The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
Essex Village
It looks like time stands still there, but Finchingfield in Essex is changing: talk to the locals when visiting a village to find out what's new in their lives.
From the collection of:
Overview
This film captures the 'chocolate box' beauty of Finchingfield, Essex and the distinctive features of village life, but work prospects there are evolving. The visitor sees the windmill, the thatcher, blacksmith and straw dolly maker at work, and traditional scything of fields, but these old occupations do not offer apprenticeships. The young people look for work with machinery including agricultural engineering and driving, and buses carry them to nearby towns.
This film was shown by Essex County Council Education Committee which ran a film library of educational films for hire by schools, including films made locally about aspects of life in the county. Finchingfield with its duck pond and village green surrounded by cottages, church and pubs is celebrated as the most beautiful village in England and has appeared frequently in television programmes, films and commercials. The old inhabitant featured here is Jimmy Green who also appears in the 1937 film 'Around the Village Green'. The nearby towns offering employment and entertainments are Thaxted, Braintree and Saffron Walden.
Related
Watch for free
Mind Your Bike Mind Your Bike
School programme and Educational film 1953 8 mins Location: Finchingfield
A young boy's bad dream about having an accident on his bicycle leads to some timely repair work with his father the following morning.
Watch for free
Around the Village Green Around the Village Green
Travelogue 1937 12 mins Location: Finchingfield
Rural life in the Essex villages of Finchingfield and Great Bardfield - and the mixed reactions of older residents to changing times.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.