London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
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Davis Family Films: Mum's Funeral, Haringey and Porthcawl (1964)
Despite the sad subject matter, this is a sweet film with great shots of south Wales scenery and opening with a family sun-worshipping session in London.
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Overview
While this film, shot by Haringey’s Davis family and discovered in their old home by a new resident, mainly covers a funeral in south Wales, it begins with a tableau of the family sunbathing in their garden in Stanhope Gardens off Green Lanes. Note an awesome beehive hairdo, and also the deck chair occupied by the family cat. The funeral footage includes an unexpected glimpse of the body at the wake but also shots of the Welsh countryside, including the beach funfair at night.
Bruce Castle Museum
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