Set up in 1977, the North West Film Archive preserves moving images made in or about Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria and offers a variety of access services to users in the public, academic and commercial sectors.
This film is part of Free
Colour in Silk
Come to Cheshire to visit "the most famous silk firm in the greatest silk town in both hemispheres".
From the collection of:
Overview
A promotional film for the Brocklehurst-Whiston mill in the Cheshire town of Macclesfield, showing how skilled craftsmanship and good design transform raw silk into the "Queen of Fabrics". We see how the dyes are tested, and the natural silk is wound, woven, and screen or block printed with complex patterns and glowing colours. Finally, many samples of the finished fabrics are shown.
Related
Watch for free
Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen
Home movie 1937 20 mins Silent Location: Llangollen
Nellie Boote's laundry in Market Street in operation, the women dashing away with all manner of smoothing irons as clothes are sorted, mended, washed, ironed and sorted again.
Watch for free
For Sheer Perfection For Sheer Perfection
Documentary 1965 24 mins Location: Langley Mill
A mile of yarn and a million loops to make one stocking: the culmination of a four hundred year old craft.
Watch for free
Paper Fashion Paper Fashion
News 1967 6 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Fashion doesnt grow on treesor does it! Tyne Tees TV was bang on-trend with this brilliant news feature on the hip 1960s cult for a disposable age - paper fashion.
Watch for free
Fancy Yarn Production Fancy Yarn Production
Industry sponsored film 1971 23 mins Location: Greengates
Twisted yarns and empty spindles, everything from Bouclé to Slub yarn, from beginning to end, and all, in the end, displayed on a ‘normal’ model in typical 1970s fashion.
Watch for free
Messrs. Barlow and Jones Ltd., Manchester and Bolton Messrs. Barlow and Jones Ltd., Manchester and Bolton
Promotional 1919 19 mins Silent Location: Bolton
From raw resource to finished product, by cleaning and spinning, weaving and bleaching - take a look at the textile industry from the inside.
Watch for free
Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth
Current affairs 1977 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Wearing Fur gets Hairy
Watch for free
Heaven Opens Heaven Opens
Amateur film 1968 29 mins Location: Manchester
Faith in the inner city - the mission of the Sharon Full Gospel Church in Manchester.
Watch for free
Rose Queen Carnival 7th June 1913 Rose Queen Carnival 7th June 1913
Non-Fiction 1913 5 mins Silent Location: Macclesfield
A carnival procession and Rose Queen crowning ceremony, possibly in Birmingham
Watch for free
Woven by Hand Woven by Hand
Documentary 1970 11 mins Location: Macclesfield
Handloom weaving, and its place in the history of textile production.
Watch for free
Silk Silk
Industry sponsored film 1940 18 mins Location: Macclesfield
Silk production in Cheshire, using time-tested methods to produce a perfect product.
Watch for free
Macclesfield Hails Britain's Silk Queen Macclesfield Hails Britain's Silk Queen
Non-Fiction 1933 4 mins Location: Macclesfield
The annual ceremony around the coronation of Macclesfield's silk queen will worm its way into your heart.
Watch for free
Visit to her Old School - Buxton Carnival Queen Visit to her Old School - Buxton Carnival Queen
Non-Fiction 1934 8 mins Silent Location: Macclesfield
Buxton Carnival Queen goes back to school, and local people watch the carnival festivities.
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.
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.