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.
This film is part of Free
Family holiday at Thorpeness
The Catchpole family from Ipswich were creatures of habit and would head to the Thorpeness resort every summer to a cottage by the sea. As the youngest, Dick was keen to take charge!
From the collection of:
Overview
For families with young children, the elegant resort of Thorpeness on the Suffolk coast was paradise. With it's own shallow mere and boats galore, children could take part in regattas and races without the fear of deep water and currents. No wonder the Catchpoles with cousins and friends returned year after year for 2 weeks in August for the Annual Thorpeness Regatta. For a very young Dick Catchpole, it was a chance to make friends with the fishermen and help pull in the boats!
Dick has treasured memories of his childhood holidays at Thorpeness where they hired the same green and white striped wooden cottage on the beach. He would often choose to sleep on the verandah to listen to the sea on the stones. The 'primitive' life with no running water and tin baths added to the fun and adventure for the youngsters.
Related
Watch for free
Rambles Around East Anglia - Part Two Rambles Around East Anglia - Part Two
Amateur film 1960 30 mins Silent Location: Aldeburgh
Amateur filmmaker captures East Anglia's coastal landmarks; incl. Thorpeness' 'House in the Clouds', Happisburgh Lighthouse, in 1959.
Watch for free
Southwold Holiday Southwold Holiday
Home movie 1935 16 mins Silent Location: Southwold
Victor Harrison's 1935 family film of holidays on the Suffolk coast; Southwold, Lowestoft, The Broads, and Thorpeness.
Watch for free
Thorpeness - Beaching and Boating Thorpeness - Beaching and Boating
Home movie 1930 2 mins Silent Location: Thorpeness
Delightful record of a family outing at Thorpeness on the Suffolk coast; at the beach and boating on the Meare, in the 1930s.
Watch for free
Suffolk Villages Suffolk Villages
Amateur film 1964 27 mins Silent Location: East Bergholt
Leisurely picnics and gathering lavender. Herbert Smerdon and friends tour the pretty villages in rural Suffolk circa 1964.
Watch for free
Thorpeness Thorpeness
Non-Fiction 1930 7 mins Silent Location: Thorpeness
With a combination of Peter Pan islands, a House in the Clouds, a safe shallow lake and sandy beach, Thorpeness has been the idyllic holiday resort for more than a century.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.