National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is currently unavailable
Branksome', Heathwood Road, Cardiff
It's war-time and the garden, where the Iles sisters continue to play, houses an air raid shelter beneath the rockery, and Dad is a Civil Defence Warden.
From the collection of:
Overview
War-time changes everything. Although the young Iles sisters continue to play and picnic, the garden of their home in Heathwood Road, Cardiff, now houses an air-raid shelter, disguised as a rockery, and Dad is a Civil Defence Warden.
The Civil Defence General Service, which included Air Raid Precautions, was operated by well over a million volunteer fire watchers/fighters, rescue parties and First Aiders, most of whom were working full-time in paid work. Youth organisations were also involved, with their members being used as messengers. A Civil Defence Warden, such as R G Iles, was responsible for providing his/her community with information on e.g. air raid precautions, and expected to provide leadership and guidance after any incident, reporting damage or casualties to the local CD control centre. This film probably shows wardens engaged in a training exercise.
Related
Watch for free
Great Central Railway Great Central Railway
News 1962 5 mins Location: Chesterfield
Doctor Beeching sounds the death knell for the Great Central main line.
Watch for free
Showgirls is a Western Showgirls is a Western
Short documentary 2025 2 mins
In this mini video essay, BFI contributor Maha Al-Badrawi explains why Paul Verhoeven's Showgirls is a rhinestoned, stilettoed Western. Contains spoilers!
Watch for free
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
Watch for free
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
Watch for free
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Watch for free
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Watch for free
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.