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Travelogues

01 November 2011

By EAFA

The travelogue continues in today’s television series like ‘Coast’, and originated with short films for cinema or small film show audiences. Some were sponsored by companies seeking an association with place and heritage for their products and services. As with guidebooks and picture postcards, there is a tendency for the same subjects to receive repeated attention, but chance encounters and going off the beaten track add variety and reflect the subtle ways in which places have changed over time.

Chance encounters and going off the beaten track add variety and reflect the subtle ways in which places have changed over time.

highlights

  • 1929 Cat no. 630

    De Stad Norwich

    1929, Norwich (Norfolk)

    A Dutch film of the sights of Norwich, including the working port and a weaving business.

    Cat no. 630

    0:11:48

    Black and White, silent

  • 1944 Cat no. 774

    Charted Waters

    1944, The Fens (Other)

    Widgey Newman made short cinema films shown as part of the ‘full supporting programme’ for the main feature. Here a boat trip through the Fens of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire is accompanied by wry humour delivered at speed.

    Cat no. 774

    0:16:57

    Black and White, sound

  • 1945 Cat no. 1682

    The Queen of He(a)rts

    1945, Hertfordshire (County)

    Another film by Widgey Newman, director of ‘cinema shorts’, with his characteristic wry commentary. This includes scenes of one of the county’s film studios at Elstree, and also captures the mood as the war ended.

    Cat no. 1682

    0:30:58

    Black and White, sound

  • 1948 Cat no. 220

    Through East Anglia

    1948, East Anglia (Other)

    A comprehensive tour of East Anglia defined as Suffolk, Norfolk, North Essex and Cambridge.

    Cat no. 220

    0:30:16

    Black and White, sound

  • 1950 - 1960 Cat no. 7789

    Bedfordshire Beautiful

    1950 - 1960, Bedfordshire (County)

    A careful amateur’s silent colour film record of the county.

    Cat no. 7789

    1:01:45

    colour, silent

  • 1952 Cat no. 637

    Come With Me To Norwich

    1952, Norwich (Norfolk)

    A professional film introduced by Richard Dimbleby who tours the sights of Norwich and investigates the local companies, including Norwich Union, sponsors of the film.

    Cat no. 637

    0:17:44

    Black and White, sound

  • 1954 Cat no. 37

    East Anglian Holiday

    1954, East Anglia (Other)

    A professional travelogue distributed by British Transport Films. The commentator has adopted an accent, but is it East Anglian?

    Cat no. 37

    0:18:50

    colour, sound

  • c. 1955 Cat no. 765

    Britain's Historic Counties: Essex

    c. 1955, Essex (County)

    A survey of the county and its historic buildings and customs, but curiously devoid of people.

    Cat no. 765

    0:11:29

    Black and White, sound

  • 1959 Cat no. 548

    East Anglian Coastline

    1959, East Anglia (Other)

    Lawnmowers crop up throughout this travel film sponsored by manufacturers Ransomes of Ipswich.

    Cat no. 548

    0:25:53

    colour, sound

  • 1955 - 1963 Cat no. 212678

    In and Around South Cambridgeshire and Bury St Edmunds

    1955 - 1963

    While Cambridge and the Fens attract the film maker, the villages of south and east Cambridgeshire are under-represented in the films which have reached the archive. This amateur travel record captures the country life of the area, but without commentary or titles, it needs a knowledgeable audience to identify the scenes. Also, in the way of amateur films which have not been edited, it includes scenes beyond the main subject of the film which were captured in sequence while there was film in the camera.

    Cat no. 212678

    0:11:54

    Colour and Black and White, silent