Play Dates
- Show All
- South East
- London
- North
- Midlands
- South West
- Scotland
- Northern Ireland
- Wales
Abergavenny U3A
23/03/2018
- 23/03/2018
Abergavenny
Addingham Civic Society
20/09/2018
- 20/09/2018
Ilkley
Aldeburgh Cinema
15/07/2017
- 19/07/2017
Excluded Dates: 16th,17th,18th
Aldeburgh
Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks
15/02/2018
- 15/02/2018
Michaelchurch Escley
Arts Picturehouse
19/06/2018
- 19/06/2018
Cambridge
Battle U3A
08/01/2018
- 08/01/2018
Bexhill on Sea
Beckenham and Bromley - Historical Association
15/11/2018
- 15/11/2018
Beckenham
Bedford Central Library
21/09/2018
- 21/09/2018
Bedford
Belford Community Cinema
25/07/2017
- 25/07/2017
Waren Mill, Belford
BFI Southbank
11/09/2017
- 11/09/2017
Lambeth,
London
Brewery Arts Centre
20/11/2019
- 21/11/2019
Kendal
Broadway Cinema
26/08/2017
- 26/08/2017
Nottingham
Cheshunt U3A
03/10/2017
- 03/10/2017
Cholesbury-cum-St Leonard’s Local History Group
12/05/2018
- 12/05/2018
Chesham
Cleethorpes Library
02/05/2018
- 02/05/2018
Cleethorpes
Curzon Cinema & Arts
04/09/2017
- 09/09/2017
Excluded Dates: 5th-8th
Clevedon
Depot
25/06/2017
- 25/06/2017
Lewes
Dunoon Film Festival
10/11/2018
- 10/11/2018
Dunoon
Eden Court Theatre
15/07/2017
- 20/07/2017
Excluded Dates: 17th, 18th, 19th
Electric Palace Cinema - Hastings
02/08/2018
- 02/08/2018
Hastings
Electric Picture House (Wotton)
09/07/2017
- 09/07/2017
Wotton-under-Edge
Epping Forest District Museum
23/05/2018
- 23/05/2018
Waltham Abbey
Faringdon and District U3A
18/01/2018
- 18/01/2018
Faringdon
Films at Shadforth
20/05/2018
- 20/05/2018
Shadforth
Folkestone Harbour Company
08/08/2018
- 08/08/2018
Folkestone
Fordingbridge & District U3A
21/02/2018
- 21/02/2018
Fordingbridge
Friends of The National Archives
30/05/2018
- 30/05/2018
Richmond
Friern Barnet and District Local History Society
28/11/2018
- 28/11/2018
London
Glasgow Film Theatre
13/08/2017
- 13/08/2017
Glasgow
Glasgow Film Theatre
23/11/2017
- 23/11/2017
Glasgow
Harraby Community Theatre
05/02/2018
- 05/02/2018
Carlisle
Hartley Wintney U3A
06/11/2018
- 06/11/2018
Hartley Wintney
Hayling Island Library
23/06/2018
- 23/06/2018
Hayling Island
Hickling Village Hall
06/03/2018
- 06/03/2018
Melton Mowbray
Historical Association (Lincoln Branch)
23/04/2018
- 23/04/2018
Lincoln
Kirkgate Arts
17/08/2017
- 17/08/2017
Cockermouth
Lakes Alive
10/09/2017
- 10/09/2017
Kendal
Long Sutton Market House
20/05/2019
- 20/05/2019
Long Sutton
Maldon & District U3A
22/03/2018
- 22/03/2018
Maldon
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
20/06/2018
- 20/06/2018
Falmouth
Northern Light Cinema
06/02/2019
- 06/02/2019
Wirksworth
Northrepps Film Society
02/11/2017
- 02/11/2017
Northrepps
Number 8 Community and Arts Centre
03/05/2018
- 09/05/2018
Excluded Dates: 4th-8th
Pershore
Nuneaton Historical Association
19/09/2018
- 19/09/2018
Nuneaton
Overton & District U3A
04/02/2019
- 04/02/2019
Overton
Pocklington Arts Centre
30/06/2017
- 30/06/2017
Pocklington
Preston Park U3A
11/09/2017
- 11/09/2017
Brighton
Queen's Film Theatre
23/07/2017
- 23/07/2017
Belfast
Ropetackle Film Club
08/09/2017
- 08/09/2017
Shoreham By Sea
Screen Tiree
28/10/2017
- 28/10/2017
Isle of Tiree
Somerset Film
20/06/2019
- 20/06/2019
Bridgwater
South Ribble Museum & Exhibition Centre
18/01/2018
- 18/01/2018
Leyland
South Ribble Museum & Exhibition Centre
17/02/2018
- 17/02/2018
Leyland
South Yardley Library
17/09/2018
- 22/08/2018
Excluded Dates: 18th-21st
Birmingham
Southwater Village Hall (Welcome Club)
03/04/2019
- 03/04/2019
Horsham
Square Chapel Centre for Arts
23/07/2017
- 23/07/2017
Halifax
Stamford Arts Centre
26/10/2017
- 26/10/2017
Stamford
Storyhouse
08/07/2017
- 08/07/2017
Chester
Takeley Local History Society
12/02/2019
- 12/02/2019
Takeley
Thatcham Town Council
13/10/2018
- 13/10/2018
Thatcham
The Keep Archives
11/08/2018
- 11/08/2018
Brighton
The Leyburn Arts Centre Ltd
01/08/2017
- 01/08/2017
Leyburn
The Watermark
19/07/2017
- 19/07/2017
Ivybridge
Theatr Clwyd
02/08/2017
- 02/08/2017
Mold
Tonbridge U3A
08/10/2019
- 08/10/2019
Hildenborough
Treeton Local History Group
27/09/2018
- 27/09/2018
Rotherham
Tywyn Cinema - The Magic Lantern
19/10/2018
- 20/10/2018
Twywyn
Ultimate Picture Palace
13/08/2017
- 14/08/2017
Oxford
Waltham Library
12/04/2019
- 12/04/2019
Waltham
Washfield Memorial Hall
20/09/2019
- 20/09/2019
Tiverton
Wem Town Hall
17/07/2018
- 19/07/2018
Excluded Dates: 18th
Wem
Worthing U3A
24/10/2017
- 24/10/2017
Abergavenny U3A
23/03/2018
- 23/03/2018
Abergavenny
Addingham Civic Society
20/09/2018
- 20/09/2018
Ilkley
Arts Alive and Flicks in the Sticks
15/02/2018
- 15/02/2018
Michaelchurch Escley
Battle U3A
08/01/2018
- 08/01/2018
Bexhill on Sea
Beckenham and Bromley - Historical Association
15/11/2018
- 15/11/2018
Beckenham
Bedford Central Library
21/09/2018
- 21/09/2018
Bedford
Belford Community Cinema
25/07/2017
- 25/07/2017
Waren Mill, Belford
Cheshunt U3A
03/10/2017
- 03/10/2017
Cholesbury-cum-St Leonard’s Local History Group
12/05/2018
- 12/05/2018
Chesham
Cleethorpes Library
02/05/2018
- 02/05/2018
Cleethorpes
Dunoon Film Festival
10/11/2018
- 10/11/2018
Dunoon
Electric Palace Cinema - Hastings
02/08/2018
- 02/08/2018
Hastings
Electric Picture House (Wotton)
09/07/2017
- 09/07/2017
Wotton-under-Edge
Epping Forest District Museum
23/05/2018
- 23/05/2018
Waltham Abbey
Faringdon and District U3A
18/01/2018
- 18/01/2018
Faringdon
Films at Shadforth
20/05/2018
- 20/05/2018
Shadforth
Folkestone Harbour Company
08/08/2018
- 08/08/2018
Folkestone
Fordingbridge & District U3A
21/02/2018
- 21/02/2018
Fordingbridge
Friends of The National Archives
30/05/2018
- 30/05/2018
Richmond
Friern Barnet and District Local History Society
28/11/2018
- 28/11/2018
London
Hartley Wintney U3A
06/11/2018
- 06/11/2018
Hartley Wintney
Hickling Village Hall
06/03/2018
- 06/03/2018
Melton Mowbray
Historical Association (Lincoln Branch)
23/04/2018
- 23/04/2018
Lincoln
Kirkgate Arts
17/08/2017
- 17/08/2017
Cockermouth
Lakes Alive
10/09/2017
- 10/09/2017
Kendal
Maldon & District U3A
22/03/2018
- 22/03/2018
Maldon
National Maritime Museum Cornwall
20/06/2018
- 20/06/2018
Falmouth
Northrepps Film Society
02/11/2017
- 02/11/2017
Northrepps
Number 8 Community and Arts Centre
03/05/2018
- 09/05/2018
Excluded Dates: 4th-8th
Pershore
Nuneaton Historical Association
19/09/2018
- 19/09/2018
Nuneaton
Overton & District U3A
04/02/2019
- 04/02/2019
Overton
Pocklington Arts Centre
30/06/2017
- 30/06/2017
Pocklington
Preston Park U3A
11/09/2017
- 11/09/2017
Brighton
Ropetackle Film Club
08/09/2017
- 08/09/2017
Shoreham By Sea
Screen Tiree
28/10/2017
- 28/10/2017
Isle of Tiree
Somerset Film
20/06/2019
- 20/06/2019
Bridgwater
South Ribble Museum & Exhibition Centre
18/01/2018
- 18/01/2018
Leyland
South Ribble Museum & Exhibition Centre
17/02/2018
- 17/02/2018
Leyland
South Yardley Library
17/09/2018
- 22/08/2018
Excluded Dates: 18th-21st
Birmingham
Southwater Village Hall (Welcome Club)
03/04/2019
- 03/04/2019
Horsham
Square Chapel Centre for Arts
23/07/2017
- 23/07/2017
Halifax
Storyhouse
08/07/2017
- 08/07/2017
Chester
Takeley Local History Society
12/02/2019
- 12/02/2019
Takeley
Thatcham Town Council
13/10/2018
- 13/10/2018
Thatcham
The Keep Archives
11/08/2018
- 11/08/2018
Brighton
Tonbridge U3A
08/10/2019
- 08/10/2019
Hildenborough
Treeton Local History Group
27/09/2018
- 27/09/2018
Rotherham
Tywyn Cinema - The Magic Lantern
19/10/2018
- 20/10/2018
Twywyn
Waltham Library
12/04/2019
- 12/04/2019
Waltham
Washfield Memorial Hall
20/09/2019
- 20/09/2019
Tiverton
Wem Town Hall
17/07/2018
- 19/07/2018
Excluded Dates: 18th
Wem
Worthing U3A
24/10/2017
- 24/10/2017
Aldeburgh Cinema
15/07/2017
- 19/07/2017
Excluded Dates: 16th,17th,18th
Aldeburgh
Arts Picturehouse
19/06/2018
- 19/06/2018
Cambridge
Depot
25/06/2017
- 25/06/2017
Lewes
Ultimate Picture Palace
13/08/2017
- 14/08/2017
Oxford
BFI Southbank
11/09/2017
- 11/09/2017
Lambeth,
London
Brewery Arts Centre
20/11/2019
- 21/11/2019
Kendal
Harraby Community Theatre
05/02/2018
- 05/02/2018
Carlisle
Long Sutton Market House
20/05/2019
- 20/05/2019
Long Sutton
The Leyburn Arts Centre Ltd
01/08/2017
- 01/08/2017
Leyburn
Broadway Cinema
26/08/2017
- 26/08/2017
Nottingham
Northern Light Cinema
06/02/2019
- 06/02/2019
Wirksworth
Stamford Arts Centre
26/10/2017
- 26/10/2017
Stamford
Curzon Cinema & Arts
04/09/2017
- 09/09/2017
Excluded Dates: 5th-8th
Clevedon
Hayling Island Library
23/06/2018
- 23/06/2018
Hayling Island
The Watermark
19/07/2017
- 19/07/2017
Ivybridge
Eden Court Theatre
15/07/2017
- 20/07/2017
Excluded Dates: 17th, 18th, 19th
Glasgow Film Theatre
13/08/2017
- 13/08/2017
Glasgow
Glasgow Film Theatre
23/11/2017
- 23/11/2017
Glasgow
Queen's Film Theatre
23/07/2017
- 23/07/2017
Belfast
Theatr Clwyd
02/08/2017
- 02/08/2017
Mold
Let’s go to the seaside! Travel round our gorgeous, varied coast, filmed throughout the 20th century from 1901 to 1978, in our fourth programme from Britain on Film on Tour.
Take a nostalgic promenade to classic British holiday resorts including Weston-super-Mare, Morecambe and Skegness, a visit to Butlin’s in Brighton and 1930s surfing in Newquay, while a 1947 information film cleverly undercuts travel clichés by showing how Dover, a traditional tourist town, is remaking itself after heavy bombings during WWII.
Enjoy a lush travelogue around the coast via Claude Friese-Greene’s wonderfully re-coloured footage, as eloquent as a painting. Learn about lifeboats via the RNLI’s brisk, engaging promotional film; the private life of seabirds in Julian Huxley’s pioneering, Oscar-winning short film, a triumph of early environmentalism and explore the world of shipbuilding with the construction of the SS Olympic. All the while, in the background: the shimmering sea.
There are a limited number of opportunities to have an archive film specialist introduce your screening of Britain on Film: Coast and Sea, please ask when booking about their availability.
Films in this programme
Playing on Beach (1903)
This Edwardian home movie is a simple snapshot of a family day out at the seaside: bucket-and-spading on Bognor beach. One of the earliest surviving home movies in the world, this film is among the rarest treasures of British Cinema.
Cliff Climbing - The Egg Harvest of Flamborough Head (1908)
Gathering seabirds’ eggs on the coast was a traditional practice for farmers whose land adjoined the cliff edge, which gave them a legal right to supplement their income by selling eggs.
Miss Margaret Morris’ Merry Mermaids (1923)
A wonderful Topical Budget newsreel capturing fun and frolics on the beach at Harlech.
The Open Road (1926)
This extract from filmmaker Claude Friese-Greene’s 1920s travelogue captures several highlights of the South West, using modern digital technology to bring the full beauty of Friese-Greene’s photography to light.
The Private Life of the Gannets (1934)
The lonely seclusion of an island in the Irish Sea is intruded upon for this pioneering, Oscar-winning account of the lives of northern gannets.
Here is Newquay (1935)
Everybody’s going surfing in the heart of the Cornish Riviera. This 1930s promotional short may have been made before the town crowned itself Britain’s surf capital but that doesn’t stop these holidaymakers hitting the waves.
Mablethorpe 1940s (1948)
From the typical east coast beach hut to the simple joy of splashing in the sea, the unidentified filmmaker behind this extract has a knack for capturing the spontaneous and the candid.
Our Native Shore (1956)
The UK coastline was a busy workplace for this film’s sponsor, Esso. This extract explores the lives of some of these workers, including fishermen, ship-builders, lighthouse keepers and the brave lifeboat crews.
Shipshape (1947)
Shoreham-by-Sea is the setting for this brisk, engaging Royal National Lifeboat Institution promo that explains the need for continuous maintenance of lifeboats.
S.S. Olympic (1910)
SS Olympic was the sister ship of Titanic, and at the time of her launch on 20 October 1910 she was the largest vessel ever built. This film captures the sheer scale of endeavour involved in her building.
Dover, Spring 1947 (1947)
Dover made over: this quirky and pointed public information film reveals how the heavily-bombed and shelled Kent town was being replanned after the war.
Winter Holiday (1959)
Why not go on a winter holiday to Butlin’s in Brighton? This handsome Technicolor ad makes a good case for a trip, despite the blustery rooftop activities.
We Chose Skegness (1961)
This cheery Skegness promo tries to shoehorn in every possible attraction on offer: from Britain’s fourth longest pier to pubs and beauty contests.
Weston-super-Mare Holiday Report (1978)
Reporter Bob Warman visits Weston-super-Mare to talk to holidaymakers from across the Midlands. While most are happy with this traditional holiday destination, there are some reservations about the weather.
Panoramic View of Morecambe Sea Front (1901)
With their summer afternoon clarity, Mitchell and Kenyon’s images of Morecambe remain gorgeously fresh, from static shots of holidaymakers on the promenade to those filmed from a horse-drawn tram.