The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
Perranporth Where Did We Stay?
A sandy beach holiday to Cornwall for two families is typical of its day.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Endicott family stays at None-go-by Cottage in Perranporth with the Dingle family. Beachways nothing changes, beach huts, bucket and spade, sandcastles, swimsuits, fun and games, deckchairs and is that bodyboarding? Famous early surfers include George Bernard Shaw and Agatha Christie. The three-piece-suit is today less of a beach essential but enjoy the satisfaction of removing sand from toes with a white cotton handkerchief! The sea level shots are delightful.
Both families were from Plymouth and ran butcher shops at Frankfort Gate and in Plymouth Market, HH Endicott and J Dingle and Son. The Endicott collection of films dates from the 1920s to the 1970s. Perranporth is named after the patron saint of Cornwall St Piran and means cove of St Piran. Perran Sands is a long stretch of beach popular with surfers that lies between Ligger Point and Droskyn Point. There are sea caves, a natural bridge called Rock Arch and old mine shafts of the tin mine Wheal Droskyn from where local writer Winston Graham drew inspiration for the Poldark novels. Penhale Sands stretches inland and is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest and home to the silver-studded blue butterfly.
Related
Watch for free
Homemade Surfboards Homemade Surfboards
Current affairs 1969 3 mins Location: Perranporth
Andy Price checks out how to make your own surfboard.
Watch for free
Cornwall Cornwall
Home movie 1930 10 mins Silent Location: Cornwall
1930s Newquay is the setting for Lewis Rosenberg's film - with horse riding, tennis, girlfriends, much tickling and glorious Cornish beaches
Watch for free
Holidays at Perranporth Holidays at Perranporth
Amateur film 1933 7 mins Silent Location: Perranporth
A beach holiday featuring kite-flying and the boating lake.
Watch for free
Surf Lifesaving Surf Lifesaving
Documentary 1958 9 mins Location: Perranporth
A delightful training film from the very early days of surf life saving in the UK.
Watch for free
Reminiscences of a Fortnight Spent at Duporth Holiday Camp Reminiscences of a Fortnight Spent at Duporth Holiday Camp
Amateur film 1935 40 mins Silent Location: Charlestown
Life's a beach to these 1930s pleasure seekers, for whom two weeks at a Cornwall holiday camp is the holiday of a lifetime
Watch for free
Poldark Author Winston Graham Poldark Author Winston Graham
News 1983 4 mins Location: Perranporth
Winston Graham writes about the Cornwall that inspired him.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.