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
London's May Queen
Excitable children in their Sunday finery gawp at cameras during the parade for London’s May Queen.
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
From the collection of:
Overview
The All-England May Queen festival was first held at Hayes Common, Bromley, in 1913, organised by a Dulwich folklore enthusiast. This film from 1916 shows that year’s May Queen, Miss Cecily Smith, sitting in a decorated cart pulled by children, preceded by other children carrying banners. She carries a sceptre, and like many of the girls is wearing white and garlands of flowers. Children gawp at the camera as they pass, before Smith receives her crown on the common.
Original title
London's May Queen Topical Budget 246-1
Genres
Non-Fiction
Released
1916
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Hayes Common
Language
English
Subjects
Related
Tessa Dunlop: 1916 on Film
Watch for free
Empire Day Empire Day
Non-Fiction 1916 2 mins Silent Location: London
London schoolchildren wave their flags for the first official Empire Day, as soldiers parade in the playground.
Watch for free
From Trinidad to Serve the Empire From Trinidad to Serve the Empire
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: London
Colonial recruits from Trinidad meet the Lord Mayor of London during WWI
Watch for free
Army Economy Army Economy
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent Location: Osterley
Soldiers show off a fine crop of sprouts, grown at the Army Service Corps depot at Osterley Park in Hounslow.
Watch for free
Shortage of Munitions Shortage of Munitions
Non-Fiction 1916 2 mins Silent
Was this a lesson in how to shell out on frontline firepower?
Watch for free
Hands Off Baby's Milk Hands Off Baby's Milk
Non-Fiction 1916 1 mins Silent
High milk prices during WWI drive mother and child onto the street in protest
Hayes Common
Watch for free
Kent: In the Merry Month of May Kent: In the Merry Month of May
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
Charming film of cherubic children, as London’s new May Queen Bobbie Hastings enjoys a ceremonial crowning at Hayes Common.
Watch for free
London's Choice London's Choice
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
Angelic children, dressed in white and garlanded with flowers, are shown at the annual May Queen festival in Hayes Common.
Watch for free
Call Me Early, Mother Dear Call Me Early, Mother Dear
Non-Fiction 1930 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
Sweet-faced white-clad children march in procession to muddy Hayes Common, where the latest May Queen is crowned in a popular annual ceremony.
Watch for free
Prettiest May Queen Prettiest May Queen
Non-Fiction 1926 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
Short film showing a parade featuring the new May Queen of London, anointed in an annual ceremony at Hayes Common.
Watch for free
London's May Queen London's May Queen
Non-Fiction 1927 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
Flowers and banners are deployed as 13-year-old Nora Rowland from Acton is crowned London’s newest May Queen for 1927.
Watch for free
London's May Queen at Hayes London's May Queen at Hayes
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Hayes Common
A grand parade of gaily dressed children marches through Hayes on the way to crown the latest May Queen.
New
Watch for free
Saab: New Delivery Saab: New Delivery
Advert 1985 2 mins
Take a fighter jet, a Top Gun pilot with sunglasses and a brand new SAAB 900 and you have a sure-fire vehicle to launch a Hollywood career.
Watch for free
The Lost Highway The Lost Highway
Promotional 2019 10 mins
A wandering warrior dreams of a new form of expression, in this promo for UNKLE’s album The Road: Part II / Lost Highway Pt. II directed by Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones.
Watch for free
Colour on the Thames Colour on the Thames
1935 16 mins
A rare glimpse of 1930s London in colour: the Thames has never looked lovelier.
Watch for free
What's Missing from this Picture? What's Missing from this Picture?
Advert 1946 1 mins Silent
Life is looking up! The war is over and the “Corona” Man can visit his “Corona” families once more, door-to-door.
Watch for free
Fun at Rhyl Fun at Rhyl
Advert 1962 0 mins Location: Rhyl
Cinema advertisement for Marine Lake & Ocean Beach, Rhyl, a popular destination for crowds set on a day's fun on free rides.
Watch for free
Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr Local Cinema Advertisements - Blaenau Ffestiniog and Merthyr
Advert 1942 7 mins Silent Location: Blaenau Ffestiniog
Who could deny these advertising claims: "Attractive hair is the ambition of every woman", and "Your family will enjoy Lincoln potatoes"?
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