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TV BRITAIN ON FILM RURAL

This summer BFI Player celebrates rural life with more than 750 new films added to our Britain on Film map.

The new films range from 1900 to 2007 and chart the changing countryside and rural life across the UK, highlighting activities, pursuits and traditions that still survive today alongside customs, trades and skills that have since dwindled or disappeared. Begin your journey with selected highlights below, or dive straight into the map.

Ardboe Wishing TreeArdboe Wishing Tree

News 1965 4 mins Location: Ardboe

Graveyards tell strange stories and this one is no exception. From magic cows to wishing trees discover what lies in the Ardboe graveyard.

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The Sash My Father WoreThe Sash My Father Wore

Amateur film 1971 6 mins Location: Lisburn

Is mythology stronger than history? Listen to children’s takes on why they commemorate the Battle of the Boyne.

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Sodom and BegorrahSodom and Begorrah

Amateur film 1967 14 mins Location: Holywood

Amusing fantasy of the adventures of a priest who finds his new parish in the grip of the most blatant depravity

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At MountstewartAt Mountstewart

Non-Fiction 1930 3 minsSilent Location: Newtownards

A grand day out at Mount Stewart, where crowds of children jostle for the camera and form a very orderly queue.

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By TraditionBy Tradition

Documentary 1966 14 minsSilent Location: Cultra

See the tools in action that helped our farmers win back the soil from the weed and wilderness over generations.

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County AntrimCounty Antrim

Amateur film 1971 3 minsSilent Location: Larne

Enjoy the early signs of spring from the lambs gambolling in the fields to the rally cars tearing round the Circuit of Ireland.

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Land of SongLand of Song

Travelogue 1960 5 mins Location: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa

As travelogues go this one doesn't quite cut it – good job Lanry household bleach can!

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The Wonderful WyeThe Wonderful Wye

Travelogue 1926 6 minsSilent Location: Rhayader/Rhaeadr Gwy

Enjoy these charming scenes of Powys follies at Llandrindod Wells, rescued from the cutting room floor

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Haymaking - Trebettyn, CowbridgeHaymaking - Trebettyn, Cowbridge

Home movie 1949 4 minsSilent Location: Cowbridge/Y Bont-Faen

The Iles family, having moved out of Cardiff just before Christmas 1948, have good weather for their very first haymaking at ‘Trebettyn’.

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Farmer JohnFarmer John

Amateur film 1930 13 minsSilent Location: Llanymawddwy

O, sighs the office-bound man, how wonderful to be a farmer! And, with breeches and boots, he tries the good life as ‘Farmer John’.

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A Letter from Wales (Welsh-language version)A Letter from Wales (Welsh-language version)

Children's 1953 15 mins Location: Llandwrog

A hard task it is for a schoolboy to sit and write a letter when so much more exciting things are claiming his attention. His adventures are dramatised as he relates them on paper.

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Talybont Show and Corn CuttingTalybont Show and Corn Cutting

Home movie 1964 5 minsSilent Location: Bow Street

Tal-y-Bont Show brings the farming community together after the Davies' harvest has been safely gathered in at 'Dolclettwr', Taliesin.

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Auld AyrshireAuld Ayrshire

Travelogue 1930 2 minsSilent Location: Alloway

A tour of Rabbie Burns' beautiful home county, in enchanting colour.

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Bonnie Scotland Calls YouBonnie Scotland Calls You

1938 16 minsSilent Location: Lismore

Join two intrepid hikers on their energetic tour of Scotland's Highlands and islands.

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A Cattle Auction in the HebridesA Cattle Auction in the Hebrides

1932 9 minsSilent Location: Outer Hebrides

Folk of the Western Isles meet and drink at their annual sale of Highland cattle to the Scottish mainland.

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Loch LomondLoch Lomond

School programme and Educational film 1946 9 minsSilent Location: Balloch

Take a colourful post-war cruise around Loch Lomond on the paddle steamer, the Princess May, seeing Luss, Rowardennan and the small islands; a moving record of a vanished era.

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Winter in ScotlandWinter in Scotland

School programme and Educational film 1960 9 minsSilent

Wrap up warm for a frosty portrait of a wintry 1960s Scotland in this chilly episode from the Seasons in Scotland educational series, with snowmen and snowball fights galore!