This film is part of Free

May-Day
A May Day parade down Cockermouth’s Main Street, filmed by a local draper
Overview
There is something strangely funereal about this May Day parade down Cockermouth’s Main Street, with its distinctive clock tower. Perhaps it was the weather on the day it was filmed, or the patina that time has brought to the images, but for a celebration of spring the events look a little dour. It was filmed by William Henry Youdale, a local draper with an interest in cinematography.
Related

May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
News 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.

Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.

The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Children's 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov

Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.

Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins Silent
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.

Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.

Children's Procession Children's Procession
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Location: Cockermouth
Lots of local colour as the town and its tots turn out to put on a show in the spring

Fire Turn Out Fire Turn Out
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
A Cumbrian fire brigade demonstrates its readiness

Sheep Washing Sheep Washing
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Fancy a dip? Sheep get thrown in at the deep end in this glimpse of late Victorian farming

Train Station Train Station
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Driver and Station Master exchange a staff as this LNWR 'local' stops for passengers

Wordsworth and the Lakes Wordsworth and the Lakes
1939 12 mins Location: Grasmere
Travelogue of places in the Lake District associated with William Wordsworth

The Burial of Jackdaw The Burial of Jackdaw
Home movie 1920 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes - children from a Cumbrian family organise a dignified end for a small creature.

On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.

Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.

All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.

Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.

Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.

Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.