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
Video Player is loading.
The Morgan Family at Abersoch
When the sun shines, Abersoch beach has everything – all you need is a bucket, a bat, a bathing suit and your sea legs!
From the collection of:
Overview
Abersoch today, with its wakeboard and music festivals, seems aeons away from this painterly glimpse of beach life. We see that when the Morgan family holidayed here most cars were black, beach huts were basic and boats were pulled by shire horse, not tractor. But some things never change - then as now there were boat trips to enjoy, views to admire over to St Tudwal’s Islands and fish to catch.
The Morgan family travelled from south Wales to Abersoch for several summer holidays from 1944. Bernard Morgan, the filmmaker, ran the family-owned David Morgan independent department store in Cardiff (established in 1879 and closed in 2005 - by then Wales’s largest store of its kind). Here we see Bernard (1899-1955), his wife Mary, daughter Eleanor and sons Richard and John. John still remembers the numbers of the beach huts they rented – constructions which today have become a symbol of the inflated local property market, fetching eyewateringly high prices when they come up for sale.
Related
Watch for free
Aberdaron and Borth-y-gest - Whit Week 1951 Aberdaron and Borth-y-gest - Whit Week 1951
Home movie 1951 12 mins Silent Location: Abersoch
Holiday highlight: a beautiful horse named 'Battleship' carries Miss Healey round and round on Pat Collins' Colwyn Bay carousel.
Watch for free
Abersoch and Portmeirion - Whit Week 1951 Abersoch and Portmeirion - Whit Week 1951
Home movie 1951 15 mins Silent Location: Abersoch
A sign in the woods of Portmeirion reading ‘Please No Picking’ causes the 3 young Healey girls some amusement whilst on their hols in Abersoch.
Watch for free
Abersoch - The Anchorage Abersoch - The Anchorage
Home movie 1927 14 mins Silent Location: Abersoch
Where better to bring 3 boys on a holiday than this house on the Benar Headland, Abersoch? Sea, sand, boats and fishing keep them well occupied.
Watch for free
Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass) Alexandre Desplat (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2011 33 mins
Over 30 years and 150 projects, the composer shares, with humour and passion, the intricacies of making film music.
Watch for free
Ian Neil (Masterclass) Ian Neil (Masterclass)
Inside Film 2012 74 mins
Neil selected soundtracks for 127 Hours, Shame, Kick Ass, Control and many more. He discusses the job and its complexities, referencing his own work.
Watch for free
Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan Screenwriters' Lecture: Peter Straughan
Inside Film 2012 mins
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy's adapter reveals his quest for "the poem of the book" and the importance of simplicity: 'Drain the pond to find the fish'.
Watch for free
Gabriel Yared on composing for film Gabriel Yared on composing for film
Inside Film 2013 11 mins
Composer of The Lives of Others, The English Patient and Betty Blue on intimacy and experimentation.
Watch for free
Lois Burwell on movie makeup Lois Burwell on movie makeup
Inside Film 2013 17 mins
Lincoln, Braveheart and Magnolia make-up artist Lois Burwell explains how she created some of her most iconic looks, as part of a BAFTA Masterclass.
Watch for free
Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass) Barry Ackroyd (Masterclass)
2013 61 mins
British cinematographer of The Hurt Locker, Captain Phillips, Hillsborough and Riff Raff reviews the art of the moving image.