Screen Archive South East is a public sector moving image archive serving the South East of England. The archive's collections of magic lantern slides, films, videos and associated materials capture the many varied aspects of life, work and creativity from the early days of screen history to the present day and serve as a rich and invaluable historical resource.
This film is part of Free
In England's Garden
A nostalgic snapshot of pre-war Kentish farm life in the Garden of England - captured before the arrival of agriculture on an industrial scale
From the collection of:
Overview
This wonderful film, made by Ernest A 'Spot' Botting, captures life on a working farm in Egerton, Kent in the 1930s. After a montage of flowers and animals we see a mighty oak felled by hand, horses hauling a wooden plough, steam traction engines hauling mechanical ploughs and various harvesting machines at work. We also visit the farm's hop fields where we see hop-picking families at work. Sacks full of hops are taken to the oast house for drying where we see happy farmer Gore.
Ernest A. 'Spot' Botting was an amateur film-maker who captured rural and village life in pre-war Egerton, in the Weald of Kent. Screen Archive South East's collection of his films also includes other rural and rustically themed films like 'Our Daily Bread' and 'Egerton May Festivals'. The opening titles are lines from a traditional folk song called 'A Farmer's Boy'.
Related
Our Daily Bread Our Daily Bread
Amateur film 1933 13 mins Silent Location: Egerton
The village of Egerton is the backdrop to this nostalgic look at a farming year in the inter-war years - from ploughing through to the harvest
Last Year of Peace Last Year of Peace
Amateur film 1939 17 mins Silent Location: Egerton
An amazing film that contrasts the last months of peace in 1939 with scenes from the first year of the war - featuring dog-fights over Sussex and the effects of falling bombs.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.