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 part of Free
Castell Gorfod Farm
Caterpillar, Clyde Higgs and W H Buckley – all makers of agricultural machines featured here in use on Buckley's farm, Castell Gorfod, Llangynin, Carmarthenshire.
From the collection of:
Overview
W H Buckley, a non-executive director of Buckley's Brewery, Llanelli and master of the Carmarthenshire Foxhounds, reveals his interest in machinery, capturing on film the following items in use on his farm, Castell Gorfod, Llangynin, Carmarthenshire: a hay loader, a Clyde Higgs grass-cutting machine, a potato-laying machine invented by himself, a Caterpillar tractor, and Cymag gas equipment for the extermination of rabbits.
Lt Col W H Buckley was based in Bangalore 1925-30 with a calvary regiment, the 5th Inniskilling Dragoon Guards. He retired from the army in 1930 and came back home to take on the family farm. He can be seen driving the Caterpillar tractor, wearing cap and bow-tie, to which is attached his invention - the potato-layer. Two men sit – possibly not very comfortably - in the contraption as it is drawn around the field, rhythmically feeding potatoes into the ground via a hole in the floor of the layer. In pursuit of further mechanical gadgetry, Buckley installed one of the first grass drying machines seen in Wales on his farm, which proved useful during WWII for drying water-damaged grain.
Related
The Buckley Family - Somerleaze (Frome) and Castell Gorfod (Llangynin) The Buckley Family - Somerleaze (Frome) and Castell Gorfod (Llangynin)
Home movie 1931 12 mins Silent Location: Frome
The Buckley's Brewery (Llanelli) family gets about, visiting relatives in Somerset and cutting hay – and hair – at home in Carmarthenshire.
The Wedding, the Beekeeper, the Pigs and the Broads The Wedding, the Beekeeper, the Pigs and the Broads
Home movie 1933 10 mins Silent Location: Pendine Sands
Brayshays in Laugharne, Buckleys at Llangynin, 'Voyager' on the Thames, 'Seafarer' on Pendine Sands and 'Herzogin Cecilie' on the rocks.
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds
Amateur film 1930 14 mins Silent Location: Hook
Otter hunting from start to finish. Some viewers may regard this as an interesting, historical record, others as evidence of human cruelty.
Buckley Family - otter hunting, hare coursing and 'Castell Gorfod' Buckley Family - otter hunting, hare coursing and 'Castell Gorfod'
Home movie 1970 15 mins Silent Location: Castell Gorfod
Castell Gorfod', Llangynin - home of the Buckley's Brewery (Llanelli) family - is the place for puppies and post-hunt parties.
Buckley Family - point-to- point, puppy show and meets Buckley Family - point-to- point, puppy show and meets
Home movie 1932 11 mins Silent Location: Castell Gorfod
A point-to-point, puppy show, hunter trials and meets: the language and life of the hunting fraternity, in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds and Tivyside Hounds Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire Otter Hounds and Tivyside Hounds
Home movie 1965 7 mins Silent Location: Ferryside
From otter hunting at Solva and Llanaeron (no otters seen) to shots of Hatty, the performing bulldog, owned by W Kemmis Buckley.
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.
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.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.