This film is part of Free
May-Day
A May Day parade down Cockermouth’s Main Street, filmed by a local draper
Overview
There is something strangely funereal about this May Day parade down Cockermouth’s Main Street, with its distinctive clock tower. Perhaps it was the weather on the day it was filmed, or the patina that time has brought to the images, but for a celebration of spring the events look a little dour. It was filmed by William Henry Youdale, a local draper with an interest in cinematography.
Related
May Day Ponies May Day Ponies
Non-Fiction 1974 4 mins Location: Upper Gornal
Sam Jeavons is a Black Country horse man through and through and May Day is a time to decorate his wagon and bring some colour to Upper Gornal's streets.
Springtime in an English Village Springtime in an English Village
Documentary 1944 7 mins Location: Stanion
An extraordinary and unexpected snapshot of rural life in wartime in which a young black girl is crowned Queen of the May.
The Legend of the Good Beasts The Legend of the Good Beasts
Puppet (live-action) 1956 24 mins
Fabergé animals in a Russian influenced Easter tale narrated by Peter Ustinov
Welcome Spring Welcome Spring
Amateur film 1952 9 mins Silent
Spring comes to Scotland in the 1950s: feed playful lambs, pick a host of glorious daffodils, and harness your faithful horse to the plough in this lovely amateur colour film.
Avalanche of Lambs Avalanche of Lambs
Non-Fiction 1923 1 mins
A fluffy white blizzard - of hundreds of newborn lambs - hits a Reading farm, keeping the shepherd's hands full.
Easter Parade, Hyde Park Easter Parade, Hyde Park
1958 4 mins Silent Location: Hyde Park
Easter Parade in Hyde Park, April 1958.
Children's Procession Children's Procession
Non-Fiction 1897 1 mins Location: Cockermouth
Lots of local colour as the town and its tots turn out to put on a show in the spring
Fire Turn Out Fire Turn Out
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
A Cumbrian fire brigade demonstrates its readiness
Sheep Washing Sheep Washing
Amateur film 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Fancy a dip? Sheep get thrown in at the deep end in this glimpse of late Victorian farming
Train Station Train Station
Non-Fiction 1899 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Driver and Station Master exchange a staff as this LNWR 'local' stops for passengers
Wordsworth and the Lakes Wordsworth and the Lakes
1939 12 mins Location: Grasmere
Travelogue of places in the Lake District associated with William Wordsworth
The Burial of Jackdaw The Burial of Jackdaw
Home movie 1920 1 mins Silent Location: Cockermouth
Earth to earth, ashes to ashes - children from a Cumbrian family organise a dignified end for a small creature.
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.