The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
New Shoes for Queeny
A film of a skilled farrier at work, whose sometimes dangerous craft of shoeing horses is unchanged for aeons, and possibly for all time.
From the collection of:
Overview
This is a fine example of a dedicated amateur filmmaker bringing the work of a local craftsman to life for others to appreciate. Ernest Hardy of Halifax Cine Club show his fine camerawork filming in some detail a local blacksmith, David Kenworthy, plying his trade in replacing the shoes on a horse, here in the 1980s, in the traditional method that has lasted down many centuries.
The enthusiastic members of Halifax Cine Club have been making films since their formation in 1938, and remain in existence, now as the Halifax Cine & Video Club. Blacksmiths date back at the very least to the iron age, which reached Britain in about 450 BCE, and reached in a peak during the early medieval economic expansion with the formation of the Worshipful Company of Blacksmiths in 1299, and the Worshipful Company of Farriers in 1356 – those who specialise in shoeing horses. With industrialisation and the decline of working horses, blacksmiths are few and far between, but the methods of shoeing horses hasn’t changed in centuries, and it is illegal to practice farriery work unless registered as a farrier.
Related
Watch for free
Bradford Laundry, Meat, and Coal Adverts Bradford Laundry, Meat, and Coal Adverts
Advert 2 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Meeting the everyday basic needs of the locals: keeping the family clean, warm and well fed.
Watch for free
Bradford Adverts Reel 1 Bradford Adverts Reel 1
Advert 1925 3 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Juno-Junipah, for girls, who “want to be bright, vivacious, attractive and slim”, and Carters Little Liver Pills to rejuvenate the elderly.
Watch for free
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Watch for free
Bradford Adverts Reel 3 Bradford Adverts Reel 3
Advert 4 mins Silent Location: Bradford
No wearisome overblown advertising for cinema-goers back in 1931, just straightforward advice: don’t risk accidents and “Don’t buy a dud!”
Watch for free
Bradford Adverts Reel 2 Bradford Adverts Reel 2
Advert 1 mins Silent Location: Bradford
Without trying to be too clever, these advertisements demonstrate the virtue of the uncomplicated: short, sweet and memorable.
Watch for free
Bradford City: A Year of Healing Bradford City: A Year of Healing
Factual TV 1986 28 mins Location: Bradford
Numerous victims of the horrendous 1985 fire at Valley Parade manage to find positive outcomes to their suffering in this poignant film.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.