National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Pembrokeshire Castles (Manorbier, Carew, Picton) and Point-to-Pointing (Lydstep)
The castle ruins stand solid and still, the horses race flat out, the Boy Scouts at the Picton Jamboree try balancing on sticks!
From the collection of:
Overview
In filming places/events of interest to his family, W J Smith, like many home-movie makers, also created a social history document. He shot footage of the Carew Cross after its re-positioning post-WWII, when it was moved for safekeeping (the young workman in dungarees probably an apprentice of Smith's brother Freddy). Smith's sons attended the Boy Scout Jamboree in the grounds of Picton Castle in 1952. His wife, a fine horsewoman, would have enjoyed the Lydstep racing.
William John Smith, born in Monkton in 1912, was an electrician and worked to connect many Pembrokeshire villages to the electricity supply in the late 1940s/50s. He also had a smallholding where he bred pigs and spaniels, the latter as gun dogs. His first wife was Sissy Irene Pawlett, of Barn Farm, Rosemarket. They lived in Golden Hill, Pembroke where they brought up 4 children – Billy, John, Mary and Alan. See also 'Pembrokeshire: life on the land and the Alumchine ferry'.
Related
Saundersfoot 1954 Saundersfoot 1954
Amateur film 1954 10 mins Silent Location: Saundersfoot
The joys of sand, sea and ice-creams under a Pembrokeshire sun for the Wright family from Bristol.
Pembrokeshire: life on the land and the Alumchine ferry Pembrokeshire: life on the land and the Alumchine ferry
Home movie 1952 7 mins Silent Location: Manorbier
I could join the circus, thinks the nimble lurcher, perhaps, at Westhill Farm, Manorbier. Over at Barn Farm, Rosemarket, a bull braves dogs.
Five Holiday in Pembrokeshire Five Holiday in Pembrokeshire
Home movie 1961 14 mins Silent Location: Tenby/Dinbych-y-pysgod
Such are the natural beauties of Pembrokeshire that a holiday there is a tonic! This group – 2 women, 1 man, 2 dogs – enjoy the sun, sea and picnics.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Blades Blades
Drama 2023 2 mins
A group of young Black boys run into a building. One of them is about to do the unimaginable.
We Collide We Collide
Romance 2023 2 mins
A queercore romance - a visceral and immersive exploration of the power of the mosh pit and finding love in the most unlikely of places.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.