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Warwick Castle and River
A bygone Warwick with its impressive castle and idyllic River Avon shines in this charming early short.
Overview
Splendid shots of Warwick's grand medieval Castle beside Shakespeare's idyllic Avon cannot fail to delight modern viewers, just as they must have done in 1908. A slow pan captures the mighty masonry, while shots of the river convey a sense of leisure and natural beauty - popular subjects for early filmmakers. Look out for the scene of a chain ferry in action - the one in use today dates from 1937.
At the time this film was made Warwick Castle was owned by Francis Greville, the fifth Earl of Warwick, who had briefly closed it to the public before allowing access again in 1900. It remains a prime tourist location today.
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