This film is part of Free
Tynemouth Swimming Gala in the Haven, North Shields (1901)
Edwardian crowds enjoy a fancy-dress swimming race.
Overview
These suited, top-hatted gentlemen make for an odd spectacle as they bob up and down with opened umbrellas in the waters of the Tyne at North Shields. The film shows the Tynemouth Amateur Swimming Club Annual Gala, with its '60 yards Comic Obstacle Race', held on 2nd September 1901. It's a delightful record of the humour and community spirit of Edwardians at play.
Contemporary local newspaper reports show that this bit of fun was shot by the exhibitor and regular Mitchell and Kenyon collaborator Mr Tweedale, and was shown as part of a two-hour programme at the Tynemouth Palace with other more serious films, including the women workers of the North Sea Fisheries, also part of the M&K collection.
Related
Factory Chimney Fire Factory Chimney Fire
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent
A veritable Victorian Towering Inferno.
Arrival of Train-load of Visitors at Henley Station Arrival of Train-load of Visitors at Henley Station
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Henley-on-Thames
Jolly boating weather as the hordes descend on Henley for the Regatta.
Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races) Bumping Race (Cambridge May Races)
Non-Fiction 1900 0 mins Silent Location: Cambridge
University teams navigate a bend on the river Cam in no ordinary rowing race.
Blackburn Rovers V. West Bromwich 1898 Blackburn Rovers V. West Bromwich 1898
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Silent Location: Ewood Park, Blackburn
A little piece of football history from the people's game: possibly the earliest surviving game on film
Launch of H.M.S. Albion Launch of H.M.S. Albion
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Blackwall
The launch of H.M.S Albion, which was marred by the collapse of a gangway which resulted in many spectators drowning.
Solar Eclipse Solar Eclipse
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins
The magic of a real solar eclipse filmed by a famous magician
Lifeboat Lifeboat
Promotional 1966 18 mins Location: Bamburgh Castle
A Perkins Engines sponsored film on the development of British lifeboats and the history of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Tynemouth Carnival August 1930 Tynemouth Carnival August 1930
Non-Fiction 1930 10 mins Silent Location: Tynemouth
A windfall of faces and fancy dress at Tynemouth Carnival for the cameras of cinema showman Dixon Scott.
Beauty Parade Beauty Parade
Amateur film 1960 2 mins Silent Location: Tynemouth
Focused on beauty in swimwear at the Tynemouth outdoor pool in the early 1960s.
ACA Goes Down River for Special Launching of Tynemouth Lifeboat ACA Goes Down River for Special Launching of Tynemouth Lifeboat
Amateur film 1947 9 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Downriver with a movie camera for a special launch of the Tynemouth lifeboat.
Tynemouth and Bamburgh Tynemouth and Bamburgh
Home movie 1959 8 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A farewell at Newcastle Quayside launches a salty travelogue of sorts.
County of Northumberland County of Northumberland
Amateur film 1963 19 mins Silent Location: Holy Island
The toe-dipping delights and tranquillity of the Northumbrian Riviera and beyond.
Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion Frederick Wiseman's High School - a discussion
Short documentary 2026 22 mins
Filmmaker Andrea Luka Zimmerman and curator Matthew Barrington discuss Frederick Wiseman’s High School with Sandra Hebron.
A Last Resort A Last Resort
Comedy 2022 17 mins
Rose is desperate to celebrate her 60th birthday in style, but her daughter Genevieve is struggling to ignore some recent tragic news about her mum.
Hard, Cracked the Wind Hard, Cracked the Wind
Horror 2019 17 mins
A haunting with words is the lure between life and death for a young Cornish poet.
The Walk The Walk
Drama 2023 12 mins
Adeel Akhtar portrays a man on a weekly trek to his nearest JobCentre, entering a state of purgatory through barriers put in place by the system.
Seagull Seagull
Horror 2022 6 mins
Seagull is a recovering drug addict who is about to have a very strange night on The English Riviera.
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.