The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Miners Strike in South Derbyshire
With flying pickets at the colliery entrance the moderate miners of South Derbyshire face the painful decision of whether to cross the picket line.
Current affairs 1984 5 mins
From the collection of:
Overview
Arthur Scargill called it the 'Industrial Battle of Britain' but for the majority of miners in South Derbyshire there was no strike after they voted not to join the walk-out called by Scargill and the NUM from their Yorkshire stronghold. The flying pickets were making life hard for those crossing the unofficial picket lines but in this report the wives of the working miners of Swadlincote are more than their match.
Cadley Hilll Colliery, which featureds in this film, closed in 1988. Nearby Rawdon Colliery followed it in 1990. Although Rawdon is situated at Moira in Leicestershire it came under the control of the South Derbyshire district.
Genres
Current affairs
Released
1984
Country
United Kingdom
Location
Swadlincote
Language
English
Related
Coal on Film
Watch for free
Miner Miner
Documentary 1950 36 mins Silent Location: Featherstone
Absorbing overview of coalmining in the early years of nationalisation.
Watch for free
Thud and Blunder in Knock off Time Thud and Blunder in Knock off Time
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1964 2 mins
Miners' safety training - marked by stylish animation and gallows humour.
Watch for free
Energy Energy
Advert 1935 42 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Coal, between the world wars, makes the industrialised world go round and Cory Bros & Co Ltd, with collieries in south Wales and oil refineries across the globe, is a major player.
Watch for free
Big Pit Big Pit
Industry sponsored film 1978 7 mins Location: Blaenavon
Memories of Blaenavon Colliery, Monmouthshire, as it nears its end.
Watch for free
Guilty Chimneys Guilty Chimneys
Documentary 1954 18 mins
Elegiac sponsored film imploring viewers to "allow the sun to penetrate the haze of ignorance" and relieve British cities of pollution.
Watch for free
People Will Always Need Coal People Will Always Need Coal
Advert 1975 1 mins
Deliriously kitsch recruitment ad for the implausibly glamorous world of coalmining.
Swadlincote
Watch for free
Pub Crawl Record Attempt Pub Crawl Record Attempt
News 1972 6 mins Location: Swadlincote
Darrell Jones is trying to elevate the pub crawl to a competitive sport. Well, at least he's wearing his track suit!
New
Watch for free
Eva Riley introduces Under the Skin Eva Riley introduces Under the Skin
Short documentary 2021 4 mins
Director Eva Riley (Perfect 10) introduces Carine Adler’s Under the Skin, and describes why Samantha Morton’s visceral feature film debut performance astounds her.
Watch for free
Exchange and Divide Exchange and Divide
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1980 49 mins
Divorce 1980s-style is examined by this BFI film in which, tellingly, only the deserted wife is denied a voice.
Watch for free
Stooking and Stacking Stooking and Stacking
Documentary 1943 12 mins
Are your stooking and stacking skills poor? Watch and learn how best to stack your stooks.
Watch for free
Film Without Film Without
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1976 43 mins
Mundane images are flipped, looped, reversed and interpolated to the sound of Monteverdi and other sonic textures.
Watch for free
Deep Dig Deep Dig
Documentary 1957 20 mins
Epic undertaking at Bevercotes Colliery, digging 3000 feet to reach untapped coal seams in Nottinghamshire.
Watch for free
Southern Seaside Southern Seaside
Travelogue 1935 15 mins Silent Location: Bournemouth
Anyone for a trip to the seaside? From Bournemouth to Margate via Brighton and Folkestone – sunny delights in abundance.
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