This film is part of Free
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_480x270/public/hero-images/7d2be4fcf372250ad693f7c2380cd164.jpg?itok=3e0osB-Q)
Power behind the Spindle
A last look at the mighty steam engines that once powered Lancashire's mills.
Overview
swSteam once powered the great textile mills - but times are changing. Courtaulds in Essex is electrifying, and there are some sad scenes for enginemen as the mighty engines are dismantled and the power houses hum to a new sound. Mr Harrop, Courtaulds' fuel and power engineer, recalls his younger days as a man of steam, wrestling with double-acting pumps, inlet valves, high pressure cylinders and evaporation.
Related
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259798653.jpg?itok=mJ4UWXGR)
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/13aa56fe548365c4e4b69e882373901a.jpg?itok=RzWs7sfH)
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259437657.jpg?itok=djTg62TE)
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/29b89b7c3a32688a773ad4525fc6c44e.jpg?itok=kTgiy4YX)
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/5cd15e1426711b813337ef91b6148eb2.jpg?itok=lbeOBiuC)
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.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/06a6a9f89450ee68d4d95a9ca126051b.jpg?itok=NP4Cer9H)
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
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/N_445140_01of01.jpg?itok=1AU_K3Z3)
A Centre is Made A Centre is Made
Amateur film 1956 33 mins Location: Oldham
Disabled people working in the community in Oldham.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/37a84f73a3ef945ebccbe35d736dbd11.jpg?itok=Jy9TcJG6)
Lancashire's Time for Adventure Lancashire's Time for Adventure
1948 21 mins Silent Location: Oldham
"Britain's bread hangs by Lancashire's thread" – cotton, Britain's great post-war hope.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/ecd3a12309f42a66f59b2567d5fbfbd0.jpg?itok=wB6Ll9vj)
Platt's Lap Converter Platt's Lap Converter
Promotional 1951 13 mins Location: Oldham
Forget the carding machine - you need a lap convertor. Puzzled? Find out more here.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/af07809126687f60bc28584f5fb9eb91.jpg?itok=AcRWe9Ot)
The George Saxon Engine, Magnet Mill The George Saxon Engine, Magnet Mill
Documentary 1966 7 mins Location: Chadderton
See how steam powered the textile industry of Lancashire.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259523500.jpg?itok=igQtRjxd)
Out and About with the Collin Family Out and About with the Collin Family
Home movie 1950 15 mins Silent Location: Blackpool
The Collin family of Chadderton, Oldham, enjoy life to the full.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/promo259523542.jpg?itok=JPi0_mz1)
Street Processions in Oldham Street Processions in Oldham
Non-Fiction 1964 14 mins Silent Location: Oldham
Whatever the weather, the procession will go on in this Lancashire town.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/muscleqanda.jpg?itok=8sw22r7R)
Muscle - Exclusive Q&A Muscle - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 34 mins
Director Gerard Johnson talks Nia Child through the making of Muscle, an adrenalized drama that tears into the stereotypes of masculinity and male friendship.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/silverhazeqaextended_0.jpg?itok=T-FOBodE)
Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A Silver Haze - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 29 mins
Vicky Knight sits down with Rowan Woods for an extended discussion on the making of the film Silver Haze. *Contains Spoilers*
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/cymande.jpg?itok=Jqu3O2zo)
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/west-case1.jpg?itok=A5Q_9vtZ)
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_32x18/public/hero-images/scala5.jpg?itok=qfLzK5jz)
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.