Change in Friern Barnet

Two for the price of one! This reel of film was among a small haul of early films and fragments, by then around one hundred years old, discovered and then donated to the BFI in the 1990s. In this case, two items were joined together on the reel. The first is believed to be A Corner of Barnet Fair, one of the films made by pioneer Birt Acres.

A uniformed marching band takes to the street in this early film by pioneer cinematographer Birt Acres

Relive over 70 years of film making as the BBC throws open its doors at Ealing Studios for a nostalgic exhibition which features cameras, actors, jazzy wigs and a Dalek

Celebrate founder's day with the students of Friern Barnet Grammar School

An amateur recording of social housing developments, local streets and businesses in Friern, Barnet.

Bridge building on the busy streets of London as the construction of Brunswick Bridge in Barnet is captured for posterity

A new luxury express is put through its paces. This film looks over the shoulders of the select band of craftsmen, engineers and operators, whose combined skills try to ensure that a train journey is a delightful experience.

British Transport Films record the varied daily lives of their neighbours as seen from the high roof of their building in London’s Marylebone.

Illustrating the efficiency of express freight trains, and how they link manufacturers with their customers at the other end of Britain.

Examining a day in the life of what was then the busiest railway system in the world – British Railways.

The Stationmaster at York guides us through a typical day, from dawn to dusk.

A 1957 film examining the future for British Railways, and some of the opportunities provided by a new modernisation plan.