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
Focus on Nidderdale
This gentle portrait of Nidderdale brings out a sense of place that is revealed through the eyes of someone who has spent a lifetime getting to know its many charms.
From the collection of:
Overview
A beautifully shot reflection on the delights of Nidderdale in the Yorkshire Dales around 1982. The rather languid pace of the film reflects both the place and the temperament of its makers Ken Leckenby and his wife. A seasoned cine club member, Leckenby has made the most of the marvellous qualities of Kodachrome to produce some wonderful shots of the Dales, exceptional for an amateur filmmaker.
Although Ken Leckenby made films as a member of the Mercury Movie Makers Cine Club of Leeds, he also made many films of his own, including a series of films he titled ‘Out and About’, documenting local events. But he also made a number of documentary type films similar to this one, extolling the virtues of Yorkshire. Usually Ken would provide an informative commentary to go with the film. Ken would go out most weekends filming these, from the 1960s through to the 1980s. In fact, this film may well have been the last made by Ken or MMM using 16mm cine film, with Sony introducing their first camcorder, with combined sound, in 1983.
Related
Knaresborough Bed Race Knaresborough Bed Race
Amateur film 1977 9 mins Silent Location: Knaresborough
The determination and energy of competitors in the 1977 Knaresborough Bed Race is both admirable and highly amusing in this wacky, fun film.
Harrogate Holiday 1949 Harrogate Holiday 1949
Amateur film 1949 18 mins Silent Location: Harrogate
Post-war Harrogate: voted the happiest place in Britain and the third most romantic destination in the world.
Wonders of Yorkshire Wonders of Yorkshire
Amateur film 1974 10 mins Location: Kilburn
Rocks resembling alien creatures, a giant white horse, wooden mice, a cave where a famous prophetess lived, and a teddy turned to stone.
Beautiful Yorkshire Beautiful Yorkshire
Amateur film 1936 12 mins Silent Location: Harrogate
Sedate cars drive by the Stray at Harrogate, where stately ladies serenely walk, while a lonely woman in a glides by in a punt at Knaresborough.
Yorkshire Tour No. 2 Yorkshire Tour No. 2
Documentary 1972 25 mins Location: Bridlington
Having given up the ghost as Martin Hopkirk, Kenneth Cope provides the banter as we tour Yorkshire, while maverick show jumper Harvey Smith helps decipher the Yorkshire ethos.
Tramp Tramp Tramp Tramp Tramp Tramp
Amateur film 1936 14 mins Silent Location: Richmond
A dance band crooner and his sweetheart take the rough with the smooth on a hike through Yorkshire in the 1930s.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.