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
Hope Springs Eternal: Mr E. Winter of Richmond Park Displaysthe bird-like Machine with Which He Hopes to Achieve Flight
A Richmond inventor shows off his flying machine in the park before news cameras and some unimpressed spectators.
From the collection of:
Overview
There’s a tragicomic quality to this short, in which Mr E Winter takes to Richmond Park with his “bird-like machine”- a bicycle with giant flapping wings – in a bid to take flight. He doesn’t make it, and instead finds himself cycling rather slowly around the park while passers-by watch in bemused disbelief. After the demonstration, Mr Winter poses alongside his contraption in a local yard. One wonders what happened to it afterwards.
Related
Watch for free
Scottish Sport in Suburban London Scottish Sport in Suburban London
Non-Fiction 1930 1 mins Silent Location: Richmond Park
A hunter on horseback shoots down stags as Richmond Park is transformed into a scene from a Scottish glen during deer “thinning-out” season.
Watch for free
New Zealanders Win at Rugby New Zealanders Win at Rugby
Sport 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Richmond Park
Soldiers representing South Africa and New Zealand billeted in London get stuck in during a rugby fixture in Richmond Park.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.