The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Beautiful Yorkshire
Sedate cars drive by the Stray at Harrogate, where stately ladies serenely walk, while a lonely woman in a glides by in a punt at Knaresborough.
From the collection of:
Overview
This is a beautifully shot film by Lucy Fairbank, bringing her wonderful filmic eye to bear on some of Yorkshire’s delights in 1936. Harrogate looks elegant, Knaresborough looks serene and eerily quiet, Fountains Abbey looks ancient, Ripon looks idyllic and Brimham Rocks has rarely looked so desolate or beautiful. Only a uniformed squaddie entering a newsagent’s near an unusually quiet Ripon market points to the horrors to come.
This is one of many exceptional films made by school teacher Lucy (Louisa) Fairbank, who lived in Linthwaite. Lucy became interested in filming in the early 1930s when she joined the Huddersfield Cine Club. Two years before this film she filmed close up the newly elected Chancellor of Germany, Adolph Hitler, as he passed by at the 300 year anniversary of the Passion Play at Oberammergau. As well as travelogues, Lucy lovingly filmed the people and places of the Colne Valley before the war, the children she taught at Linthwaite Council Infant’s School, and local weddings.
Related
The Farm on the Motorway The Farm on the Motorway
Documentary 1983 26 mins Location: Booth Wood
Life in the fast lane, as thousands roar past every day wondering why there is a farm in the middle of a motorway, and why anyone would live there.
Christmas in Belfast Christmas in Belfast
Government sponsored film 1977 2 mins Location: Belfast
Christmas in Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles'. Not the most wonderful time of year.
Glasgow Gets to Work Glasgow Gets to Work
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent Location: Glasgow
Hold on tight for a joyous ride around 1935 Glasgow's bustling road, rail and river transport network in this Scottish educational film.
Sunshine in Soho Sunshine in Soho
Documentary 1956 32 mins Location: Soho
1950s Soho beats with far more energy than its 21st century counterpart in this vivid time capsule.
Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June) Swansea, Victoria - Pontardulais Railway, 1964 (June)
Amateur film 1964 12 mins Location: Pontarddulais
“It would be difficult to find a more lovely train journey”, declares Swansea’s Librarian, the film-maker and narrator. Prepare to be beguiled, station by station.
A Day in the Hayfields A Day in the Hayfields
Non-Fiction 1904 3 mins Silent Location: Walton-on-Thames
Midsummer haymaking larks
Harrogate Mayoral Sunday Harrogate Mayoral Sunday
Amateur film 1951 8 mins Silent Location: Harrogate
The mayor of Harrogate revels in the military pomp and grandeur of parading servicemen and women in this patriotic short film.
Harrogate Holiday 1949 Harrogate Holiday 1949
Amateur film 1949 18 mins Silent Location: Harrogate
Post-war Harrogate: voted the happiest place in Britain and the third most romantic destination in the world.
A Woodman's Dream A Woodman's Dream
Amateur film 1983 7 mins Location: Harrogate
The transformative power of both nature and art meet as a tree becomes an elegant bird in the hands of a skilled craftsman.
Hallmark of Harmony Hallmark of Harmony
Documentary 1986 26 mins Location: Sheffield
The many joys of barbershop singing on display as our Sheffield hopefuls are cajoled into a winning chorus by an inspirational teacher.
The Story of Sheep The Story of Sheep
Non-Fiction 1956 23 mins Silent Location: Yorkshire and the Humber
Each year the cycle is renewed, beginning and ending with spring lambs basking in the sun, and in between sheep get transformed from animals into woolly jumpers and Sunday lunch.
Yorkshire Tour No. 2 Yorkshire Tour No. 2
Documentary 1972 25 mins Location: Bridlington
Having given up the ghost as Martin Hopkirk, Kenneth Cope provides the banter as we tour Yorkshire, while maverick show jumper Harvey Smith helps decipher the Yorkshire ethos.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.