National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Farm work: earth, oats, milk and concrete
On the farm there is heavy work to be done (ploughing, silage-making, concrete-ing) and lighter jobs (feeding fluffy chicks and tabby cats).
From the collection of:
Overview
In between the heavy farm tasks – the ploughing and harrowing with discs, the concrete-ing of a barn floor, the lifting and chopping of oat stooks to make silage – are the lighter ones, such as feeding the beautifully fluffy newly-hatched chicks and giving a bit of fresh milk to the cats.
Ion Trant was born and brought up on Dovea Farm in Tipperary, Ireland. He went on to study agriculture in Canada and then moved to Wales to work at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station in Aberystwyth where he met his future wife, Janet Owen of Maesmawr Hall, Welshpool, both of them working on developing improved grasses for upland farms with George Stapledon. The Trants farmed at Maesmawr Hall and the adjoining farm Cefn Du, and Esgairdraenllwyn at Llaithddu, Llandrindod, where Janet bred Welsh Black cattle crossed with Herefords. Ion created/filmed the "Country Close-Up" series for children (BBC - 1956-62), using footage of his own 3 for the programmes. He subsequently obtained work as a freelance cameraman.
Related
Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry Mingo & Jerry, Thea and Jerry
Home movie 1931 1 mins Silent Location: Llandegfan
Mingo, Jerry and Thea: names of the dogs or people seen? Either way, they will be connected, for sure, with Isla Johnston of Bryn Mêl, Glyngarth, Anglesey, who shot the footage.
Hot Dogs Hot Dogs
Documentary 1970 10 mins Location: Bingley
The quirks of a whippet race, with novices in winklepickers learning from the old hands, all fully elucidated in broad West Yorkshire dialect.
Firewatch Dog Firewatch Dog
Government sponsored film 1943 1 mins
An English Bull Terrier warns wartime cinema goers to put their cigarettes out with more care.
Pwtan the Kitten Pwtan the Kitten
Home movie 1960 2 mins Silent Location: Pwllheli
Gardener’s nightmare: a kitten at large in a flower bed!
Farming Scenes at Little London Farming Scenes at Little London
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent Location: Little London
Little disturbs the peace in Little London - despite some foxhunting, polo and the Second World War!
Ginger Tom Ginger Tom
Amateur film 1950 1 mins Silent Location: Winspit
Oh to be Ginger Tom the cat and while away the hours!
Nature walk - Maesmawr School Nature walk - Maesmawr School
School programme and Educational film 1959 2 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
Learning outdoors: children find rosehips and oak apples in the winter sunshine.
Three Boys in a Boat Three Boys in a Boat
School programme and Educational film 1956 5 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
Three hardworking boys burn weeds, cut and transport reeds for an island hut on the lake at Maemawr Hall, Welshpool, and fry eggs outdoors.
Summer Oats for Winter Feed Summer Oats for Winter Feed
School programme and Educational film 1959 8 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
Oats are mown, threshed and rolled in summer so that calves at Maesmawr Hall farm, Welshpool, can be fed well in winter and pile on the pounds.
Balers: Welger and Jones Balers: Welger and Jones
School programme and Educational film 1960 3 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
Horses for courses and different balers for different bales. At Maesmawr Hall, a Welger produces very loose bales, a Jones very compact ones.
Farrier at Castle Caereinion and Front Field Ride Farrier at Castle Caereinion and Front Field Ride
School programme and Educational film 1956 7 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
Walter Price welcomes Ion Trant of Maesmawr Hall and his mare 'Nutmeg' (Iceland x Thoroughbred) to his smithy at Castle Caereinion, Powys.
Pigs, Ponies and Cowboys & Indians in Powys Pigs, Ponies and Cowboys & Indians in Powys
School programme and Educational film 1956 16 mins Silent Location: Maesmawr Hall
There’s work to be done on the farm – e.g. drilling, rolling fleeces, baling hay – but also play to be enjoyed by piglets and children.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.