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
Here and There in East Anglia
Three local history stories about boats – a racing yacht built 1827, locks giving boats access along the River Stour, and the herring drifters fishing from Great Yarmouth.
From the collection of:
Overview
Three stories remembering past ways of life. The first is about the lateen-rigged Norfolk Broads racing yacht ‘Maria’ built 1827 and rediscovered 1969. The second concerns access for small boats along the River Stour between Manningtree and Flatford Mill on the Essex/Suffolk border with construction of the Cattawade Barrage. In the third story, Charlie Moll, retired fisherman and lightshipman, remembers the herring industry at Great Yarmouth in its heyday.
The yacht ‘Maria’ is now on display at the Museum of the Broads at Stalham, Norfolk. In her heyday, she was so fast that other yacht owners refused to compete with her. The Cattawade Barrier continues to provide flood and tidal defence. The shallower water is popular for canoes and other small craft, but through passage for boats was lost. The herring fishing from Great Yarmouth declined, ending in the 1960s. Charlie Moll gives his opinion that neglect of the spawning grounds during the Second World War led to the decline of the herring shoals.
Related
Easter Holiday Troubles Easter Holiday Troubles
Non-Fiction 1968 3 mins Silent Location: Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, Cleethorpes, Skegness and Clacton all feature sunbathing, donkey rides, bank holiday traffic queues and rowdy youths.
Bluewater Holiday Bluewater Holiday
Amateur film 1933 8 mins Silent Location: New Holland
The couples rendezvous at New Holland station on the Humber estuary, on their way to the Norfolk Broads in an Austin 12/4.
Sea Harvest Sea Harvest
Documentary 1936 3 mins Silent Location: Gorleston Cliffs
Scenes of the herring harvest filmed at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk by amateur cameraman Mr Croxson who visited the wreck of a drifter recently lost with all her crew.
Holiday Hooliganism Holiday Hooliganism
Non-Fiction 1966 1 mins Silent Location: Skegness
Easter Monday crowds pour off the trains at Skegness and in Yarmouth, mods and rockers skirmish with the Police on Marine Parade.
Herring Harvest Herring Harvest
1932 2 mins Silent Location: Great Yarmouth
Thou shalt have a fishy: there are herrings aplenty as industrious Yarmouth fishermen get to work in this newsreel item
Some of Us - Holland-on-Sea Some of Us - Holland-on-Sea
Amateur film 1989 29 mins Silent Location: Holland-on-Sea
Amateur film of some of the folks who live in Holland-On-Sea, Essex and some of the places they visited on the East Anglian coast.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.