Pattern of Britain, The

Synopsis: Four films about the farmlands of rural England made between 1944-1947, looking at the countryside after the war and how it was changing fast as old ways were dying out, In each of the films, past, present and future in the regions of Britain are linked in a way which it seems will never be quite as important again.
Features THE GRASSY SHIRES - the farmlands of Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northants and Warwickshire; FENLANDS - The story of the Fens and how good farmland was created over the centuries by managing the peat bogs; CORNISH VALLEY - the remote inhospitable terrain tamed by resourceful and indomitable farmers and DOWNLANDS - from the chalk cliffs of Dover to the Cotswolds and the Mendips.
Language: English
Country: Great Britain
Year of release: 2006
Year of production: 1944-1947
Subjects: Agriculture
Keywords: farming; rural communities; World War II; agricultural history

Title: Grassy Shires, The
Synopsis: This film surveys the grasslands of Leicestershire and its surrounding counties and looks at how its famed pasture had to give way to arable production as part of the war effort and how this later had to be integrated into an overall farming scheme.
Title: Fenlands
Synopsis: Looks at the work needed to channel yearly floods in the Fenlands and retain the maximum acreage for crop growing. Also celebrates the laying of concrete roads throughout the area to counter the constant battle against mud.
Title: Cornish Valley
Synopsis: Looks at how the continuity of family traditions helps remote farms make the best of the often inhospitable terrain.
Title: Downlands
Synopsis: Looks at farming life on the chalk downlands of southern England.

Name: Panamint Cinema
Email: cinema@panamint.co.uk
Web: http://www.panamint.co.uk External site opens in new window
Phone: 01505 834936
Address: Abercorn Schoolhouse
Whitequarries
Broxburn
West Lothian, Scotland
EH52 6PZ

This record has been viewed 439 times.

British Universities Film & Video Council