The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Cockling at Wells-next-the-sea
Amateur record of the Alpington villagers' annual visit to Wells for cockling in the 1950s, organised by the 'Wheel of Fortune' pub landlady.
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Overview
Captured by Geoffrey Campling, this film is a record of the people of Alpington’s annual visit to Wells-next-the Sea for cockling in the 1950's; one of the many outings organised by the popular pub landlady of the 'Wheel of Fortune', Mrs Bilham. The large coach party arrive at Wells, head down to the beach, and with much merriment, hitch up trousers and skirts to climb into boats, ready to be ferried out to pick from the cockle beds.
Captured by Geoffrey Campling, this film is an excerpt that forms part of a longer reel that the filmmaker titled “A series of films of the Norfolk Countryside”. Geoffrey Campling was a keen amateur filmmaker, who recorded numerous events and local people in Norfolk. This film would have been screened in the village hall at Alpington, following the events featured to all of those who had taken part. Wells has long been a popular destination for cockle pickers and still receives many tourists each year.
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