The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
This film is part of Free
A Century of Transport: From Horse Tram to Atlantean
The history of horse drawn and electric trams, trolley buses and motor buses carrying passengers around Ipswich.
From the collection of:
Overview
In 1980, Ipswich celebrated a hundred years of public transport and David Cleveland made this film looking back at the various vehicles which once served the town through archive film and photographs. We're shown in succession the horse-drawn trams, electric trams, trolley buses and motor buses, culminating in the familiar Atlantean front-entrance double decker bus which enabled one-person operation and ended the role of the bus conductor.
Each new transport system required upheaval of the streets and left a legacy of specialist buildings and equipment for the industrial archaeologist to discover. In Ipswich the horse-drawn trams began in 1880, the electric trams in 1903, trolley buses known as trackless trams in 1923 with the final run on 23rd August 1963, and the diesel motor buses in 1950. Leyland introduced the Atlantean double decker in 1958. It was a matter of local pride that the trolley buses were manufactured in Ipswich at Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies and in nearby Leiston at Richard Garrett and Sons.
Related
Jubilee Jubilee
Amateur film 1977 11 mins Silent Location: Pulham Market
Pancake tossing around the village green, slow bicycle races, five-a-side football, obstacle courses, relay races, and British Bulldogs.
It's Quicker by Bus It's Quicker by Bus
Amateur film 1965 3 mins Silent Location: Ipswich
Hold on to your seat for this dizzying ride from Ipswich to Felixstowe, and mistreatment of a fare-dodger – clearly not company policy!
Project Six Project Six
School programme and Educational film 1981 15 mins Location: Trimley St Martin
A Suffolk school class adventure into Ipswich turns out to be a road safety lesson in this light-hearted film with a Green Cross Code message.
Years of Achievement Years of Achievement
Industry sponsored film 1961 25 mins Location: Ipswich
Company history of Ransomes, Sims and Jefferies, agricultural machinery manufacturers of Ipswich
Long Live the King & Queen Long Live the King & Queen
Non-Fiction 1937 7 mins Location: Ipswich
It’s celebration time in Ipswich on the day of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth
The Suffolk Show from a woman's angle The Suffolk Show from a woman's angle
Lifestyle show 1973 6 mins Location: Ipswich
What attracts women to visit a County Show? A “guess the weight of the pig” competition? Or a “Woman’s Weekly” fashion parade?
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.