National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Mansion House, Newport
The notables of Newport know how to party! Men of the cloth live carouse with the best of them at the Mayor's summer bash
From the collection of:
Overview
The Mayor of Newport's residence becomes a house of fun when esteemed summer party guests, male and female, throw themselves into garden games. Competitive spirit kicks in over croquet, darts, a game of poking poles through fencing and hooking beer bottles, and a Bishop-versus-Minister game of tray skittles with a swing-ball. The drinks table possibly explains the have-a-go spirit in evidence!
The Mansion House at Newport, south Wales was built in the 1890s and became the official residence of the Mayor of Newport until 2009. It also offered hospitality and accommodation to official visitors to the city from overseas, and for a period was used as visiting judges' lodgings. The Mayor seen here is Arthur F Dolman, who was in office from 1952 to 1953, and the Bishop is Alfred Edwin Morris - Bishop of Monmouthshire from 1945 to 1967. It has not been possible to establish what the the exact occasion was – perhaps viewers can help pinpoint the event?
Related
Memoirs of a Pit Orchestra Memoirs of a Pit Orchestra
Drama-documentary 1981 39 mins Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
War and a grinding economy take their toll on the spirit and soul of the Welsh in this haunting, poetic study
Welsh Magic Welsh Magic
Travelogue 1946 8 mins Silent Location: Shrewsbury
Pin-sharp post-war views of the welshest parts of Wales, from slate and coal mines to the fine cities like Aberystwyth.
Ingot Pictorial No. 23 Ingot Pictorial No. 23
Promotional 1955 23 mins Location: Newport/Casnewydd
You can experience the Orb Works Carnival and watch a ship being built in Newport, and you can laugh as Jon Pertwee takes to the catwalk years before he travelled in the Tardis.
A look at Newport A look at Newport
Promotional 1959 12 mins Location: Newport/Casnewydd
Forget the old castle and the remains of Caerleon fort, and never mind the increased traffic: Newport is alive to modern business and offers award-winning new housing.
Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale Owen Humberstone Prosser - Ebbw Vale
Amateur film 1959 16 mins Silent Location: Crumlin
Owen Humberstone Prosser, an expert on railways and canals, captured the Crumlin Viaduct on film in 1959, before its demolition in 1967, a victim of the Beeching rail cuts.
Great Western Ports Great Western Ports
Industry sponsored film 1929 86 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
"Any Ware to Anywhere" - a film advertising the thoroughly modern merits of the Great Western Railway ports (e.g. Cardiff, Newport, Barry, Port Talbot, Swansea, Fishguard).
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.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.