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 part of Free
Cricket 1952 (Featuring Locations in Ilkley and Sleights)
The 1950s, the zenith of cricket as the perfect expression of the English refinement of leisure, along with smoking a pipe and having a beer.
From the collection of:
Overview
A wonderful evocation of an idyllic post-war Britain, at least for the well-heeled living in the prosperous Yorkshire town of Ilkley. The clichéd phrase of “the sound of willow against leather” sums up a whole lifestyle, seen here with the archetypal colonel in cricket blazer, sporting a Jimmy Edwards moustache and accompanied by a British bulldog. As an Ilkley Club batsman makes his forlorn way back to the pavilion, the ladies keep themselves occupied, knitting.
It is not entirely sure who is behind the camera in this film but it is most likely the highly accomplished Leeds amateur filmmaker John (Jack) Eley, possibly with the help of his fellow member of Leeds Cine Club, and its off-shoot Mercury Movie Makers, Reg White. Jack was very prolific from 1932 through to 1980, but especially so in the 1950s and ‘60s. Historic information on non-county cricket clubs is hard to come by but it seems that both Ilkley Cricket Club, founded in 1850, and Sleights are still playing on the same cricket grounds as they do in this film.
Related
Playing Cricket on Blackpool Beach Playing Cricket on Blackpool Beach
Amateur film 1935 1 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
Sand between your toes, and the thwack of leather on willow, make for a traditional British beach scene.
Troon Cricket Club Troon Cricket Club
News 1977 3 mins Location: Camborne
Troon CC compete in the National Village Championship
Soldiers Play Cricket near Guildford Soldiers Play Cricket near Guildford
Amateur film 1935 2 mins Silent Location: Stoughton
Kenneth Lockwood's 1930 film shows men of the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment enjoying a game of cricket at Stoughton Barracks near Guildford
Roger's Cup Winning Match Roger's Cup Winning Match
Amateur film 1973 3 mins Silent Location: Cawthorne
For local cricket players from a local cricket club playing in a local league, just playing is what matters; but winning is also nice.
Sevenoaks Cricket Bicentenary Week July 16-21, 1934 Sevenoaks Cricket Bicentenary Week July 16-21, 1934
Amateur film 1934 6 mins Silent Location: Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks celebrates the bicentenary of the cricket match between the Gentlemen of Kent and Gentlemen of Sussex
Six Points on Saturday Six Points on Saturday
Documentary 1986 27 mins Location: Pudsey
The enthusiasm of cricket lovers knows no bounds, as seen here with Pudsey St Lawrence Cricket Club and their rivals in the Bradford League.
The Wharfedale Scene The Wharfedale Scene
Home movie 1977 15 mins Location: Ilkley
With the so-called ‘winter of discontent’ on the horizon, here we have summer contentment generated by the serenity and simple life of ‘God’s own county’.
Wharfedale Wharfedale
Home movie 1956 14 mins Silent Location: Ilkley
Young hikers take to the hills in the time of motorcycles and sidecars, Morris dancers are still a novelty, and children balance barefoot over the stepping stones at Bolton Abbey.
Outdoor Training of Police Cadets Outdoor Training of Police Cadets
Documentary 1962 25 mins Location: Ilkley
Looking ahead to a life of chasing rogues over garden fences, or auditioning for Norman Wisdom’s ‘On the Beat’ – made the same year – police cadets take on an outdoor assault course.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.