This film is part of Free

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.

Home movie 1948 6 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

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.