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
Easter Mission to Denaby
Denaby, a quintessential industrial village, is visited by Mexborough School students.
From the collection of:
Overview
Looming collieries, red bricked alleys and terraced housing present an archetypal snapshot of the coal mining community in a place once known as ‘Denaby Main Colliery Village.’ Whilst students embark on their project, knocking on doors and handing out leaflets, the teacher’s film shows an active industrial landscape - only a few years before the village’s dramatic rebuild.
Built for purpose, Denaby, located between Rotherham and Doncaster, was a working settlement, establishing its reputation as a coal village since the 1860s. Two collieries were at the heart of the area; Denaby Main and neighbouring Cadeby Main. Despite the major mining incident at Cadeby in 1912, Denaby colliery shut its doors earlier in 1968. The closure was a potent signal of the industry’s decline and in the same year, the village underwent a major re-building process. Moving away from its industrial past, terraced houses were demolished, making space for modern housing.
Related
Watch for free
May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
News 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.
Watch for free
Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.
Watch for free
The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Children's 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov
Currently unavailable
Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.
Watch for free
Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.
Watch for free
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Watch for free
Take Your Partners Take Your Partners
Amateur film 1968 13 mins Location: Bentley
Doncaster couples enjoy the pleasures of a dinner and dance in this charming insight into 1960s nightlife.
Watch for free
From Start to Finish From Start to Finish
Non-Fiction 1981 23 mins Silent Location: Bentley
How a single man can turn a tree into a hand-crafted, solid and beautiful, wooden horse cart, without any division of labour, or conveyer belts, or even much machinery.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror New Perspectives: Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Coghlan of Northumbria University explains why FW Murnau's 1922 vampire story is an endlessly intriguing work of art.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.