London’s Screen Archives enables Londoners see their past come alive on film. Managed by Film London, we are a unique network of historic film collections that cares for, collects and screens heritage film across the city. Together we preserve London’s rich film heritage from feature films to home movies, public information films, newsreels, and records of the capital’s many different industries.
This film is part of Free
Glimpse of Oxford
Sydney Martin takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the landmarks of Oxford and surrounds including an occasional wry eye.
From the collection of:
Overview
An early film by keen amateur Sydney Martin, A Glimpse of Oxford shows us some of the city landmarks including The Queen's College with the Radcliffe Camera in the background and the Hertford Bridge. We move further afield, first to Marlow to see the nymph statue commemorating the life of theatre boss Charles Frohman, paid for by JM Barrie and actress Pauline Chase. After a cheeky poke at a local resident we visit Stoke Poges Church.
Where 18th Century Poet Thomas Gray wrote one of his most famous works "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" and where he was eventually buried. This film is from the collection of Redbridge Museum, Local Studies and Archives.
Related
Watch for free
Town and Gown Town and Gown
Documentary 1937 17 mins Location: Oxford
Focusing on each town’s university colleges, main streets, gardens, statues and memorials with a narration of the history of the buildings, notable scholars, and traditions.
Watch for free
Real Tennis Real Tennis
News 1980 3 mins Location: Oxford
Tennis as the monks played it: Oxford University's real tennis is a million miles away from the professional circuit.
Watch for free
Oxford Housing Oxford Housing
Current affairs 1982 5 mins Location: Oxford
Against the odds, same sex couples in Oxford get the right to register for council housing, but for how long?
Watch for free
Safety all the Way Safety all the Way
Instructional film/TV programme 1953 16 mins Location: Oxford
Hair-raising scenes of weaving cyclists, dopey drivers and pedestrian near-misses caught on camera during a typical day in 1950s Oxford.
Watch for free
Watch for free
Cambridge and Oxford Cambridge and Oxford
Amateur film 1953 10 mins Location: Cambridge
Time has taken an interesting toll on this contrasting portrait of Oxbridge by pro-am filmmaker Mathew Nathan
Watch for free
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.