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.
Related
Textiles on Film

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Spare Time Spare Time
Documentary 1939 14 mins Location: Sheffield
A rare glimpse into the leisure pursuits of ordinary people in pre-war Britain.

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

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Richard Curtis - A Love Actually Special Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Richard Curtis - A Love Actually Special
Discussion programme 2020 38 mins
This festive season, Mark Kermode takes a deep dive into his favourite ever Christmas movie, Love Actually, with writer and director, Richard Curtis..

The Brilliant Biograph The Brilliant Biograph
Anthology 2020 52 mins Silent
Immerse yourself in an enchanting compilation of newly-restored rare images from the first years of filmmaking.

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple
Discussion programme 2020 30 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Kathleen Turner, Henry Blake and Julien Temple.

Mark Kermode Online in 3D with Meera Syal, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Greg Proops and more Mark Kermode Online in 3D with Meera Syal, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Greg Proops and more
Discussion programme 2020 65 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Meera Syal, Ben Roberts, and more!

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Morfydd Clark, Rose Glass, Segun Akinola and Be Manzini Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Morfydd Clark, Rose Glass, Segun Akinola and Be Manzini
Discussion programme 2020 56 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Morfydd Clark, Shola Amoo, Be Manzini, and more!

Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Sam Riley, Noel Clarke and Caitlin Moran Mark Kermode Online In 3D with Sam Riley, Noel Clarke and Caitlin Moran
Discussion programme 2020 59 mins
The funniest, best loved and most respected film critic in the UK talks to an array of guests from the world of film including Noel Clarke, Sam Riley, Fyzal Boulifa, and more!
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