The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Essex Willows
A fascinating look at how a cricket bat is professionally crafted, by hand, in 1946, from its beginnings as a willow tree.
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Overview
This Essex County Council sponsored film, produced in 1946, shows in intricate detail how the wood of a willow tree is used to craft a cricket bat, all done by hand – from felling the willow tree, through to shaping the blade and fitting the handle, marrying the two perfectly, before the final touches. The film is silent with captions explaining each stage of the process.
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