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
Craig-cefn-parc: Men at Work and Birthday Girl
There ARE fairies at the bottom of the garden – and men doing the laundry! Joe Ivor Davies captures Craig-cefn-parc on film.
From the collection of:
Overview
This wonderful compilation shot by Joe Ivor Davies (1906-92), a miner and opera-lover, opens with 3 men sitting on a wall in the village of Craig-cefn-parc, near Swansea - a 'Last of the Summer Wine' type scene – and closes with young people doing likewise. In between, men are seen at work - laying telephone lines, brick-laying, painting a house, working on the roads and bringing home laundry on the bus. And there really ARE fairies to be seen at the bottom of one garden!
Joe Ivor Davies' house – which he lived in all his life - overlooked the village's attractive rural surroundings and a road along which neighbours and friends would regularly pass. Many were caught on Joe's cine camera – the only one in the village – as he would often film through an open window.
Related
Watch for free
Craig-cefn-parc: Sunday School and New Baby Craig-cefn-parc: Sunday School and New Baby
Amateur film 1949 8 mins Silent Location: Craig-cefn-parc
A home movie medley that includes the Pantycrwys Chapel Sunday School procession and a visit to relatives by proud parents bearing a new baby.
Watch for free
Craig-cefn-parc: Smiling Faces Craig-cefn-parc: Smiling Faces
Home movie 1950 4 mins Silent Location: Craig-cefn-parc
Scenes in the mining village of Craig-cefn-parc, Swansea, in the days when aprons were an integral part of a woman's life.
Watch for free
Craig-cefn-parc: Sunday School, Miners and Cobbler Craig-cefn-parc: Sunday School, Miners and Cobbler
Amateur film 1949 4 mins Silent Location: Craig-cefn-parc
Cake tins and cricket bats (and stumps) are carried along in the Elim Chapel Sunday School parade, indications of good things to come!
Watch for free
Craig-cefn-parc: Mine, School and Christmas Cake Craig-cefn-parc: Mine, School and Christmas Cake
Home movie 1948 14 mins Silent Location: Craig-cefn-parc
A stunning record of life in Craig-cefn-parc, Swansea, showing the local mine, the chapel (Pantycrwys), the school and the community.
Watch for free
Christmas 1952 Santa Claus Comes to Craig Cefn Parc Christmas 1952 Santa Claus Comes to Craig Cefn Parc
Amateur film 1952 4 mins Silent Location: Craig-cefn-parc
Santa Claus – wearing the traditional robes and a black mask – arrives in the village of Craig Cefn Parc, near Clydach, Swansea, with a horse-drawn sleigh full of presents.
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.