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.
Genres
Amateur film
Released
1943
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Royal Leamington SpaBraunstone Town
Language
English
Related
Keep the Wheels Turning
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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'.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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
Watch for free
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...
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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?
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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
Watch for free
Beneath the Surface Beneath the Surface
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2017 4 mins
A comedy-drama animation about two best friends growing up in the same world but experiencing it completely differently.
Watch for free
Appreciation Appreciation
Drama 2019 14 mins
An African Pentecostal Pastor questions everything she believes after a life-changing event.
Watch for free
Kindred Kindred
Drama 2018 8 mins
Samona Olanipekun explores the concepts of home, identity and belonging, from the starting point of the theme of globalisation.
Watch for free
Father of Man Father of Man
Drama 2017 16 mins
Compelling story of a complex relationship between an imperious father and his son.
Watch for free
Dear Philadelphia Dear Philadelphia
Documentary 2020 28 mins
Three African American fathers unravel the incomparable partnership of forgiveness and community.
Watch for free
Motherland Motherland
Documentary 2019 3 mins
Exploring the way in which culture has a fundamental influence within the African Diaspora in London.
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