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
A Merry Xmas
A little girl’s joy at Xmas in post-war rationing Britain, with the empty pillow case delivering a dolls house, and sledging at the seaside.
From the collection of:
Overview
Christmas 1951, and four year old Susan experiences all the excitement of a white Christmas, decorating the Christmas tree, getting presents and out building a snowman and sledging on Bridlington sea front. It’s the days before hardly anyone had a television, but this had no ill affect for a local teacher’s family, who manage home-made mince pies, Christmas cake and trifle, despite the rationing.
Amateur filmmaker Bill Freeman from Bridlington, a member of the local cine club, made over 60 films from the 1940s through to the 1980s. He would show some of these at Hilderthorpe Primary School where he taught. Although his name was actually Harold, he was always known as Bill. Here we see them when they lived in the Expanse Hotel, just opposite the North Bay at Bridlington. The weekly food ration for one person at this time was: 1oz cheese; 2oz tea; 2oz jam spread; 4oz bacon or ham; 8oz sugar; 1 shilling's worth of meat; and 8oz of fats, of which only 2oz could be butter. Susan was born in 1947, the peak year of the post war baby boom that has never been equalled since.
Related
Watch for free
Pot Luck Pot Luck
Amateur film 1962 8 mins Silent Location: Bridlington
A 1960s snapshot of local family fishermen in the East Yorkshire port of Bridlington
Watch for free
The Flying Squadrons of Bempton Cliffs The Flying Squadrons of Bempton Cliffs
Interest film 1921 11 mins Silent Location: Flamborough Head
Fearless Yorkshiremen and women scale Bempton cliffs in search of sea birds' eggs.
Watch for free
City of Bradford Presents City of Bradford Presents
Non-Fiction 1928 1 mins Silent Location: Bridlington
Lifeboats adopted by Inner City sponsors
Watch for free
Two Weeks Clear Two Weeks Clear
Documentary 1973 52 mins Location: Overton
As a coachload of miners drain a crate of beer each on a trip to Scarborough, several talk onions, another hustles at darts and one acts the clown.
Watch for free
Yorkshire Tour No. 2 Yorkshire Tour No. 2
Documentary 1972 25 mins Location: Bridlington
Having given up the ghost as Martin Hopkirk, Kenneth Cope provides the banter as we tour Yorkshire, while maverick show jumper Harvey Smith helps decipher the Yorkshire ethos.
Watch for free
Whitsuntide in the Lakes Whitsuntide in the Lakes
Home movie 1934 14 mins Silent Location: Newby Bridge
A wonderful film showing just how much fun could be had camping in the mid-1930s, with no concessions of dress or to specialised camping kit, and none to any campsite etiquette.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Watch for free
Police Story: Panel Discussion Police Story: Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 24 mins
Panel discussion on Jackie Chan's 1985 action classic Police Story, with Chase Armitage, Sam Mak and Jadey Duffield.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.