Set up in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria and offers a variety of access services to users in the public, academic and commercial sectors.
This film is part of Free
Messrs. Barlow and Jones Ltd., Manchester and Bolton
From raw resource to finished product, by cleaning and spinning, weaving and bleaching - take a look at the textile industry from the inside.
Promotional 1919 19 mins Silent
From the collection of:
Overview
From workers opening bales of cotton, this film follows the processes that turn the raw resource into a product ready for the shops. Cleaning, straightening, carding, spinning and weaving - all these and more are on view in this visual record of the Lancashire textile industry, made for the firm of Barlow and Jones Ltd., and filmed at their mills in Bolton and their Manchester warehouse.
The preservation of this film was funded by a grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Genres
Promotional
Released
1919
Country
United Kingdom
Location
BoltonFarnworth
Language
English
Related
Textiles on Film
Watch for free
Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen
Home movie 1937 20 mins Silent Location: Llangollen
Nellie Boote's laundry in Market Street in operation, the women dashing away with all manner of smoothing irons as clothes are sorted, mended, washed, ironed and sorted again.
Watch for free
For Sheer Perfection For Sheer Perfection
Documentary 1965 24 mins Location: Langley Mill
A mile of yarn and a million loops to make one stocking: the culmination of a four hundred year old craft.
Watch for free
Paper Fashion Paper Fashion
News 1967 6 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Fashion doesnt grow on treesor does it! Tyne Tees TV was bang on-trend with this brilliant news feature on the hip 1960s cult for a disposable age - paper fashion.
Watch for free
Fancy Yarn Production Fancy Yarn Production
Industry sponsored film 1971 23 mins Location: Greengates
Twisted yarns and empty spindles, everything from Bouclé to Slub yarn, from beginning to end, and all, in the end, displayed on a ‘normal’ model in typical 1970s fashion.
Watch for free
Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth
News 1977 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Wearing Fur gets Hairy
Watch for free
Platt Bros and Co. Ltd - Textile Machinists Platt Bros and Co. Ltd - Textile Machinists
Promotional 1925 21 mins Silent Location: Werneth
The manufacture of textile machinery in Oldham - men make the machines that produce the cloth.
Bolton
Watch for free
Steel Scrap Drives in Bolton, Preston and Liverpool 1952 Steel Scrap Drives in Bolton, Preston and Liverpool 1952
Non-Fiction 1952 12 mins Silent Location: Bolton
Any old iron? The people of the North West contribute to the nationwide collection of scrap metal.
Watch for free
Back to the Community Back to the Community
Documentary 1986 29 mins Location: Bolton
Local authorities trial the Thatcher government’s new ‘care in the community’ initiative.
Watch for free
The Lancashire Way The Lancashire Way
Advert 1948 4 mins Location: Nelson
A tribute to Lancashire, land of industry, leisure, sublime landscape - and laundry detergent
Watch for free
English As a Second Language (First and Second Phase Teaching) English As a Second Language (First and Second Phase Teaching)
Training film/TV programme 1973 19 mins Location: Bolton
Innovative teaching techniques for new South Asian pupils learning English in secondary schools
Watch for free
Spare Time Spare Time
Documentary 1939 14 mins Location: Sheffield
A rare glimpse into the leisure pursuits of ordinary people in pre-war Britain.
Watch for free
Hepworth Sculpture Arrives at Bolton Museum Hepworth Sculpture Arrives at Bolton Museum
Amateur film 1970 15 mins Silent Location: Bolton
Art on the move - behind the scenes at Bolton Museum.
New
Coming soon
Khwaaish Khwaaish
Drama 2018 7 mins
Khwaaish or 'Desire' is an Indian short film that glimpses into the life of one man’s longing to find a same-sex companion, in a city that refuses to accept LGBTQIA+ people.
Coming soon
Chariot Riders Chariot Riders
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2015 5 mins
Beautifully animated short film about a boy's feelings of love for another boy – his best friend.
Coming soon
Sisak Sisak
Romance 2017 15 mins
A first-of-its-kind silent LGBTQ short film set in India, Sisak makes waves before the visuals of this film hit the shore.
Coming soon
Little Elephant Little Elephant
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2015 5 mins
A British Indian woman and her father discuss their opposing views on family and sexuality in this beautifully moving, visually striking 2D animated short film.
Coming soon
Wajood Wajood
Romance 2017 12 mins
A young trans woman embarks on a poignant quest for love after falling for a rickshaw driver.
Coming soon
U For Usha U For Usha
Drama 2019 22 mins
U Ushacha is a subtle portrayal of sexual awakening, and how naïve attraction can empower a woman to take control of her life.
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