At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
This film is part of Free
Union Castle liner and seaside scenes
All aboard the Warwick Castle as she departs from Southampton in this jolly film from Mr Light which also features beach goers playing leapfrog
From the collection of:
Overview
Mr Light's remarkable film starts with scenes by a railway line in Hampshire and dogs out for a walk with their owners. Then we see two women board the Union Castle liner, Warwick Castle, at Southampton. After much waving the liner moves away from the quay and sets sail for Cape Town. We then move to, possibly, Hayling Island, where a group of friends frolic on the beach - enjoying a game of leapfrog, which is later filmed in slow-motion. The film ends at a pub and an outdoor meal.
The Union Castle liner, Warwick Castle, seen in this film departing for Cape Town, made her maiden voyage on the 30th of January 1930. Union Castle operated a weekly mail run on the Southampton to Cape Town route and this service lasted until September 1977. Unfortunately, on the 14th November 1942, Warwick Castle, now converted to a troopship, was torpedoed and sunk by U413 about 200 miles off Cape Espichel, Portugal. Of the 462 people onboard, 96 were drowned. It is interesting to speculate whether or not the passengers seen climbing the open gangway onto the ship were travelling in Tourist Class, as the adjacent covered gangway looks like it might have been reserved for First Class passengers only.
Related
Watch for free
Rural Reconditioning Rural Reconditioning
Amateur film 1938 8 mins Silent Location: Lanark
Grand Designs of the 1930s: rural slums turned into country cottages with the help of government money.
Watch for free
All in the Day's Work All in the Day's Work
Amateur film 1930 10 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
This inventive comedy double-bill is more than your average home movie - with its tale of two young pranksters getting their just deserts
Watch for free
Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton Marjorie Glasspool Films Her Family in Alton
Amateur film 1930 8 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
Marjorie Glasspool's home movie captures a variety of events and occasions experienced by a Hampshire family
Watch for free
Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends Southampton’s MP Films his Family and Friends
Amateur film 1931 11 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
William Craven-Ellis records the antics of family and friends in his garden, on the beach and in and around Southampton
Watch for free
Taste for Honey Taste for Honey
Amateur film 1968 11 mins Location: Hampshire
Beryl Armstrong's father makes bee-keeping look so easy in this wonderful award-winning film - but he does know what he's doing!
Watch for free
Farewell to Steam Farewell to Steam
Amateur film 1966 3 mins Silent Location: Hampshire
A film maker's attempt to record the last steam-hauled passenger and freight trains running along the West of England mainline from Waterloo
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Watch for free
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.