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River Highway

1954 , Bedford (Bedfordshire)

Cat no. 1068

The River Ouse near Bedford and in the Ouse Valley. It alludes to the river's past as an important trade link.

Shots of the River Great Ouse at Bedford. There are shots of the town, showing statues to John Howard and John Bunyan. Over scenes of public gardens, the commentary speaks of their colour, although this is lost in a black and white film. Shots of the entrance to the museum on the site of Bedford Castle and of the front of Bedford School. Scenes from the market. A still of a poster reminds the audience of the past importance of the River Great Ouse to Bedford. It reads; The Ouse Transport Co. General Carriers. By water from Lynn to St. Ives, Huntingdon, St. Neots, Bedford & Intermediate places. Through rates quoted from Hamburg, Antwerp and Continental Ports. Also from Newcastle, Hull and East Coast Ports generally. General Offices, Duck Mill Lane, Bedford. Views of the river and of a weir. Shots of Bedford Lock, now derelict and of the lock, at Great Barford, where there are children playing, and Kempsford. Shots of steam trains are used to illustrate the reason for the decline of the river as a transport artery. Shots of the river shot abandoned boats and derelict water mills. There are scenes of a planning meeting of the Great Ouse Restoration Society. A diagram shows the work contemplated and river board engineers are filmed at work on the site. The work will cost £77,000 of which the Ministry of Agriculture may offer a grant of 80%, leaving the local people to find £16,000. There are shots of lockmakers at work on site and in the workshop. There is a shot of a lock keeper's cottage that is now a holiday home. There are scenes showing the river used as a leisure facility. Scenes include rowing, fishing and swimming. A pleasure boat leaves with a party and people use pedalos. Shots of Regatta Day at Bedford. The night time pageant of illuminated boats features. A group takes a motor cruiser along the river. This section shows shots of the Ouse Valley.

Featured Buildings

Bedford School

Other Places

Great Barford; Kempsford

  • Production company : Bedford Film Society

  • Director : John K. Turner

  • Camera : R. McMurtrie

  • Camera : L. Blackman

  • Editor : Stan Draper

  • Editor : Peter Cope

  • Script : R.T. Dellow

  • Narrator : Peter N. Cope

  • Other : John H. Pyne

  • Production company : The Production Unit

Manifestations

River Highway

  • Barcode
    INV396350
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:23:15
    Modification Date
    27/09/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    729994
  • Barcode
    INV347628
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:23:15
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    724988
  • Barcode
    INV341479
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    MP4 H264 digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:23:15
    Modification Date
    31/08/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    724208
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV349685
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    DV digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:23:15
    Modification Date
    10/05/2011
    Parts
    Reference
    708445
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV294758
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    master digital
    Dimension
    Duration
    0:23:21
    Modification Date
    01/08/2008
    Parts
    Reference
    675269
  • Activities
    Barcode
    INV174788
    Canonical Identifier
    TB 415
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    Umatic tape
    Dimension
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    23/07/2008
    Parts
    Reference
    673324
  • Barcode
    INV202710
    Canonical Identifier
    B-5045
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Carrier Type
    16mm film
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    566229
  • Barcode
    INV287424
    Canonical Identifier
    VP-982
    Canonical Title
    Unknown
    Colour Type
    colour
    Duration
    0:24:00
    Identifier
    Modification Date
    25/06/2021
    Parts
    Reference
    563598

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