Detail
Theme Transport
Films in the archive's collection reflect the daily life of towns and cities in the region and illustrate holidays and outings taken by families and communities in the South East of England. As a result many of the archive's films capture the traffic and transport which is a feature of working life, travel and the urban landscape. Street scenes in 1920s Canterbury illustrate the busy roads where pedestrians and cyclists appear to have equal dominance alongside the cars. Road use is illustrated in many subsequent films, including cars, bicycles, commercial vehicles, trams and busses, the development of larger roads and the increasing volume of traffic. However, the London to Brighton veteran car run remains unchanged in providing a spectacle for film-makers to focus on, and the archive holds many films of this event taken over the years.
The use of transport in industry and the workplace is also well documented. Collections in the archive include Dennis Specialist Vehicles, based in Guildford, who manufactured fire engines and ambulances, and Sargent's Bus and Coach Services, based in East Grinstead, who provided coach transport for the region.
Rail transport is significantly represented in the collection. Many keen amateur cine film-makers, capturing life in the region on film, have also had an interest in the railways. The decline and closure of rural stations in the 1960s and the end of the age of steam is extremely well documented on film in the archive's collection. As a result three compilations DVD's have been produced on the history of 'Southern Steam' using material from the archive. The history of the Bluebell steam railway has also been extensively captured on film and two Bluebell Railway DVDs have been produced illustrating this collection.
The fascination with flight in the early days is illustrated in films from Bognor Regis, showing Sir Alan Cobham's Flying Circus in the 1920s and 1930s. Events at Shoreham airport are also captured at various times during it's history. The growth in cheaper air fairs and international travel from the 1960s onwards demanded in increase in airport and aircraft sizes and some of these changes can be witnessed in film taken at Gatwick airport at various times in its development.
The variety of river and ocean transport is also well captured on film in the collection. Pleasure seekers at the seaside taking speedboat rides and day trips to the continent; wealthy families taking cruises on ocean liners in the 1930s; the use of transport vessels on the River Medway and fishing boats in Hastings and Brighton are all part of the region's transport history.
Films in this theme:
Showing 1 to 15 of 285 results.
Train Entering Hove Station
Date | 1897 | ID | 8366 |
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A scene filmed at Hove station by George Albert Smith in 1897.
[Train Entering Watford Station] or [Railway Traffic on the L.N.W.R.]
Date | [1897?] | ID | 8414 |
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Passengers alight a train at a railway station, shot from a fixed position by Charles Goodwin Norton.
[Seven Sisters Road] or [Horse-drawn Traffic in Seven Sisters Road; or, Tram Ride]
Date | [1898?] | ID | 8415 |
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Shot from atop a tram, Charles Goodwin Norton's camera takes in traffic and pedestrians.
[Marble Arch] or [Horse-drawn Traffic Viewed from Elevated Position]
Date | [1898?] | ID | 8416 |
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Horse-drawn coaches veer round a bend on the street below in this footage by Charles Goodwin Norton.

The Kiss in the Tunnel
Date | 1899 | ID | 8370 |
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A studio scene in which a couple kiss inside a train carriage, bookended by footage shot from the front of a train as it enters and emerges from a tunnel, produced in 1899 by George Albert Smith.
Boats at Henley; or, Thames River Scene
Date | 1899 | ID | 8398 |
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A scene on the Thames, shot from a boat by Cecil Hepworth in 1899.
Train Entering and Exiting Tunnel
Date | 1899 | ID | 8399 |
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A film by Cecil Hepworth shot from the front of a train as it enters and leaves a tunnel in 1899.
[Euston Road] or [Horse-drawn Traffic in Euston Road]
Date | [1899?] | ID | 8422 |
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Traffic moves in all directions in this film by Charles Goodwin Norton, shot from the side of a crossroads.
Explosion of a Motor Car
Date | 1900 | ID | 8400 |
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A policeman assesses the scene of an exploded car in this comedy by Cecil Hepworth.
How it Feels to be Run Over
Date | 1900 | ID | 8401 |
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A motorcar collides with the camera in this Cecil Hepworth film.
How to Stop a Motor Car
Date | 1902 | ID | 8402 |
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An inspector demonstrates the correct way to stop careless drivers after a policeman falls to pieces after a collision with a motorcar in this 1902 comedy from Cecil Hepworth.
The Jonah Man; or, the Traveller Bewitched
Date | 1904 | ID | 8405 |
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An unlucky traveler's plans are disrupted by disappearing objects and vehicles in this 1904 film by Cecil Hepworth.
Rescued by Rover
Date | 1905 | ID | 8407 |
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A dog leads the father of a kidnapped baby to the beggar woman responsible in this drama by Cecil Hepworth.
[Steam Train]
Date | [ca. 1920s?] | ID | 8167 |
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A compilation of very short shots that include a view of an approaching steam locomotive from a railway bridge, a shot of the sky; a group of men [Naval seamen in dress uniforms?] in a field at a distance from the camera - one with a pick-axe digging (?); closing with a bi-plane flying over head.

Southampton Ferry
Date | [ca. 1920s?] | ID | 8148 |
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A series of shots showing an open deck ferry at Southampton, approaching to dock to allow vehicles to disembark. On the ferry are several men on bicycles and foot passengers. The film then shows a De Havilland DH60X Moth aircraft [G-EBVC?] on the water with a naval vessel behind, followed by a view of the dockside. The film is somewhat murky.
Showing 1 to 15 of 285 results.