Eric Kerridge 
The Farmers of Old England [PDF ebook] 

Originally published in 1973, this book tells the story of the English countryside and its inhabitants between 1560 and 1760; the time when British agriculture became the wonder and envy of the world. The history of the land itself is covered, as well as farming techniques and a farming as a business. The day-to-day existence of rural people, their ambitions and conditions of work are brought to life. The book distils the history of rural England and takes the reader to the heart of England itself.