Free
Pioneers of Personal Film
At the dawn of the cinema age, these trailblazing early adopters brought filmmaking technology into the home.
Home moviemaking is older than the first cinemas: we've been filming ourselves for well over a hundred years. The birth of the cinematograph in 1895 inspired a plethora of inventions pitched at the domestic market: Kinoras, Kammatographs, Pictorialographs, Birtacs and Biokams - all cameras designed for amateurs and enthusiasts to film and project in the home. This collection celebrates the earliest home movies preserved in Britain, and bears witness to the dawn of the amateur's long-standing fascination with family, travel and community. "The object in introducing this apparatus is to endeavour to popularize this extremely fascinating branch of photography.... [I have] always looked forward to the time when animated photography would be within the reach of every one" - filmmaker/inventor Birt Acres, on his Birtac camera, 1898.
Local Scenes and Family Pictures Local Scenes and Family Pictures
Amateur film 1927 14 mins Silent
Grandma and Grandad also join in the fun of this home movie - with beaches, swings & roundabouts and a medieval pageant led by Christopher Robin
Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll
Amateur film 1933 2 mins Silent
Four bright young things enact a midsummer's love tryst among the daisies in this short, well-crafted amateur fiction film.
Psyche's Wedding Psyche's Wedding
Home movie 1920 10 mins Silent Location: Devon
Bright young things thereto plight troth in a society wedding.
The Witch's Fiddle The Witch's Fiddle
Amateur film 1924 7 mins Silent
Gotta dance! A bewitched violin gets everyone's feet tapping.
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Amateur film 1930 8 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
The Scarlet Woman The Scarlet Woman
Comedy 1924 44 mins Silent Location: Hampstead Heath
Catholic fantasy starring Elsa Lanchester and Evelyn Waugh in an Andy Warhol fright wig.
Flying a Kite Flying a Kite
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
Mermaids at Play at Bognor (Passmore Family Film) Mermaids at Play at Bognor (Passmore Family Film)
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Bognor Regis
Breathtakingly adorable home movie of an Edwardian seaside holiday on Bognor Regis beach.
Children's Party, Playing with Ball Children's Party, Playing with Ball
Home movie 1902 1 mins Silent
What would a party be without balloons? The delight of these Edwardian children resonates across the years.
Girls Looking at Film and Giggling Girls Looking at Film and Giggling
Home movie 1902 1 mins Silent
One of the earliest amateur film portraits, and certainly one of the most charming.
Passmore Family Film No. 5 Passmore Family Film No. 5
Home movie 1902 0 mins Silent
Edwardian children play a quick game of oranges and lemons for the camera in this early home movie.
Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film) Playing on Beach (Passmore Family Film)
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Bognor Regis
Utterly gorgeous Edwardian home movie of a family's day out with bucket and spade on Bognor Regis beach.
Joan's Birthday Party Joan's Birthday Party
Home movie 1929 3 mins Silent Location: Poole Harbour
It's party time in Bournemouth in the pioneering decade that set the standard for change
Joce and Gill at Home Joce and Gill at Home
Amateur film 1936 28 mins Silent
Joseph Emberton's marvellous film captures the early years of daughters Jocelyn and Gill - with birthdays, Christmas and a trip to Blackpool
Early film making at Welsh camp Early film making at Welsh camp
Amateur film 1929 7 mins Silent Location: Llanymawddwy
Men on holiday from work at a Staffordshire firm - and on leave from home – enjoy themselves camping at Penygeulan farm, Llanymawddwy.
1934 Spirits from the Vasty Deep 1934 Spirits from the Vasty Deep
Amateur film 1934 14 mins Silent Location: Aberystwyth
A new baby holidays with London-based lawyer Goronwy Moelwyn Hughes, his wife and sons, and Lloyd Georges David and Megan discuss a new deal.
Royal Silver Jubilee 1935 - Cardiff Royal Silver Jubilee 1935 - Cardiff
Home movie 1935 15 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Yards of bunting have been put up in Cardiff to celebrate King George V’s 25 years on the throne and the Wade home in Park Place has its share.
They Forgot to Read the Directions They Forgot to Read the Directions
Home movie 1924 20 mins Silent Location: Cherkley Court
The 20s elite let their guard down... Amateur antics from media baron Lord Beaverbrook and friends, including HG Wells and Rebecca West.
Crossing the Great Sagrada Crossing the Great Sagrada
Parody 1924 10 mins Silent
A silent satire with hints of Monty Python.
Aberaeron - Alban Square Aberaeron - Alban Square
Home movie 1929 13 mins Silent Location: Aberaeron
Aberaeron’s pharmacist, with ready access to film, takes a camera out with his family and records them in town, on the beach and by the river.
Pinner - 1926 - Osborne Personal Film Pinner - 1926 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film 1926 13 mins Silent Location: Pinner
Evocative film capturing the suburb of Pinner succumbing to modernity, as we watch roads being constructed and the countryside retreating.
Harrow Events - C.1927 - Osborne Personal Film Harrow Events - C.1927 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film 1927 11 mins Silent Location: Harrow
Watford, Harrow and Pinner let down their hair in a 1920s smorgasbord of funfairs, fire displays and Tudor pageantry.
Minehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal Film Minehead - 1932 - Osborne Personal Film
Amateur film 1932 45 mins Silent Location: Minehead
A Somerset holiday with prolific amateur cinematographers the Tigg family
Tenby Races 1931 Tenby Races 1931
Amateur film 1931 16 mins Silent Location: Castell Gorfod
Highlights of the rural year: The Milkmaid of the Year event, the Prince of Wales at the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelli, horse racing at Tenby and a ploughing match at St Clears.
Seven O' Clock Regulars' Swimming Club Part 1 of 3 Seven O' Clock Regulars' Swimming Club Part 1 of 3
Amateur film 1929 11 mins Silent Location: Plymouth
Seven O'Clock Regular Swimmers' Club open the new season with a splash!
Barnstaple Fair in the 1920s Barnstaple Fair in the 1920s
Amateur film 1926 5 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
Join the crowds in Barnstaple for fairground attractions
Outing on the Thames Outing on the Thames
Amateur film 1933 9 mins Silent Location: Henley-on-Thames
An interwar outing on the River Thames with a reminder of the Great Western Railway's influence in Birmingham.
Our Holidays 1932 Our Holidays 1932
Amateur film 1932 10 mins Silent Location: Walton-On-The-Naze
With the luxury of a beach hut as their base, the Mann family from Southend took any opportunity to head up the coast to spend many happy days at Walton-on-the-Naze
Memoirs of our Holiday at Aberystwyth August 1931 Memoirs of our Holiday at Aberystwyth August 1931
Amateur film 1931 10 mins Silent Location: Aberystwyth
Waterfalls, rocks and St. Catherine's Fort, Tenby, are just a few of the wonderful highlights in this short film that explores the west Wales area