The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Farming and Farmer's Market
Meticulously groomed sheep vie with Aberdeen Angus bulls in a 1950s agricultural show, where animals and farm machinery alike compete with one another.
From the collection of:
Overview
The old and the new are joined together in this glimpse of British rural life in 1950s East Riding. A real treat for historians of post-war British agriculture, and of the breeds sheep and cow that were common at the time. The prominence of International Harvesters evidences the growth in agricultural machinery, while the intricate inspection of sheep invites us back over many centuries of sheep farming.
This is one of many films made by farmer Norman Stephenson and a Mr Hey, of farming and agriculture events in the 1950s around Market Weighton in East Yorkshire, and especially of his own Arras Farm. As well as providing a glimpse into post-war mechanisation, they also show the kinds of breeds of farming animals that were common at the time. The Market Weighton agricultural show lasted for about ten years before ceasing. Around the same time the Market Weighton Organisations Ltd, which features prominently in the film, also dissolved when it went into liquidation in December 1962.
Related
Watch for free
Pub Crawl Pub Crawl
Lifestyle show 1983 26 mins Location: York
Naturalist Michael Clegg indulges in the food, drink, and local legends of some of Yorkshire’s most famous public houses.
Watch for free
Arras Farm in Market Weighton Arras Farm in Market Weighton
Non-Fiction 1950 29 mins Silent Location: Market Weighton
The post-war transformation of the British countryside is vividly illustrated as new machines vie with the old, and hedgerows are ripped out on a still labour intensive farm.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.