Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
ECA Conference and Whipsnade Zoo
Join Sydney Bligh and his fellow delegates as they tour Derbyshire spa towns, visit castles and cathedrals and still have time to see the animals at Whipsnade Zoo
From the collection of:
Overview
Sydney Bligh's travelogue kicks off in Derbyshire, where we get lovely views of Matlock and Buxton. Next we're in Lichfield - visiting the medieval cathedral, a playright's house and Dr Johnson's willow tree at Stowe Pond. After a quick dash to Kenilworth and Warwick Castles, we're at Edge Hill , an English civil war battleground, looking out over the landscape. Finally, we arrive at Whipsnade Zoo and see a variety of animals living in the Bedfordshire countryside.
Sydney Bligh ran a wireless and electronics shop called S.W.Bligh, which was on North Lane in Canterbury. He was an early pioneer of radio, beginning his experiments in 1913 using the call-sign BXA. By the early 1920s Bligh was broadcasting his own shows - before becoming one of the founder members of the British Broadcasting Company. As well as his work as an amateur filmmaker he also was an early pioneer of television and developed some components that improved television reception.
Related
Watch for free
PICTURESQUE MATLOCK PICTURESQUE MATLOCK
Travelogue 1915 4 mins Silent Location: Matlock
Take a peek at the Peak District, with panoramic views of the best bits, from Matlock to Dovedale.
Watch for free
Gill: The Tempestuous Years Gill: The Tempestuous Years
Home movie 1966 20 mins Silent Location: Matlock Bath
Snow and floods hit Derbyshire during the wild 1960s.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.