London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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Fred James Collection: Local Colour, Woodford Wells and Epping Forest
A staggering drunk, cavorting squirrel and bicycling children paint a picture of the London-Essex borders in 1971 in this home movie by Fred James.
From the collection of:
Overview
Essex amateur film-maker Fred James stayed close to home for this film, which he shot around Woodford Wells. It begins with film of Woodford Wells street names, before James extends the theme by shooting local pub signs. Later scenes – most of which feature his wife, Daisy – include a drunk staggering out the Royal Forest Hotel in Epping Forest, a squirrel romping in Knighton Woods, children playing and lots of footage of the changing seasons in Epping Forest.
Redbridge Museum, Local Studies and Archives
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