National Screen and Sound Archive of Wales preserves and celebrates the sound and moving image heritage of Wales, making it accessible to a wide range of users for enjoyment and learning. Its film collection reflects every aspect of the nation’s social, cultural and working life across the 20th century, giving a fascinating insight into Welsh filmmaking, both amateur and professional.
This film is part of Free
Video Player is loading.
Grangetown pram push and Llandaff lych gate
Sparrows share a bath, starlings a joint, and the people of Grangetown a laugh as men in drag push prams for fun.
From the collection of:
Overview
The Plymouth, a Brains pub in Grangetown, Cardiff, is the gathering point for an event (c.1966) featuring men in drag pushing overgrown 'babies' in prams, one holding a placard: 'Ban the Pill'. Sparrows have their own summer fun using a bird bath; in winter, when it snows (c.1962), starlings feast on a Sunday joint. In the 1950s, huntspeople meet outside a mansion for the stirrup cup before the off, and a visit to Llandaff Cathedral starts at the lych gate. NB: Colour and B&W.
Chris Jenkins, who shot this footage, was a keen amateur artist and astronomer and a stalwart of the Cardiff Amateur Ciné Society. He owned and ran a hair salon – 'Vanda's', named after one of his daughters - in Charles Street (later Dumphries Place), in the city, his son Ken joining him in the business although a mechanic at heart. The Plymouth pub was demolished in 2008 for redevelopment. Re the 'Ban the Pill' placard seen: The contraceptive pill for women was released in 1960 and became available on the NHS in Britain in 1961 but, until 1967, it was only prescribed for married women.
Related
Watch for free
Place to Play Place to Play
Amateur film 1972 12 mins Location: Splott
A taste of freedom: children in the Splott, Butetown and Grangetown areas of Cardiff get a chance to play, explore and invent in the city’s experimental adventure playgrounds.
Watch for free
One for the Road One for the Road
Documentary 1957 10 mins Location: Wilton
A giant truck with unusual cargo is on the road to ICI Wilton in the dead of winter.
Watch for free
Doing Our Bit Doing Our Bit
Charity appeal 1935 11 mins Location: Middlesbrough
Digging a way out of the 1930s Depression in the Cleveland Hills.
Watch for free
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
Watch for free
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
Watch for free
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Watch for free
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Watch for free
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
Watch for free
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.