The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free

Lockheed Wartime Factory Films
Camouflaged against aerial attack, the Lockheed aircraft factories in Leamington Spa and Leicester work day and night for the war effort.
Amateur film 1943 56 mins Silent
From the collection of:

Overview
This compilation of wartime films shows activities at the huge Lockheed factory at Leamington Spa (and at a sister factory at Leicester in the final section of the reel). A morale boosting visit by the Minister of Aircraft Production Sir Stafford Cripps encourages workers to waste less scrap and we also see the factory's own fire service and cadet forces in action. The aircraft spotters are a reminder that such a great industrial venture was a top target for Hitler's bombers.
The Leamington Spa factory of Lockheed was specially camouflaged by the Civilian Camouflage Directorate, a group of artists and theatrical set designers that was based in Royal Leamington Spa and given the challenge of creating methods of hiding large factories from the air. The Leamington Spa factory was operated by Automotive Products that had set up in business to license the American designed Lockheed braking system and Borg and Beck clutches before the war. The business was broken up and sold off in 2000.
Related
Keep the Wheels Turning

Yesterday Is over Your Shoulder Yesterday Is over Your Shoulder
Industry sponsored film 1940 8 mins
An enticing government call for men to retrain as skilled engineers to help with the war effort.

Warwork News No 11 Warwork News No 11
Government sponsored film 1942 12 mins
Wartime news magazine for factory workers, sponsored by the Ministry of Supply. News items often stressed the value of the 'factory front'.

Worker and War Front No. 3 Worker and War Front No. 3
Government sponsored film 1942 11 mins Location: Liverpool
A wartime magazine made to motivate and inform war workers, commissioned by the Ministry of Information in 1942 and exclusively screened in factories.

Behind the Guns Behind the Guns
Documentary 1940 20 mins Silent
A Second World War propaganda film, looking at the industrial might behind Great Britain’s armed forces.

Shipbuilders Shipbuilders
Government sponsored film 1940 10 mins
Shipwrights, plate-fitters and riveters support the war effort as their ships take majestic shape in this tour of British shipyards.

The Port of Cardiff 2 The Port of Cardiff 2
Promotional 1943 25 mins Silent Location: Whitchurch
Meat and wheat, oranges and eggs (dried), salmon and peaches (tinned) arrive in Cardiff from Brazil, America, Canada and New Zealand to keep war-time’s wolf from the allied door.
Royal Leamington Spa

Immigration Control Immigration Control
Current affairs 1978 9 mins Location: West Bromwich
The UK's immigration laws have prevented Dara Singh from seeing his family for a decade. His is one of many sad stories...

Leamington Spa Race Relations Leamington Spa Race Relations
News 1971 4 mins Location: Royal Leamington Spa
A 1971 race relations report claimed that Leamington Spa was way ahead in its dealings with issues arising from migrants settling in the town.

Railway Vicar Railway Vicar
Non-Fiction 1978 7 mins Location: Royal Leamington Spa
Church bells, organs and choirs are all sounds you'd expect to hear at a church - but what about the sound of a steam locomotive at full tilt?

Shakespeare Land Shakespeare Land
Travelogue 1910 5 mins Silent Location: Royal Leamington Spa
Elegantly attired men and women while away a sunny afternoon on the banks of the River Avon in this idyllic Edwardian travelogue.

Grand Union Canal Grand Union Canal
Documentary 1937 34 mins Silent Location: Houses of Parliament
Follow working narrow boats as they make their 60-hour trip from London to Birmingham along Britain's longest industrial waterway.

Fradley: Warwickshire Fradley: Warwickshire
Amateur film 1967 20 mins Silent Location: Warwick
World renowned landmarks, the country's most famous author and traditional farming culture meet in the centre of England.
New

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Richard Curtis - A Love Actually Special Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Richard Curtis - A Love Actually Special
Discussion programme 2020 38 mins
This festive season, Mark Kermode takes a deep dive into his favourite ever Christmas movie, Love Actually, with writer and director, Richard Curtis..

The Brilliant Biograph The Brilliant Biograph
Anthology 2020 52 mins Silent
Immerse yourself in an enchanting compilation of newly-restored rare images from the first years of filmmaking.

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple
Discussion programme 2020 30 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D with Meera Syal, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Greg Proops and more Mark Kermode Online in 3D with Meera Syal, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Greg Proops and more
Discussion programme 2020 65 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Meera Syal, Ben Roberts, and more!

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Morfydd Clark, Rose Glass, Segun Akinola and Be Manzini Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Morfydd Clark, Rose Glass, Segun Akinola and Be Manzini
Discussion programme 2020 56 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Morfydd Clark, Shola Amoo, Be Manzini, and more!

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Sam Riley, Noel Clarke and Caitlin Moran Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Sam Riley, Noel Clarke and Caitlin Moran
Discussion programme 2020 59 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Noel Clarke, Sam Riley, Fyzal Boulifa, and more!
About the archive
Know this place?
Do you recognise a place, building or location in this film?
Help us populate the Britain on Film map by spotting and plotting the street or location you know. This is a BFI project and anyone can help.
Go to our Britain on Film crowdsourcing site and contribute to our mapping mission – to identify locations within our archive films.
Add a location