The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free

Wakefield Museum - Coal Bunker Demo
The fascination of watching large-scale demolition with explosives is seen here as the demolition man pulls the switch to send a giant coal bunker crashing to the ground.
From the collection of:

Overview
This is a really intriguing film from Wakefield in 1934, which purports to show one of three huge coal bunkers being demolished. A crowd stands to witness the tower as it crashes to the ground, and then to walk over the remains. The mystery is where exactly this is, and, are they really coal bunkers?
This film came as part of a collection from Wakefield Museum, with “Coal Bunker Demo”, marked on the can. So we don’t know what is being demolished or where, but the contents of the bunker look as if it might be bricks rather than coal.
Related

Play Bus Play Bus
Amateur film 1977 4 mins Location: Wakefield
The wheels on the bus go round and round, bringing toys and joys to pre-schoolers in West Yorkshire.

Pipe Dreams Pipe Dreams
Amateur film 1965 3 mins Location: Wakefield
A once common object in many households becomes transformed into a quirky dancing troupe in this simple homespun animation.

Kitchen Kaper Kitchen Kaper
Amateur film 1963 5 mins Location: Wakefield
The clinking of the milkman doing his daily rounds turns into a moving tale of romance between the contrasting beverages of day and night.

Don’t Worry, I'll Manage Don’t Worry, I'll Manage
Amateur film 1964 5 mins Location: Wakefield
A cautionary tale of what happens when a husband is left by his wife to fend for himself; forgetting to put tea in the tea pot for one thing.

What a Way to Go What a Way to Go
Amateur film 1979 5 mins Location: Wakefield
A nightmare scenario of a pauper’s funeral, as well as being buried alive, brought to life in this whimsical tale of a man laid low with flu.

Wakefield, Yorkshire Wakefield, Yorkshire
Travelogue 1955 3 mins Location: Wakefield
John Betjeman whimsically appreciates Wakefield and its people - who "are like their houses, unpretentious and a bit grim on the outside".

Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A) Afrika Bambaataa on Afrofuturism (Q&A)
Inside Film 2014 45 mins
Afrika Bambaataa and DJ, musician and filmmaker Don Letts discuss the development of Afrofuturism and its key artists.

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.

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.

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'.

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.

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.