The North East Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives established to collect, preserve and show film made in, or about the North East of England. Our collections are non-fiction, and date from the early 1900s to the present day, providing a rich record of life in the region over the 20th century. Many of our films are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
Waters of the Tyne
No need to wonder any more how water from the River Tyne ends up coming out of the taps of houses in Newcastle, for all is revealed here; and why it is drinkable.
From the collection of:
Overview
A detailed look at how water made its way to the houses and businesses of Tyneside in 1978, beginning with a fascinating overview of the history of water supply in the area. It also has historical interest in showing the development of a scheme, taking water from the River Tyne, using the revolutionary Palin method of measuring chlorine in water, now in use worldwide, and the new Palin Laboratories in operation.
This film was made by Newcastle film producers Turners, which started making industrial and educational films after the war through to 1995. The Newcastle and Gateshead Water Company was established in 1845, but taken over in 1988 by the French company Lyonnaise, and in 1992, with Sunderland & South Shields, became part of North East Water. The chlorination of water was developed by Dr Tom Palin during the Second World War when he pioneered a new method (DPD) for measuring chlorine in water. He went on to work for NGW before joining the Palintest Board in 1977 when the company started the new River Tyne Abstraction Scheme. Hence Palin Laboratories were named in acknowledgement of Palins contributions.
Related
Watch for free
The Big Country The Big Country
Promotional 1970 16 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Tuning into the biggest consumer market for television advertising in Britain with Trident TV.
Watch for free
Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television Son of Plain - Advertising Man's Guide to Tyne Tees Television
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1964 11 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Is comedian Clive Dunn the Don Draper of the British advertising world? Watch this imaginative Tyne Tees TV marketing film and decide.
Watch for free
Andrews Liver Salts: Little Andy Andrews Liver Salts: Little Andy
Advert 1957 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Little Andy takes the speedy way to sparkling good health in a zippy 50s cartoon advertisement for Andrews Liver Salts.
Watch for free
Military Sunday in Newcastle Military Sunday in Newcastle
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
A marching band leads the parades with the Boer War still raging
Watch for free
Town Moor Fair Scenes Town Moor Fair Scenes
Non-Fiction 1898 1 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
All the fun of the fair in this Victorian film, made in the early years of Newcastle's famous Hoppings
Watch for free
Percy Hedley School Percy Hedley School
News 1970 17 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Being wheelchair users is not a barrier to these children doing slaloms or throwing javelins, gaining confidence and changing perceptions.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.