The Media Archive for Central England is the public screen archive for the East and West Midlands. An independent charity and company based at the University of Lincoln, MACE acquires, catalogues, preserves and makes widely available moving image materials that inform our understanding of the diverse cultures and histories of communities between the Lincolnshire coast and the Welsh border.
This film is part of Free
Chain Maker
The Black Country in 1975. Times change but one thing remains constant: John Priest manufactures chains using a forge first lit at the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
From the collection of:
Overview
The area around Cradley Heath was the UK centre for chain making from the industrial revolution onwards. By 1975 John Priest and his forge were rare survivors, making chains the old fashioned way: entirely by hand. Here we see him demonstrate to Peter Plant of ATV Today how to make a shackle with hammer, fire and plenty of muscle. At the age of 64 Mr Priest was looking forward to retirement with his beloved fuschias providing a more relaxing pastime.
Related
Watch for free
Chain Making Chain Making
Current affairs 1983 9 mins Location: Cradley Heath
In over one hundred and fifty years little has changed in the chain forges of Cradley Heath where big, tough men hammer out the biggest and toughest chains.
Watch for free
Cradley Heath Market Cradley Heath Market
News 1967 4 mins Location: Cradley Heath
Black Country poet Harry Harrison gives his view on the appeal of Cradley Heath market hall.
Watch for free
China O'Brien: The Reunion China O'Brien: The Reunion
Documentary 2024 60 mins
Cynthia Rothrock, Richard Norton and Keith Cooke reunite three decades on from the groundbreaking martial arts classic.
Watch for free
Women in Action Panel Discussion Women in Action Panel Discussion
Inside Film 2024 28 mins
Action Xtreme - the UK's leading action film studio - hosts this panel discussion with four leading women in action cinema - Soo Cole, Jo Rolison, Jadey Duffield and Ioanna Karavela.
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.