Last updated 09:17, Saturday, 24 May 2008

THE North West Film Archive, based in Manchester, is the repository for all sorts of films made about and in Cumbria, from promotional films to home movies.

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Workers at the gates of one of the mills in Denton Holme, Carlisle, in 1910. Part of the North West Film Archive

As part of this weekend’s Carlisle Arts Festival the North West Film Archive is holding an ‘Antiques Roadshow’ for ‘moving image records of life in Cumbria from the 1890s to the present day’ at Tullie House, tomorrow.

This is followed by a screening of archive footage of life in and around the north Cumbria and Lakeland areas over the past 100 years. The specially-selected compilation includes scenes of workers leaving John Ferguson’s Denton Holme mill in 1910, the opening of St Nicholas Bridge, Carlisle in 1928, the unveiling of the war memorial in Egremont in 1922, the Lake District Postbus in 1974, footage of the Abrahams brothers climbing Napes Needle and Sir Henry Seagrave’s attempts at the water speed record in 1930 (which led to his death on Lake Windermere).

The archive has held two screenings in north and west Cumbria previously. Collections assistant Geoff Senior says the interest in these nostalgic films initially took staff by surprise: “Two to three years into the programme we’re filling venues of between 200 to 200 seats and we could fill them again if time allowed.

“People are always surprised that we‘re interested in their home movies and events like this are about making people aware.”

The archive can take film of “any age and any gage” – even old, highly flammable silver nitrate stock (which is better off in the archive’s keeping) – but they’re also interested in modern films and digital formats too.

The archive is particularly interested in social history and footage of events – the Queen’s Jubilee, state visits etc – but wants to see all sorts of films brought in.

In return for the film being included in the archive, the owner is given a DVD of the footage. The archive’s service manager Marion Hewitt will be on hand to discuss what people bring in.

The roadshow starts at 12.30pm, followed by the screening at 3.30pm. The roadshow is free but tickets for the screening cost £4/£3.50 in advance from the venue box-office or by calling 01228 618718.