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
Video Player is loading.
Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen
Nellie Boote's laundry in Market Street in operation, the women dashing away with all manner of smoothing irons as clothes are sorted, mended, washed, ironed and sorted again.
From the collection of:
Overview
Caefelin Laundry, Market Street, Llangollen: a busy, labour-intensive operation involving mainly women, although some men are seen filling/operating the washing machines in the 'wet' area, where workers wear heavy aprons and boots. The sorting and mending of clothing, and specialised ironing methods, are all recorded by the owners, builder Ernest Charles Jordan and his son, E C Jordan II. The laundry was run for them by Nellie Boote, who became the son's second wife.
Caefelin Laundry was previously owned by a brother of the famous footballer Billy Meredith who came from Chirk. The Jordans also owned and ran the White Rose Laundry in Newport and filmed both it and local events e.g. Newport Carnival. NB: It is possible that this film shows Caefelin Laundry footage (1940s/50s) sandwiched between White Rose Laundry footage from the 1930s as the load of pyjamas seen being removed from a machine are possibly from the Penley Polish Hospital at Wrexham which was opened at the end of WWII to cater for Polish ex-servicemen and their families who had settled in the area.
Related
Watch for free
For Sheer Perfection For Sheer Perfection
Documentary 1965 24 mins Location: Langley Mill
A mile of yarn and a million loops to make one stocking: the culmination of a four hundred year old craft.
Currently unavailable
Paper Fashion Paper Fashion
News 1967 6 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Fashion doesnt grow on treesor does it! Tyne Tees TV was bang on-trend with this brilliant news feature on the hip 1960s cult for a disposable age - paper fashion.
Watch for free
Fancy Yarn Production Fancy Yarn Production
Industry sponsored film 1971 23 mins Location: Greengates
Twisted yarns and empty spindles, everything from Bouclé to Slub yarn, from beginning to end, and all, in the end, displayed on a ‘normal’ model in typical 1970s fashion.
Watch for free
Working to a Pattern Working to a Pattern
Documentary 1980 32 mins
Rag trade revival or sweatshops? In the back streets of Brick Lane, Bangladeshi machinists sew 70s fashions
Watch for free
Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth
Current affairs 1977 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Wearing Fur gets Hairy
Watch for free
Platt Bros and Co. Ltd - Textile Machinists Platt Bros and Co. Ltd - Textile Machinists
Promotional 1925 21 mins Silent Location: Werneth
The manufacture of textile machinery in Oldham - men make the machines that produce the cloth.
Watch for free
Llangollen Historical Pageant Llangollen Historical Pageant
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Llangollen
The north-east Wales town performs its history
Watch for free
Midsummer Music Midsummer Music
Documentary 1960 19 mins Location: Llangollen
A celebration of the welcome, the fun and the colour awaiting visitors at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.