The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Aysgarth School Sports
Ancient Greek states battle it out in shorts on the playing fields of Aysgarth
From the collection of:
Overview
It’s post-war Britain, but little has changed at Aysgarth Preparatory School for Boys in North Yorkshire. Here they continue preparing for a place in a top public school through athletics, gymnastics, rugby, cricket and football. Then, on to winter, and its sledging, skating, ice hockey and, of course, snowball fights.
Aysgarth preparatory school was founded in 1877, and has been sending pupils to top public schools and colleges, like Harrow School, Radley, Sedbergh and Eton, ever since. Its system of Houses – Athenians, Corinthians, Spartans and Thebans – as illustrated here, was clearly designed to foster the classicism of the elite, as well as the emphasis on physical and sporting prowess. Among the post war beneficiaries are Olympic rower and gold medallist Matthew Pinsent and adventurer and environmentalist Robert Swan.
Related
4 and 20 Fit Girls 4 and 20 Fit Girls
1940 11 mins Silent
Flock to your local keep fit class - there's a war on and Britain needs its citizens in tip-top shape.
Long Distance Runner Long Distance Runner
News 1974 4 mins Location: Woodsetton
They breed them hard in Dudley - running non-stop for 24 hours is nothing to Ron Bentley: his next challenge is to race over 800 miles.
National and Country Dancing National and Country Dancing
School programme and Educational film 1952 14 mins Location: Leigh-on-Sea
Want to learn to dance the Swedish Masquerade, Dutch Hakke Toone, or maybe the Italian Tarantella? Essex schoolchildren show us how it’s done.
Haggis Hurling Haggis Hurling
News 1980 6 mins Location: Belfast
Meet the president leading the haggis hurling revival and learn how delivering lunch became a sport for kilted gentlemen.
Cycling the Channel Cycling the Channel
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Dover
A Fine Feat of Endurance. Why swim the Channel when you can go by hydrocycle?
Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium for the Disabled
Amateur film 1967 19 mins Silent Location: Stoke Mandeville
Rare home movie capturing sporting action in 1967 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, birthplace of the Paralympics.
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.