British Universities Film & Video Council

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EAST WeymSS

Series

Series Name
Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.
8
Date Released
Apr 1960
Stories in this Issue:
  1. 135 YEARS AFTER
  2. 2STORMY GENIUS
  3. 3EAST WeymSS
  4. 4LOT 150

Story

Story No. within this Issue
3 / 4
Summary
BFI synopsis: Mining and weaving in the Scottish village of East Emyss
NCB Commentary - East Wemyss is a little mining village on the shores of the Firth of Forth. The sea, once the source of livelihood, is now the relaxation and the pleasure of the people who live there.
Among them are John Davidson, an underground machine man at Michael Colliery and his two younger daughters Margaret and Katherine. Lobster fishing and boat building are their hobbies and every available off moment is spent by the water.
Like a lot of miners’ women-folk of East Wemyss Margaret and Katherine work in the weaving trade. In the mill they have found pleasant employment without leaving their picturesque little Scottish village with its pit only a quarter of a mile away along the beach.
When they first went to work, they were given a period of training - Margaret to be a weaver and Katherine (the younger) as a drawer - the two most skilled crafts in the industry. They received their instructions from Mrs. Fowler, herself the daughter of a Michael collier.
Drawing, which was to be Katherine’s speciality, consists of the setting up of the looms for weaving. It needs steady hands and a good eye.
The two sisters soon showed themselves to be willing and eager pupils - learning all sides of the trade as well as their own particular job.
Mrs. Gray - a coal smapler’s wife was another of their teachers.
Then, they started real work in the factory - with its continuous roar of machines and clack of shuttles. In skilled hands the fine linen came into being from the flax threads.
The finished product is carefully examined. Mrs. Ina Anderson is another miner’s wife. In fact, practically all the women in this factory are from mining homes. The mill uses a lot of coal as well - so it’s quite a family affair.
Researcher Comments
Commentary recorded 25th February 1960.
Keywords
Arts and crafts; Mining
Locations
Scotland
Written sources
British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960
Credits:
Production Co.
Documentary Technicians Alliance
Sponsor
National Coal Board

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