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Lives Lived, Lives Remembered
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| Mitchell & Kenyon meet the kids |
Recently restored by the British Film Institute, the discovery of a mass of missing film footage
by British filmmakers Mitchell and Kenyon has been described as film's equivalent of Tutankhamen's tomb. This treasure trove
of films of extraordinary footage provides an unparalleled documentary of everyday life in early 20th century Britain - street
scenes, sporting events, parades, and school life whirl by on the screen in mesmerising fashion. The firm of Sagar Mitchell
and James Kenyon were commissioned by a turn of the century travelling exhibitor for showings at fairgrounds, town halls
and theatres.
"The ghosts of the Edwardian era made flesh....prepare to be astonished."-Sight and Sound
Film awash with memories
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| The film provides a valuable archive of the underwater village. |
This rare film footage of a once-thriving Scottish mining village which now lies under water was
restored in 1999 and shown to its former residents. The film of Bothwellhaugh, in Lanarkshire, captures life before it
became derelict and was eventually flooded as part of the Strathclyde Country Park development.
The memories of the village came flooding back for former residents of Bothwellhaugh who
viewed the 80-minute film shot by the late Joe Griffiths, a local man, who was keen on amateur cinematography, captured
the village's life between 1962 and 1965. Mr Griffith's 8mm film of the period was cleaned up and carefully restored.
The son of Joe Griffiths, Alistair, said at the time that he had assisted his dad and that he felt that his dad "would have
been equally as surprised and also very pleased." at the resoration.
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| "We were happy". |
One former resident, Tom Eadie, said life was good in Bothwellhaugh " People in the village made
their own entertainment. There was no thought of going to different towns and villages . There used to be all kinds of things
going on."
Another former villager, Beatrice Forsyth, said although people did not have a great deal of money
they were very contented. She said: "Watching the film brought back a whole load of happy memories."
These pictures now have a valuable place in Scotland's archive of social and industrial history.
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Rare film footage of a
once-thriving Scottish
mining village which now
lies under water has been
restored and shown
to its former residents.
from the BBC archives, dated
Wednesday, August 25, 1999
the news story of the discovery
of these historic film footages.
from the BBC archives, dated
Saturday, 13 July, 2002
Rediscovered films that transform
our understanding of early cinema
at screenonline at the
British Film Institute website
Sheffield University Archives
articles and commentary on
this remarkable discovery
Film footage dating back
100 years and found in a shop
basement is to be shown by
the BBC for the first time.
this rare and wonderful film
footage is to be found
at the British Film Institute
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related internet links
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a very descriptive website
and old pictures of the
now drowned village
the screenonline at the
British Film Institute web page
on this remarkable film.
the original film is held by
the Scottish Screen Archive collection
(see below link)
Broadway is the East Midland’s
flagship cinema and production house
with an established national and
international reputation for film
exhibition, production and festivals
Surprise yourself at the
range of material collected -
there are home movies, advertisements,
educational and documentary film,
as well as films detailing technical
processes and showing the
imagination and innovation of
Scottish film-makers over the years.
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