A collection of the author's memories and photographs of his childhood (1922-39) in Downton, Wiltshire which describe a way of country life long past. As well as humorous descriptions of family life in the 1920s and 30s, there are diagrams of fishing (for eels) and farming methods (including water meadow systems) employed at the time. The story tells how The 'Faris' family first came to Downton and how Ernest Frank Faris and Agnes Annie Macey (the author's parents) set up their butcher's shop and includes two family histories of the 'Faris' family.