This film is part of Free
Sheep Washing
Fancy a dip? Sheep get thrown in at the deep end in this glimpse of late Victorian farming
Overview
More a sheep dunk than a sheep dip - its sink or swim for this flock. The arrival of the film camera in the mid 1890s captured farming methods that were much older. The filmmaker here was Cockermouth draper William Henry Youdale, who had many hobbies, including oil painting rural scenes. After he acquired a film camera we are fortunate that he again turned his eye to the countryside, as an alternative to the more common urban scenes.
Related
The Derby 1896 The Derby 1896
Non-Fiction 1896 0 mins Silent
A pioneering example of filmed news: from Epsom to the screen in record time
Feeding the Tigers Feeding the Tigers
Interest film 1899 1 mins Silent
A big cat has to perform for its supper in this early actuality film
H.M.S. Powerful Moored at Portsmouth H.M.S. Powerful Moored at Portsmouth
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth
Take a good look at one of the era's largest warships - the hefty H.M.S. Powerful, back from the Boer War
Belfast Street Scenes 1890's Belfast Street Scenes 1890's
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Belfast
A view down the High Street featuring the Albert Clock, a shot of Queen's Bridge and the docks
Beach Scene Beach Scene
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Silent
A charming image of children paddling on a pebbly beach on a hot summer's day
Beagles Beagles
Amateur film 1898 2 mins Silent
A pack of beagles are assembled for a hunt by their trainers and a huntsman
May-Day May-Day
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
A May Day parade down Cockermouth’s Main Street, filmed by a local draper
Children's Procession Children's Procession
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Location: Cockermouth
Lots of local colour as the town and its tots turn out to put on a show in the spring
Fire Turn Out Fire Turn Out
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
A Cumbrian fire brigade demonstrates its readiness
Train Station Train Station
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Driver and Station Master exchange a staff as this LNWR 'local' stops for passengers
Wordsworth and the Lakes Wordsworth and the Lakes
1939 12 mins Location: Grasmere
Travelogue of places in the Lake District associated with William Wordsworth
The Burial of Jackdaw The Burial of Jackdaw
Home movie 1920 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes - children from a Cumbrian family organise a dignified end for a small creature.
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.
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.
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.
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.