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
Sheep Dog
The Ocean Coal Co. employed not just miners but also shepherds, as evidenced here. Tom Jones of Treorchy protects the company's assets above ground with care and great skill.
From the collection of:
Overview
Tom Jones, a shepherd who lived in one of the Ystradfechan Cottages at Old Farm, Treorchy, was employed by the Ocean Coal Company who owned the land above ground and coal (the Park and the Dare Collieries) beneath. A farrier who lived in the adjoining cottage tended to all the Park and Dare pit ponies. Tom Jones was known world-wide as the “Wonder Shepherd” for his remarkable skills as an animal trainer which, together with his concern for his flock, are recorded here.
Tom Jones used his remarkable skills in his work and he also demonstrated these skills to universal acclaim at shows (e.g. Birmingham Horticultural Society Show, 15-16/7/1932) where, for instance, two dogs each with three sheep would be seen working at the same time to two different whistles from him, and the dogs would show how they could feed lambs from bottles and ride ponyback. He received several awards ‘For Humanity' from the RSPCA – one in 1939 for the rescue of 6 lambs trapped at the bottom of a 60ft crevice and another in 1982, at the age of 79, for bringing a ewe and her lamb to safety from a ledge they were stuck on half way down a steep quarry side.
Related
Watch for free
Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry
Home movie 1931 1 mins Silent Location: Llandegfan
Mingo, Jerry and Thea: names of the dogs or people seen? Either way, they will be connected, for sure, with Isla Johnston of Bryn Mêl, Glyngarth, Anglesey, who shot the footage.
Watch for free
Hot Dogs Hot Dogs
Documentary 1970 10 mins Location: Bingley
The quirks of a whippet race, with novices in winklepickers learning from the old hands, all fully elucidated in broad West Yorkshire dialect.
Watch for free
Firewatch Dog Firewatch Dog
Government sponsored film 1943 1 mins
An English Bull Terrier warns wartime cinema goers to put their cigarettes out with more care.
Watch for free
Pwtan the Kitten Pwtan the Kitten
Home movie 1960 2 mins Silent Location: Pwllheli
Gardener’s nightmare: a kitten at large in a flower bed!
Watch for free
Farming Scenes at Little London Farming Scenes at Little London
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent Location: Little London
Little disturbs the peace in Little London - despite some foxhunting, polo and the Second World War!
Watch for free
Ginger Tom Ginger Tom
Amateur film 1950 1 mins Silent Location: Winspit
Oh to be Ginger Tom the cat and while away the hours!
Watch for free
Ocean Collieries Recreational Union Ocean Collieries Recreational Union
Promotional 1934 9 mins Silent Location: Treorchy/Treorci
The Ocean Coal Company plays its part in the “war against dirt” by providing pithead baths. Its new sports facilities and playgrounds offer healthy fun for all the community.
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.