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This film is part of Free

The Burial of Jackdaw

Earth to earth, ashes to ashes - children from a Cumbrian family organise a dignified end for a small creature.

Home movie 1920 1 mins Silent

From the collection of:

Logo for North West Film Archive

Overview

Inspired by a family funeral, three children in Cockermouth, Cumbria, give the recently deceased 'Jackdaw' a dignified send-off. Heather Harris, the youngest child, officiates as a priest. Sadly, no-one can now remember whether the deceased was a family pet or just a wild bird found in the garden, but this film remains as a fleeting, yet touching, picture of a moment in childhood.