This film is part of Free
Workers at Barlow and Tweedale Ironworks, Castleton Nr Rochdale (1905)
Workers and wagons pass through the main gate of an engineering factory in Edwardian Lancashire.
Overview
Barlow and Tweedale's own personalised electric shunting locomotive trundles past the camera before hundreds of its employees emerge. One politely doffs his bowler hat to the camera. Puffs of smoke can be seen emerging from several points in the crowd: at one point a disconcertingly young boy blows cigarette smoke at the camera. The picture composition uses a receding row of arches to give a strong sense of depth.
Tweedales and Smalley manufactured textile machinery, mainly for export. The Globe Works in Castleton was opened in July 1892, and rapidly became one of the world's leading machinery manufacturers – at one point fully half of India's textile equipment was said to have been manufactured there. The firm also produced armaments during WWI and WWII, and continued to thrive thereafter until its surprise closure in October 1982, after which the site became Woolworths' northern distribution centre.
Related
Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901) Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
Edwardian workers react to the camera at one of Rotherham's major employers.
North Sea Fisheries, North Shields (1901) North Sea Fisheries, North Shields (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: North Shields
Girls gut herring on the quay at North Shields while a Showman tries to stir up trouble.
Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901) Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Pendlebury
A black miner makes an intriguing addition to an already captivating film of coal workers up from their pit.
Workforce Leaving Alfred Butterworth and Sons, Glebe Mills, Hollinwood (1901) Workforce Leaving Alfred Butterworth and Sons, Glebe Mills, Hollinwood (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Hollinwood
A flood of Lancashire cotton workers and their children at the end of another shift.
Workers Leaving the Jute Works, Barrow (1902) Workers Leaving the Jute Works, Barrow (1902)
Non-Fiction 1902 2 mins Silent Location: Barrow-In-Furness
A cheerful, largely female crowd makes their way home from work.
Employees Leaving Tangyes Engineering Works, Smethwick (1901) Employees Leaving Tangyes Engineering Works, Smethwick (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Birmingham
Exuberant scenes of engineers and machinists at the famous Cornwall works near Birmingham.
The Peak National Park The Peak National Park
Amateur film 1971 10 mins Location: Castleton
Accomplished film director Anthony Armstrong, aged 11, presents his fascinating film about a family holiday in Derbyshire's Peak District
A Field Trip from Castleton A Field Trip from Castleton
1975 21 mins Silent Location: Castleton
Put on your walking boots and join a couple of 1970s outdoors enthusiasts on a tour around the Hope Valley in Derbyshire.
The Yorkshire Moors The Yorkshire Moors
Amateur film 1950 9 mins Silent Location: Wheeldale Moor
Discover the well-kept secrets of the North York Moors in this idyllic amateur travelogue.
Alvey: Derbyshire Customs Alvey: Derbyshire Customs
Amateur film 1962 23 mins Silent Location: Alfreton
From Well Dressing to Garland Day and even elephants in Alfreton - a celebration of the traditional customs of Derbyshire in this reel from amateur filmmaker Fred Alvey.
Blue John Mine Blue John Mine
News 1966 7 mins Location: Castleton
Armed with only a hammer and chisel Cyril Harrison sets to work extracting Derbyshire's famous Blue John stone - a prize rumoured to have been treasured since Roman times.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.