National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Welsh Story
Romance blossoms amongst the donkeys on the beach at Llandudno and the glories of north Wales are explored, from piers, lakes, hills of sheep.
From the collection of:
Overview
The attractions of north Wales shot by Mr Barber who moved from Birmingham to Cornwall just before the outbreak of WWII. He includes a touch of romance along with shots of 3 piers (Llandudno, Bangor and Beaumaris), 3 lakes (Cwellyn, Padarn and Gwynant), 2 bridges (Menai and Britannia), the St Tudno paddle steamer, the glories of Snowdonia, and hand-shearing at Gwern Gof Uchaf, a farm beneath the mountain Tryfan.
This film arrived at the Archive with an accompanying script but lacking a recorded soundtrack. The film-maker was Mr W Leslie Barber, who moved with his wife, Eileen, to Mullion in Cornwall from Birmingham, seeking safety just before the outbreak of WWII. Mr Barber, who appears to have been a professional film-maker, was possibly owner or part-owner of the company Newhall Films or Newhall Productions. For this particular film he seems to have used the company name 'Colmore Films'. [Colmore Row and Colmore Circus are streets very near Birmingham New Street Station, and the main road that intersects Colmore Row is Newhall Street.]
Related
Watch for free
From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff From Dyserth to Llandudno and Cardiff
Home movie 1958 4 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Donald Duck comes home with the Sunday School trippers from Bethel Chapel, Dyserth!
Watch for free
Piers of the Realm Piers of the Realm
Amateur film 1992 7 mins Location: Southport
A concise and colourful history of the feature that every seaside resort should have.
Watch for free
Old Age Pensioners First Visit to Seaside Old Age Pensioners First Visit to Seaside
News 1973 5 mins Location: Llandudno
Far from their Black Country home, Edie and Mick experience their first trip to see the sea.
Watch for free
Welsh Magic Welsh Magic
Travelogue 1946 8 mins Silent Location: Shrewsbury
Pin-sharp post-war views of the welshest parts of Wales, from slate and coal mines to the fine cities like Aberystwyth.
Watch for free
In Happy Valley In Happy Valley
Non-Fiction 1929 1 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Llandudno's Rose Queen looks resplendent as she receives her crown on Alexandra Rose Day in June 1929.
Watch for free
Our Holiday – St Fagans, aeroplanes and high wire act, and Llandudno Our Holiday – St Fagans, aeroplanes and high wire act, and Llandudno
Amateur film 1965 8 mins Silent Location: Cardiff/Caerdydd
Mother and cousin enjoy a fit of the giggles as mother’s young son drives them round the track and father does the shooting.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
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.
Watch for free
Octopus Octopus
2021 13 mins
Upon returning to her home town for a funeral, a young woman reconnects with the friends she left behind.