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Charted Waters

1944 , The Fens (Other)

Cat no. 774

Documentary of life on the Fens, including a basketmaker, blacksmith and saddler at work. Views of Hemingford, Huntingdon, St Ives and Ely.

The Fenland landscape: a ploughman rides home on his plough horses, there is a fenland leaning cottage, a steam pumping engine, and houseboats. Large-scale repairs are being made to the channel banks using steam powered equipment. At Brandon Creek, on the Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border, there are scenes of the Ship Inn and the blacksmith, George Turner, at work in his forge. At Prickwillow, eel traps and nets. The commentary describes the trapper's life as the the boat steams down river. Willow canes are stacked and soaked and boiled. They are made into baskets by Bert Hunt, a basket maker at Ely. A girl walks along the Peddars Way, and there are street scenes at Littleport. There is a derelict factory and dwelling. Bombers fly overhead as a man fishes. At the Fish and Duck in Little Thetford, a customer plays bar skittles. Potatoes are lifted by a horse-drawn spinner and loaded into a cart. Mr A. Wright, saddler and harness maker, is featured; his son shows his collection of horse brasses. Next, a sequence of Fenland windmills and watermills: the working Haddenham Mill in the distance; a windmill converted into a house; Houghton Watermill, now used as a Youth Hostel; and Hemingford Mill, one of the oldest watermills. Harvest scenes feature steam threshing. At Hemingford, the crew go in search of otters. They build a hide and see the otters. At Huntingdon, St Ives and Over the film illustrates the heritage of Oliver Cromwell. Scenes at Huntingdon feature the bridge, the War Memorial, the Market Cross, the Church (showing a tombstone to a bankrupt), the Olde Cromwell Cafe, Cromwell's school, a plaque to William Cowper, and the birthplace of Samuel Pepys. A boat goes through a staunch, a type of lock also called a monsoon gate. At Over, there is Holywell Ferry, the Ferry Boat Inn and views of houses. The bridge at St. Ives is approached from the river. Street scenes show a statue of Cromwell. A thatcher is filmed at work and there is a sequence inside an antiques shop. Finally, at Ely a cooper at the Brewers Hall, Cutlack and Harlock, makes a barrel. There are river and street scenes, and views from the top of the West Tower of Ely Cathedral. St. Mary's Church and Cromwell House feature briefly. The Lady Chapel in Ely Cathedral contains statuettes, their heads broken off during the Reformation.

Featured Buildings

The Ship Inn, Brandon Creek; Ely Cathedral; Cromwell House, Ely; St. Mary's Church, Ely; Haddenham Mill; Hemmingford Mill; The Ferry Boat Inn, Holywell; Houghton Mill; The Bridge, Huntingdon; The Church, Huntingdon; Cromwell's School, Huntingdon; The Olde Cromwell Cafe, Huntingdon; The War Memorial, Huntingdon; The Fish And Duck, Little Thetford; St. Ives Bridge; The birthplace of Samuel Pepys

Keywords

Rural life; Traditional skills

Other Places

Brandon creek; Ely; Haddenham; Hemingford; Holywell; Houghton; Huntingdon; Littleport; Little Thetford; Over; Prickwillow; St. Ives

  • Director : Widgey F. Newman

  • Camera : W. Roy Plaskitt

  • Music : M. Raeburn

  • Production company : A Widgey F Newman Personal Production for Ariston Films

  • Script : Widgey F. Newman

  • Producer : Joan Newman (asociate producer)

  • Producer : A. Fried (executive producer)

  • Editor : F. Lack (assistant editor)

  • Editor : Joan Honour (assistant editor)

Manifestations

Charted Waters

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