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
Arncliffe
An idyllic picture of country life between the wars, with children playing on the village green next to grazing cows and a farmer walks down a country lane with a milk urn on his back.
From the collection of:
Overview
A whimsical but lovingly made portrait of country life in Arncliffe, Upper Wharfedale, in the 1930s, when roads mainly served as freeways for sheep and cows, and geese roamed everywhere at will. Here humans and farm animals seem to live in perfect harmony as house martins nest in the barn, a chicken pecks insects off a grazing cow, horses pull the plough, sheep dogs watch over the sheep, children play in the village school and the farmer’s wife feeds milk to a newborn lamb.
It isn’t known who took this film or which farm is featured. It is one of several films made of Arncliffe during the 1930s that were donated (initially to Upper Wharfedale Museum) by Reverand G Curry (not to be confused with the present day evangelist Revd. George Curry). The film looks to have been taken either in the grounds of a school or in the grounds of a large country house. G Curry was the vicar of St Oswald Church, Arncliffe – where the Right Reverend John Robinson, author of the influential book Honest to God, is buried.
Related
Enchanted Garden Enchanted Garden
Amateur film 1931 12 mins Silent Location: Arncliffe Cote
A magical dream sequence of dancing fairies that seems to draw upon very early moving images of staged dances of fairy tales, beautifully performed by enchanting children.
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.
Blades Blades
Drama 2023 2 mins
A group of young Black boys run into a building. One of them is about to do the unimaginable.
We Collide We Collide
Romance 2023 2 mins
A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
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.