back to

Heritage Open Day 2021 – Edible East Anglia

10 September 2021

By The EAFA Team

The Heritage Open Day 2021 theme offers an opportunity to explore the culinary traditions and practices of our region, as documented on archive film. Home movies that reveal the culinary ceremonies of family life, memorable cinema adverts that promote our favourite foodstuffs, wartime public information films that offer novel tips to economise, and professionally made films that showcase the working lives of those that help to put food on the table. From kitchel throwing to eel catching, mustard spreading and samphire picking. East Anglia has a rich regional history of culinary traditions and industry for you to explore in the collections of the East Anglian Film Archive.

highlights

  • 1963 Cat no. 116009

    The Smallest Public House In Britain

    1963, Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk)

    Anglia Television meets the landlord of The Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds as he serves the region’s finest ales to his regulars. The Nutshell proudly holds the title of the smallest pub in Britain.

    Cat no. 116009

    0:04:47

    Black and White, sound

  • 1939 - 1945 Cat no. 1949

    Food Flashes and Fuel Limericks

    1939 - 1945

    Food Flash! When at the bakers, don’t ask for a large loaf if a small loaf will do.  Every crust counts!  These government sponsored cinema advertisements, part of the ‘Food Flash’ series, offers handy hints to encourage households to economise during wartime.

    Cat no. 1949

    0:07:27

    Black and White, sound

  • 1963 Cat no. 229048

    Christmas 1963

    1963, Cotton (Suffolk)

    Home movie of a family’s Christmas celebrations in 1963, including several generations of the family seated together for a traditional Christmas lunch of turkey and trimmings.

    Cat no. 229048

    0:10:56

    colour, silent

  • 1952 Cat no. 125

    Since Time Began

    1952, Norwich (Norfolk)

    Animated cinema commercial in Technicolor for one of Norfolk’s finest food exports and family favourite – Colman’s English Mustard, featuring their famous slogan “Mustard Makes the Meal!”

    Cat no. 125

    0:02:08

    colour, sound

  • 1963 Cat no. 213525

    Harwich Mayor Making and Kitchel Throwing Ceremony

    1963, Harwich (Essex)

    Anglia TV news report in Harwich on the annual ceremony, performed by the incoming Mayor, whereby ‘kitchels’ (small spiced buns) are distributed to the local children.  The kitchels are thrown from the balcony of the historic Guildhall to the town’s children below to symbolise the showering of his blessings upon the town.

    Cat no. 213525

    0:00:27

    Black and White, mute

  • 1971 Cat no. 126377

    Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race In Chapelfield Gardens

    1971, Norwich (Norfolk)

    Anglia Television reports on Shrove Tuesday from Norwich’s Chapelfield Gardens on “the first big event of the racing calendar in 1971”, referring to the all-women line-up for the Jif Lemon Pancake Race.

    Cat no. 126377

    0:04:37

    Black and White, sound

  • 1958 Cat no. 1167

    Midday Adventure

    1958, Essex (County)

    A look into healthy, freshly cooked meals at a school in Essex.

    Cat no. 1167

    0:21:23

    Black and White, sound

  • 1961 Cat no. 124385

    Whelk Fishing

    1961, Wells-next-the-Sea (Norfolk)

    Anglia Television report on whelk fishing narrated by fisherman, Mr Cox.

    Cat no. 124385

    0:05:34

    Black and White, sound

  • 1961 Cat no. 118296

    Cromer Crabs

    1961, Cromer (Norfolk)

    Anglia TV report on Cromer’s crab fishing industry including an interview with “Shrimp” Davies, crabman and lifeboatman, and nephew to Henry Blogg.

    Cat no. 118296

    0:12:59

    Black and White, sound and mute

  • 1947 Cat no. 390

    An English Fen

    1947, The Fens (Other)

    Life and livelihoods on the fens including the serious business of eel catching.

    Cat no. 390

    0:17:20

    Black and White, sound