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 currently unavailable
Calder/Hebble Canal - Freezing and Flooding
Fun and games for the men working the barges on a frozen Hebble Canal as they attempt by hook or by crook to break through the ice to deliver coal in the famous winter of 1947.
From the collection of:
Overview
The consequences of extreme weather are seen here in an earlier manifestation from 1947, as barges battle against the ice of a frozen Hebble Canal. Then the thaw brings flooding in its wake, leaving factories under many feet of water and causing barrels to float past the stranded cranes.
This 9.5 mm film was made by Howard Jackson of Halifax. The Calder and Hebble Navigation runs for 21 miles from Sowerby Bridge and connects with the River Calder at Wakefield. The Halifax section was closed in 1942, and the canals were nationalised the year after this film in 1948. The canal would carry coal from local pits such as Overton Colliery right up until 1955 when commercial use stopped. The famous winter of 1947 was at its most savage in March, hitting hard at a time of fuel and food shortages after the Second World War. Blizzards produced drifts up to 15 feet high, with some 2 million sheep perishing. And as the snow melted, this combined with high rainfall causing one of the wettest winters on record.
Related
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.