This film is part of Free
Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901)
Edwardian workers react to the camera at one of Rotherham's major employers.
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent
Overview
Factory workers made a popular subject for Mitchell and Kenyon, but the reaction of some of these workers differs from those seen elsewhere. Smiles are in abundance, but there's some hostility, too, notably from the youth giving the cameraman a V-sign (a cinema first?), although we're spared his accompanying language. Note the pair fighting in the background, possibly egged on by the showmen.
The Parkgate Ironworks was founded in 1823, and renamed Parkgate Iron and Steel Co. in 1888. By 1901 it employed over 6,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in the Rotherham area. Its workforce included many children as half-time workers, which accounts for their numbers here. The works closed in 1982 and the site is now occupied by Parkgate Shopping centre. This film is thought to have been shown at the annual Rotherham Statis, the local Wakes fair, where the Parkgate workers would have had the opportunity of seeing themselves on screen.
Related
Factory Gates
'Hands' Leaving Work at North-Street Mills, Chorley (1900) 'Hands' Leaving Work at North-Street Mills, Chorley (1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 3 mins Silent Location: Chorley
Lancashire cotton-workers pile out through the mill gates at dinner time.
20,000 Employees Entering Lord Armstrong's Elswick Works (1900) 20,000 Employees Entering Lord Armstrong's Elswick Works (1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 3 mins Silent Location: Elswick
An astonishingly crowded Victorian street reveals the vast scale of Tyneside manufacturing.
Amos & Smith Boiler Works, Hull (1900) Amos & Smith Boiler Works, Hull (1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 1 mins Silent Location: Kingston upon Hull
Bicycles and broomsticks at the ready as workers finish shift at a marine engineering works in Victorian Hull.
Co-operative Wholesale Clothing Factory in Manchester (c.1900) Co-operative Wholesale Clothing Factory in Manchester (c.1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent Location: Manchester
Victorian Manchester mill workers enjoy the novelty of a moving picture camera.
Congregation Leaving St Mary's Church, Dumfries (c.1901) Congregation Leaving St Mary's Church, Dumfries (c.1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Dumfries
Worshippers in their Sunday best file out of the Church.
Congregation Leaving St Mary's Dominican Church in Cork (1902) Congregation Leaving St Mary's Dominican Church in Cork (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 1 mins Silent
A well-dressed church congregation gathers on the elegant portico.
Rotherham
Packhorse Packhorse
Lifestyle show 1986 25 mins Location: River Don
Naturalist Michael Clegg retraces the paths of merchants who travelled from Cheshire to Rotherham with their goods.
The Modest Millionaire The Modest Millionaire
Documentary 1985 25 mins Location: Swinton
A genuinely fascinating businessman, with workman’s hands, an old battered Austin, still labouring at 77, and keeping many a church going.
Rotherham Services Procession Rotherham Services Procession
Non-Fiction 1942 9 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
This is an absorbing film of a Remembrance Day service and procession in Rotherham, unusual in being held in wartime, and made more poignant for being so.
Rationalising City Transportation Rationalising City Transportation
Promotional 1930 13 mins Silent Location: Wolverhampton
Quieter than a diesel bus, more manoeuvrable than a tram. The Guy trolley bus is the answer to all your transport problems and they're 'perfectly safe up to 40mph'.
Rotherham up to Date Rotherham up to Date
Promotional 1961 39 mins Location: Rotherham
An absorbing picture of council services at the beginning of the 1960s, with babies getting polio jabs and girls having braces fitted, while Roots is playing at the Civic Theatre.
People from the Rotherham Photographic Society Exhibition at the Drill Hall People from the Rotherham Photographic Society Exhibition at the Drill Hall
Amateur film 1914 2 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
An intriguing and enigmatic early short film of photographers taking themselves as subjects having discovered the joys of moving image.
New
Discover Your City: Soho Discover Your City: Soho
1962 12 mins Location: Soho
A children’s guide to bustling Soho, with a glimpse of its music industry, architecture and thriving restaurant scene.
One Is One One Is One
Documentary 1969 25 mins
On release from jail, a man recalls the events leading up to his imprisonment.
The Bone Grinder The Bone Grinder
1968 78 mins
It’s Britain vs USA in this drama by Dennis Potter as mild-mannered George finds himself in thrall to brash American Sam.
Venus Rising Venus Rising
Drama 1968 27 mins
Three women seek the truth about love from a crystal ball in an early Fay Weldon play about trust and jealousy.
Hand in Glove Hand in Glove
Action and Adventure 1955 28 mins
Four village schoolchildren encounter a spot of trouble when some crooks take up residence in the woods.
