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

A Bronte Christmas
Richard Whiteley joins children on the Worth Valley Railway Santa’s Special, while the Haworth Town Band sing On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at.
Documentary 1980 14 mins
From the collection of:

Overview
Two iconic Yorkshire Television presenters, Richard Whiteley and Geoff Druett, entertain us with a view of the famous Brontë town of Haworth at Christmas time, imagining what life with the Brontës would have been like in their day. The occasion of the retirement of John Moore as leader of the Haworth Town Band provides the opportunity to take us back to the Black Bull Hotel on Main Street, 1980, before Richard and Geoff enjoy a Christmas at the Parsonage.
This Calendar Special features two of Yorkshire’s better known TV presenters in their heyday, with Geoff Druett becoming a very popular presenter for several decades, and of course Richard Whiteley, “Smiler”, achieving national fame with Countdown, which started as a Calendar feature two years after this film. Whiteley had many other strings to his bow though, and once famously asked Thatcher about her husband Denis's first wife. The Parsonage was given to the Brontë Society and turned into a museum in 1928. The singing of On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at in the opening is apt for Christmas as it is believed to have originated with a church choir out rambling, and to have been composed around the time of the Brontës.
Related
The Arts on Film

Mining Review 25th Year No. 9 Mining Review 25th Year No. 9
1972 10 mins Location: Mayfair
A painterly profile of County Durham's brilliant miner-artist Tom McGuinness.

Figures in a Landscape Figures in a Landscape
Documentary 1953 17 mins Location: St Ives
A poetic portrait of sculptor Barbara Hepworth and the otherworldly Cornish landscapes which inspired her.

Dancers Dancers
1978 29 mins
Impressionistic portrait of life as a dancer in London’s Ballet Rambert.

Giacometti Giacometti
Documentary 1967 14 mins
Spend a few intense minutes with Giacometti in his Paris studio and see him at work on his striking sculptures.

Portrait of David Hockney Portrait of David Hockney
Documentary 1972 13 mins
Filmed at the time Hockney was painting Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy, this compelling study concentrates on the textures and light which surround the artist in his home and studio.

Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt
Documentary 1984 61 mins
Discover the 'name behind the hairstyle', in this essential portrait of the bard of Salford, aka John Cooper Clarke.
Haworth

Methodism in the Dales Methodism in the Dales
Travelogue 1949 28 mins Location: Calver
A tour of chapels and Methodists, past and present, in the northern counties of England.

The Shooting of Emily Jane The Shooting of Emily Jane
Amateur film 1980 23 mins Location: Stanbury
An intriguing film of an amateur filming a documentary about Emily Brontë on location, up on the Yorkshire moors, and editing it in his home.

Emily Jane Emily Jane
Documentary 1980 29 mins Location: Haworth
Out on the wiley, windy moors, by rundown stone cottages, the bonneted Brontë sisters feed their imagination, and Emily (aka Ellis Bell) dreams of meeting her Heathcliffe.

Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Keighley and Worth Valley Railway
Home movie 1970 3 mins Silent Location: Haworth
Station to station by steam locomotive on the Keighley and Worth Valley ‘heritage’ railway.

Yorkshire Tour No. 2 Yorkshire Tour No. 2
Documentary 1972 25 mins Location: Bridlington
Having given up the ghost as Martin Hopkirk, Kenneth Cope provides the banter as we tour Yorkshire, while maverick show jumper Harvey Smith helps decipher the Yorkshire ethos.

Push and Pull Push and Pull
Non-Fiction 1968 7 mins Location: Keighley
The age of steam lingers on as the `Worth Valley Railway Re-Opening Special' pulls into Keighley station, and hardly an anorak in sight.
New

Wig Wig
Drama 2019 26 mins
Arkita believes herself to be be modern, liberal and independent. An unprecedented encounter with a transgender sex worker questions her beliefs.

National Blood Service: Chief Executive's up-date, November 2001 National Blood Service: Chief Executive's up-date, November 2001
Sponsored film 2001 19 mins
Martin Gorham presents a video update to his staff, outlining some of his department's past achievements and upcoming challenges.

Meow or Never Meow or Never
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2020 10 mins
In a madcap musical, a 'cat'-stronaut travels the galaxy looking for the meaning of life and encounters a space pup eager to help.

Anti-smoking Campaign: Artery Anti-smoking Campaign: Artery
2003 1 mins
A longer version of the famously icky anti-smoking promo in which cigarettes ooze fat.

Scottish Elections: Statement for Scotland Scottish Elections: Statement for Scotland
Public Information Filler 2003 1 mins
“If you care, show it” - is the message to encourage voting in the Scottish elections, long before the galvanising independence referendum of 2014.

#WeAreHere #WeAreHere
Short documentary 2021 4 mins
A South Asian gaze on representation, inequality and discrimination in UK film and TV, set against the backdrop of the casting room.