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.
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Behind the Bell
The often neglected English game of quoits takes centre stage in this absorbing film shot in the Suffolk village of Kersey.
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Overview
This film offers an intriguing introduction to the game of quoits. It opens with shots of lovely thatched houses in Kerse; The Bell Inn is identified by a narrator. Behind the pub, two squares of land are prepared, and a game is soon underway. The victor enjoys a pint of beer and looks forward to the next game.
The Bell Inn remains a popular pub in Kersey. The village is known for its architecture that dates back to the 14th Century and earlier. The English game of quoits, although similar to the game horseshoes, is thought to originate from Ancient Greece. Quoits was banned by Edward III and Richard II due to its immense popularity in Medieval England. The English kings wanted their subjects to spend more time practicing their archery as preparation for future armed conflict.
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