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Index Page | Prior Record | Next Record |
Film ID | ACE050 |
Article | |
Title | Building the Industrial Revolution. Industrial architecture of the East Midlands. A film for European Architectural Heritage Year |
Series | |
Part | |
Date | 1975 |
Director | Mick Gold |
Production Company | |
Synopsis | Industrial architecture in Britain in the 18th and 19th centuries and its influence on the pattern of working life: the inventions that created the factory system and the buildings that housed it. |
Minutes | 41 min |
Choreographer | |
Full synopsis |
ACE050.2 (00:00:00 - 00:12:27) Animation illustrates the four elements of the factory system: “a robust building, a central source of power, automated production machinery, and a disciplined labour force”. Spinning cotton thread by hand; early spinning wheels. Demands of a growing population required a faster method. A “spinning Jenny”, invented by James Hargreaves, which enabled sixteen spindles to be handled simultaneously. Improvements in machinery, the “spinning frame” devised by Richard Arkwright, enabled unskilled workers to operate it. Arkwright joined with Jedediah Strutt, in Nottingham, and their business expanded to the point where they set up a water-powered mass production system at Cromford, Derbyshire. Water mill wheels. Engraving of the Lombe brothers’ silk mill at Derby, prototype of many mill buildings; engraving of mechanical functions. Long narrow factory room designed to accommodate large machines and provide ample natural light. Arkwright’s mill at Cromford. Advertisement for jobs there. Carding machine. Engraving of women working on such equipment; a spinning frame, operated by children. Painting of the mill. North Street, part of the workers’ housing built by Arkwright at Cromford; other buildings there. Willersley Castle, Arkwright’s own house. Commentary talks about social improvements made by Arkwright, who fostered the image of workers as “a happy family, labouring for their benevolent employer”. Houses, machinery, engravings; VO singing an eighteenth century tribute to Arkwright’s methods at “the cotton mills now at Cromford”. ACE050.3 (00:12:27 - 00:25:43) ACE050.4 (00:25:43 - 00:32:17) ACE050.5 (00:32:17 - 00:40:37) |
Full credits | We would like to thank the following organisations for their help in the making of this film: The Chatsworth Settlement, The Hickingbotham Trust, English Sewing Limited, William Moss and Sons Ltd., W and G Sissons Ltd., Raleigh Industries Limited East Midland Brick Association, East Midland Brick Development Association, East Midland Arts Association, CPRE, The City of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby Society of Architects, Leicestershire and Rutland Society of Architects, Lincolnshire Society of Architects, Northamptonshire Society of Architects, The Science Museum, Leicester Museum of Technology, Nottingham Local Studies Library, Helmshore Museum of Mill Technology, Horcomb & Son Ltd.; Architectural advisors John Humpston, Gordon Redfern, Len Lloyd-Smith, Tim McArtney, Douglas H Smith; Singer Roy Harris; Brass band Ransome Hoffman, Polland Band; Dubbing Mixer Mike Billing; Historical advisor Christopher Charlton; Commentary spoken by John Hobson; Animation Nick Kavanagh; Production Supervisor Michael Whyte; Editor Brett Carrero; Camera Nic Knowland; Directed & written by Mick Gold. Made for The Arts Council of Great Britain, The Royal Institute of British Architects (East Midlands Region). |
Watch segments |
ACE050.2 (00:00:00 - 00:12:27) ACE050.3 (00:12:27 - 00:25:43) ACE050.4 (00:25:43 - 00:32:17) ACE050.5 (00:32:17 - 00:40:37) |
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