Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
Our Daily Bread
The village of Egerton is the backdrop to this nostalgic look at a farming year in the inter-war years - from ploughing through to the harvest
From the collection of:
Overview
Ernest A 'Spot' Botting's film chronicles a farming year in Egerton, Kent. Both horse and tractor hauled ploughs are used and manure is spread on the land. Seed drills sow the crop while hops are sprayed. Blossom-time brings jolly antics, before harvesting begins in summer. Farm workers feed sheaves into a steam-powered threshing machine while the wheat is loaded into sacks. Cartloads of straw are piled into huge haystacks and before winter comes the potatoes are lifted.
Ernest A. 'Spot' Botting was an amateur film-maker who captured rural and village life in pre-war Egerton, in the Weald of Kent. Screen Archive South East's collection of his films also includes other rural and rustically themed films like 'In England's Garden' and 'Egerton May Festivals'. The opening titles are lines from a traditional folk song called 'A Farmer's Boy'.
Related
In England's Garden In England's Garden
Amateur film 1930 13 mins Silent Location: Egerton
A nostalgic snapshot of pre-war Kentish farm life in the Garden of England - captured before the arrival of agriculture on an industrial scale
Last Year of Peace Last Year of Peace
Amateur film 1939 17 mins Silent Location: Egerton
An amazing film that contrasts the last months of peace in 1939 with scenes from the first year of the war - featuring dog-fights over Sussex and the effects of falling bombs.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
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.
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.