl
Air Date: 1972-09-17
Mary McDowall stands trial for an attack on a rival in love. But what were the reasons behind her refusal to marry Frank, her lover?
6. Breeze Anstey
Air Date: 1972-09-24
Two young women run an herb farm during the Depression.
1. The Little Farm
Air Date: 1973-01-28
Illiterate farmer Tom Richards advertises for a housekeeper. Edna Johnson takes the post and they seem destined for happiness until they encounter the destructive forces of jealousy.
2. The Black Dog
Air Date: 1973-02-04
The Honourable Gerald Laughlin finds himself locked in a power struggle between Nathaniel Crabbe's daughter, Orianda, and Crabbe's mistress Lizzie, under the roof of his inn the Black Dog.
3. The Higgler
Air Date: 1972-02-11
Harvey Witlow's mother cannot understand why Harvey has chosen to stand by his longtime sweetheart Sophy Daws and reject the advances of well-to-do Mary.
4. The Simple Life
Air Date: 1973-02-18
Stella Bartholomew is disillusioned with her husband's weekend obsession with the 'simple life' at their country retreat, until Roger comes to help around the house.
5. An Aspidistra in Babylon
Air Date: 1973-02-25
Dover, summer 1919: Christine's mother runs a boarding house, in which Christine feels like the dull aspidistras which clutter the rooms, until the dashing Captain Blaine arrives to find rooms for his rich aunt. Christine falls in love for the first time, and undergoes a jarring change from innocence to corruption.
6. The Ring of Truth
Air Date: 1973-03-04
Following his father's death, George Pickard has a strange dream where his father tells him he's travelling to the small town of Skelby Moor, where he learns both the positives and negatives of his lineage.
7. The Four Beauties
Air Date: 1973-03-11
Henry Batley, a bored young journalist in a small town, is attracted to Davenport sisters Christie and Sophie, whilst younger sister Tina is determined to make him hers.
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Rating
3.2/10
Release Date
1972-08-20
Episodes
13 (2 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Production Companies
Granada Television