Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
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A Buoyancy Test in the Boating Pool at Easter
Margate's seafront is the venue for this short film from Bertram Doughty - showing visitors enjoying the attractions of Kent's famous resort.
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Overview
We begin with men in waders testing the buoyancy of dinghies by submerging them in a boating pool. The dinghies are later dismantled on the beach. We then look out over a choppy sea to Margate's pier while a miniature steam train trundles past. The camera pans across Margate's seafront where fishing boats are moored in the foreground. People sun themselves in deckchairs on the end of the pier while below, at water level, passengers alight from a motorboat.
The maker of this film, Bertram Doughty, was Clerk of Works to Canterbury Cathedral up until his eventual retirement.
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