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
Piers of the Realm
A concise and colourful history of the feature that every seaside resort should have.
From the collection of:
Overview
This engaging colour reel by talented amateur filmmaker John Newton celebrates seaside piers and their history. From Southport's extremely long pier to Llandudno's fine Victorian structure, and then to Blackpool's Central Pier - one of three in the town - this film shows that, despite their dwindling numbers, these iconic coastal features still play a big part in the life of the seaside resort.
Related
Southport Pier 1899 Southport Pier 1899
Non-Fiction 1905 1 mins Location: Southport
When you're on a pier this long, you can be forgiven for taking public transport
Shuttered Windows Shuttered Windows
Charity appeal 1934 8 mins Location: Southport
Windows of opportunity: how a charity aimed to improve the lives of blind and partially sighted people.
Glengarry Topical Film No. 20 Glengarry Topical Film No. 20
Amateur film 1933 18 mins Silent Location: Winsford
Floral delights and more from around the North West.
Pleasureland, Southport Pleasureland, Southport
Non-Fiction 1920 3 mins Silent Location: Southport
Gentle thrills on the North West coast - a fun day out for everyone, without getting a hair or whisker out of place.
Lure to Lancashire Lure to Lancashire
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Southport
Lord Derby opens Southport's fancy new bathing lake and pavilion in this newsreel item
The Shrimpers of Southport The Shrimpers of Southport
Amateur film 1986 16 mins Location: Southport
Push-nets, riddling and picking - the last days of the shrimping industry of Southport.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
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.
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.
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.