The Yorkshire Film Archive collects, preserves, and shows film made in, or about Yorkshire. Our collections are non-fiction, dating from the 1890s to the present day, and providing a rich and visually compelling record of all aspects of lives, cultures, landscape, industries, major events and everyday activities, many of which are available to watch, free of charge, on our website.
This film is part of Free
It All Began with Velvet
Fabrics galore burst into a Britain just recovering from war rationing, with mohair velvets, moth protected carpets and waterproofed textiles adorning London Routemasters.
From the collection of:
Overview
An eye opening perspective on post-war Britain through fabric. As well as providing a very clear introduction to how fabrics were made at the time, with a focus on velvet, this film gives some great examples of soft furnishings seen in a typical 1950s home. The huge wealth of designs and glorious colours used on furnishings show just how house proud people had become, and also how public transport decked itself out with a modern look.
This film is another example of the many promotional films made after the war by Bradford film producers C H Wood. Started by Samuel and John Lister in 1838, Lister's were major forerunners as worsted spinners and manufacturers. At its height Lister's was the largest silk mill in the world, employing 11,000 adults and children. A major strike there in 1890 led directly to the formation of the Independent Labour Party in Bradford in 1893. The Grade II listed mill, in the Italianate style, closed in 1992 –now apartments (renamed Velvet Mill). The actor doing the commentary, Frank Phillips, was a regular, unaccredited, radio announcer in films of the time, and the voice for a recording of Peter and the Wolf in 1949.
Related
Watch for free
Masculinity in Modes Masculinity in Modes
Cinemagazine 1931 1 mins Silent
Women wear the trousers: sample the latest Parisian couture with this pretty stencil-coloured piece from Eve's Film Review.
Watch for free
Make-do-and-mend Make-do-and-mend
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1945 1 mins
A wartime family look on in amazement as their old clothes offer useful advice on how to make their clothing coupons go further.
Watch for free
Cotton Come Back Cotton Come Back
Industry sponsored film 1946 26 mins Location: Shaw
A passionate post-war plea for workers to return to the cotton industry after decades of decline, framed as an argument between father and daughters.
Watch for free
London Line No. 373 London Line No. 373
Cinemagazine 1971 15 mins Silent Location: Westminster
A Ghanaian fashion student and a Nigerian squash player are among the African community making a life in 70s Britain in this edition of the magazine show.
Watch for free
So It all Comes out Super in the Wash So It all Comes out Super in the Wash
Training film/TV programme 1972 18 mins
Are you being served? A bewildered shop girl gets a boutique introduction to an innovative fabric.
Watch for free
Crikey! Crikey!
Sponsored film 1947 9 mins Location: Manningham
Health and safety has gone mad in this 1947 comedic guide to road safety in Bradford city centre.
Watch for free
Anti National Front Demonstrations Bradford Anti National Front Demonstrations Bradford
Non-Fiction 1978 8 mins Silent Location: Bradford
One of many “national” marches by the NF in the 1970s through predominantly Asian areas, with the inevitable angry anti-racist opposition.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.