Film (archive films)

The Museum holds a large and fascinating collection of archive film. Over 800 reels of film are stored in secure conditions designed to ensure their long-term preservation, alongside more recent deposits of digital material. To date over half of these films have an access copy VHS video, DVD or digital and are available to view in the Reading Room of the Museum.

The films date from the 1920s to 2005 and show tractors and agricultural machinery, harvesting and ploughing, dairying, agrochemicals and agricultural aviation, promotional films, educational and training films.

Further details of the film collections and on the smaller collections, which aren’t included on the list below, can be found at the Museum of English Rural Life or by searching our online database. Many of the films are available for commercial use, please contact us for details.

MAIN FILM COLLECTIONS

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (TR MAFF)

Over 460 films mainly educational films made for farmers showing latest contemporary techniques and best agricultural practices, 1930s-1980’s (over 300 are available digitally, on VHS Video and DVD)

MILK MARKETING BOARD (SR MMB)

39 National Dairy Council Film Collection films showing milk production and promotional films, 1950s-1970s (available on VHS video)

NATIONAL DAIRY COUNCIL (TR NDC)

25 films promoting the use of dairy products and showing dairying, 1960s-1970s (available digitally)

FORD NEW HOLLAND (TR FOR)

Approximately 60 films showing Ford agricultural machinery products and Ford newsreels, 1950s-1970s (15 titles available on VHS video)

IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES (TR ICI)

Approximately 34 films showing farming and technology including the use of fertilizers, 1960s-1970s (four titles available on VHS video)

RANSOMES, SIMS AND JEFFERIES (TR RAN)

Approximately 120 films showing Ransomes agricultural products including ploughs, implements and lawn mowers, 1935-1979 (some available on VHS video)

Other collections containing less than 10 archival films:

AGRICULTURAL AVIATION COLLECTION: HARDY AND COLLINS (DX220)

COUNCIL FOR THE PROTECTION OF RURAL ENGLAND (SR CPRE)

JOHN FOWLER AND CO (LEEDS) LTD (TR 11FOW)

LAND SETTLEMENT ASSOCIATION (CR LSA)

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING (TR MAFH)

SINGER (TR BNT)

MORE INFORMATION

• A handlist for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food films is available here
• A handlist for the Milk Marketing Board films is available here is available here
• A handlist for the National Dairy Council films is  available here
• A handlist for the Imperial Chemical Industries films is available here
• A handlist for the Ford New Holland films is available here