This film is part of Free

Madingley - Nov 1936

Like many girls of her age, Heather Spittle was horse mad and learned to ride in her early years. Her confidence was such that in 1936 she joined her local Hunt for her first ride out.

Amateur film 1936 2 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for East Anglian Film Archive

Overview

The Hunt met at the wonderful 16th century country estate of Madingley Hall, located just outside Cambridge courtesy of the owners - the Harding family. Young Heather in pig tails, on her small grey was showing signs of concern whilst she waited for the hounds to head off but her mother was never far away to steady her mount. Heather, like most of the female riders chose to ride astride her pony whilst one rider in the film elects for side saddle in the customary long skirt.

Heather's father, Trevor Spittle was a Cambridge don and a keen amateur fimmaker who recorded a number of wonderful events in and around Cambridge over the years in both black and white and colour.