The East Anglian Film Archive, the first and largest Regional Film Archive in England, was established in 1976. Since 1984, EAFA has been owned and operated by the University of East Anglia, Norwich (UEA), to support research and work to preserve our moving image heritage. More than 250 hours are freely available online as examples of the wide range of film which attracts interest the world over.
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Essex Village
It looks like time stands still there, but Finchingfield in Essex is changing: talk to the locals when visiting a village to find out what's new in their lives.
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Overview
This film captures the 'chocolate box' beauty of Finchingfield, Essex and the distinctive features of village life, but work prospects there are evolving. The visitor sees the windmill, the thatcher, blacksmith and straw dolly maker at work, and traditional scything of fields, but these old occupations do not offer apprenticeships. The young people look for work with machinery including agricultural engineering and driving, and buses carry them to nearby towns.
This film was shown by Essex County Council Education Committee which ran a film library of educational films for hire by schools, including films made locally about aspects of life in the county. Finchingfield with its duck pond and village green surrounded by cottages, church and pubs is celebrated as the most beautiful village in England and has appeared frequently in television programmes, films and commercials. The old inhabitant featured here is Jimmy Green who also appears in the 1937 film 'Around the Village Green'. The nearby towns offering employment and entertainments are Thaxted, Braintree and Saffron Walden.
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