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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Fakenham Races
Highlights from a day at Fakenham Races filmed circa 1948, after the resuming of the annual meeting here following a break during World War Two.
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Overview
National Hunt meetings have taken place at Fakenham for more than a century. Horseracing here ceased during the war years and then resumed in 1947. This footage was taken just a year or so following that time, the Grandstand hadn’t yet been built, and the three mile steeplechase started in the fields adjoining the Fakenham-Dereham Road before joining the racecourse proper.
This home movie footage was captured by local man Mr Wilson. In addition to filming local events, Mr Wilson wrote numerous plays for the BBC’s “Children’s Hour” often choosing Norfolk as their setting.
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