This film is part of Free

Covent Garden Porters

An incredibly entertaining short film in which Covent Garden porters perform near-impossible balancing feats with stacks of baskets.

Interest film 1929 2 mins Silent

Overview

An astonishing short film in which porters perform near-impossible balancing feats with stacks of baskets around the Covent Garden Market Hall. The photographer was also extremely dextrous judging by the incredible dolly shot from above a stack of baskets - just how did he do that? Such a performance would no doubt go down a treat with spectacle-hungry Covent Garden tourists today.

The star of the show is one Jim Sainsbury, whose party-piece was rather legendary among the porters, attracting film crews on more than one occasion.