Reuben Owen, widely recognized from Our Yorkshire Farm, encountered a serious obstacle during the debut episode of his new Channel 5 series, Life on the Dales.
At 21 years old, Reuben is ambitiously growing his heavy plant machinery business. The episode showcased Reuben undertaking his biggest job yet: excavating behind an aging barn to support planned renovations.
Reuben’s father, Clive Owen, joined him on site to help prepare for the renovation project by homeowner John, who intends to add two bedrooms to the barn’s end. John explained that decades of soil build-up against the barn wall were causing persistent damp issues inside. This buildup had raised concerns about the stability of the barn’s foundations.
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Clive cautiously advised that carefully inspecting the foundations was essential before proceeding, emphasizing the risk involved.
The team’s worst fears were confirmed the following day when they began digging down to road level. Both Clive and Reuben discovered the barn’s foundations were crumbling and unstable.
Clive candidly told Reuben, “As things stand, the original plan can’t continue. The foundations aren’t solid enough — a new approach is necessary.”
Facing the risk of a potential collapse, Reuben and Clive made the difficult decision to inform John that the excavation could not proceed under the current conditions. To secure the site, Reuben shored up the unstable wall by replacing soil for support.
Reflecting on the pressure of responsibility, Reuben confessed, “These situations really stress me out because I’m in charge. Any damage or injury on the job would come back to me. I’m eager to get the work done, but safety is paramount — it could cost way more than I’ve got saved!”
With the barn’s foundations proving unsuitable for the original plan, John opted instead to forgo the excavation and create a stone patio, adapting to the circumstances.
Life on the Dales featuring Reuben Owen airs on Channel 5 and is available to stream on My5.