At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
This film is part of Free
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
From the collection of:
Overview
This film made, by Marjorie Glasspool in the 1930s, starts with a gathering outside Farnham Castle. We then see the family eating ice-cream by a lake. On a trip to London we see traffic, guardsmen and the Zoo. Two weddings follow after which we see relatives arrive by a rural bus. A pair of sea bathers can be seen posing for the camera before the film ends at Danesfort - the family home. The film ends with more scenes of gardeners at work while members of the household look on.
Though technically flawed, Marjorie Glasspool's home-movie, shot on 9.5mm stock, offers glimpses of a vanished Britain. The bustle of London traffic, as seen in the middle of the film, contrasts sharply with the quiet of rural roads shared by motorbikes, cars, buses and cattle. Overall there is little street furniture to be seen and houses are few though there are a number of enamel signs advertising Craven A cigarettes, Lyons Cakes and Oxo. Another interesting feature is the man selling Wall's ice cream from an adapted bicycle.
Related
Local Scenes and Family Pictures Local Scenes and Family Pictures
Amateur film 1927 14 mins Silent
Grandma and Grandad also join in the fun of this home movie - with beaches, swings & roundabouts and a medieval pageant led by Christopher Robin
Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll Midsummer Madness - An Idiotic Idyll
Amateur film 1933 2 mins Silent
Four bright young things enact a midsummer's love tryst among the daisies in this short, well-crafted amateur fiction film.
Psyche's Wedding Psyche's Wedding
Home movie 1920 10 mins Silent Location: Devon
Bright young things thereto plight troth in a society wedding.
The Witch's Fiddle The Witch's Fiddle
Amateur film 1924 7 mins Silent
Gotta dance! A bewitched violin gets everyone's feet tapping.
The Scarlet Woman The Scarlet Woman
Comedy 1924 44 mins Silent Location: Hampstead Heath
Catholic fantasy starring Elsa Lanchester and Evelyn Waugh in an Andy Warhol fright wig.
Flying a Kite Flying a Kite
Home movie 1903 1 mins Silent Location: Streatham
In the year the Wright Brothers made their first flight, an Edwardian family film themselves taking to the skies… sort of.
Union Castle liner and seaside scenes Union Castle liner and seaside scenes
Amateur film 1930 6 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
All aboard the Warwick Castle as she departs from Southampton in this jolly film from Mr Light which also features beach goers playing leapfrog
Rural Reconditioning Rural Reconditioning
Amateur film 1938 8 mins Silent Location: Lanark
Grand Designs of the 1930s: rural slums turned into country cottages with the help of government money.
All in the Day's Work All in the Day's Work
Amateur film 1930 10 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
This inventive comedy double-bill is more than your average home movie - with its tale of two young pranksters getting their just deserts
Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends
Amateur film 1931 11 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
William Craven-Ellis records the antics of family and friends in his garden, on the beach and in and around Southampton
Taste for Honey Taste for Honey
Amateur film 1968 11 mins Location: Hampshire
Beryl Armstrong's father makes bee-keeping look so easy in this wonderful award-winning film - but he does know what he's doing!
Farewell to Steam Farewell to Steam
Amateur film 1966 3 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
A film maker's attempt to record the last steam-hauled passenger and freight trains running along the West of England mainline from Waterloo
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 Luke Bean 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
Samantha Arnold of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.
Horace Ové on Pressure Horace Ové on Pressure
Inside Film 2005 36 mins
The acclaimed director discusses his landmark film in this interview from 2005.