At Wessex Film and Sound Archive you can see and hear history, from late Victorian times to the present day, through moving images and sound recordings. The Archive contains over 36,000 film and sound recordings relating to Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, including film and tapes of local TV and radio.
This film is part of Free
A Trip around Portsmouth Harbour
We're on the water with the Mary Rose expedition team in this short film from Ilse McKee - with great views of warships and an aircraft carrier
From the collection of:
Overview
Starting with a view of Tony Glover's fishing boat, which was used by the expedition team, we get views of nearby warships at the moorings. We also see Greyhound, a rubber dinghy, being towed by the expedition's catamaran. A team member sits aboard the dinghy seemingly at peace with his pipe. Alongside an aircraft carrier we see helicopters on its deck before returning to a view of Portsdown Hill in the distance.
Author, playwright and poet Alexander McKee was a member of the Southsea branch of the British Sub Aqua Club. He began a project to trace the whereabouts of Henry VIII's flagship, the Mary Rose. After his proposal to locate the wreck was dismissed by the National Maritime Museum in 1965, McKee and his team determined to continue with the project. After many set-backs and a constant lack of funds, the team, now including archaeologist Margaret Rule, found one of the ship's iron guns in 1970. The rest of the ship was found eight months later. As more experts became involved in the project McKee’s role diminished, though he remained with the team. He was later awarded an OBE for his efforts to locate the Mary Rose.
Related
Watch for free
A New dinghy for the Mary Rose expedition A New dinghy for the Mary Rose expedition
Amateur film 1971 3 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth Harbour
It's high tide at Portsmouth Harbour as members of the Mary Rose expedition examine their latest acquisitions in this short film from Ilse McKee
Watch for free
Portsmouth & Southampton during the summer of 1929 Portsmouth & Southampton during the summer of 1929
Amateur film 1929 9 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth Harbour
Come aboard a jolly mini-cruise around the Solent in this fascinating 1929 film from Ralph Staley - featuring his wife Ellen, his daughter Pam and the Mauretania
Watch for free
Guernsey Again - Trying Our Hand at Farming Guernsey Again - Trying Our Hand at Farming
Home movie 1930 17 mins Silent Location: Guernsey
Join Lewis Rosenberg and his friends on holiday in Guernsey where they milk cows, feed chickens, lark about on the beach and attempt to surf
Watch for free
Isle of Wight Isle of Wight
Amateur film 1953 11 mins Silent Location: Bembridge Harbour
Join the Corders on a family holiday to the Isle of Wight - complete with beaches, boats and a rare glimpse of an all-metal flying Princess
Watch for free
God's Port Our Haven God's Port Our Haven
Government sponsored film 1959 26 mins Silent Location: Portsmouth Harbour
Enjoy a nostalgic trip through Gosport in this wistful film from 1959 - which praises the modern town but shows some its older charms which the tower blocks will soon sweep away.
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.