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.
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From Cold to Gold
Making the most of the subtle colours of Kodachrome, the 1950s are revealed to be anything but grey as spring bursts forth in all its glory after the winter snow.
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Overview
This is a typically beautifully shot film in Kodachrome colour by amateur filmmaker Fred Brackenbury, showing places in Yorkshire, especially York, as they turn from winter to spring in the mid-1950s. One moment families are skiing and sledging in the snow, the next spring flowers brighten up Rowntree Park and the medieval city walls of York. The spring theme continues with cygnets, goslings, piglets and newborn lambs, some feeding from a cow.
Fred Brackenbury, a member of Harrogate Cine Club, was a travelling salesman who made over 60 films in the 1950s. His wife Nora used to do commentaries for the films which document the wonderful Yorkshire countryside, and show especially their love of flowers. These he would then screen at film shows. Rowntree Park remains pretty much unaltered sixty years later, and daffodils still grace York city walls.
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