Post by Webster on Jul 15, 2021 16:58:26 GMT
Dating to 1954, "The Heart of England" is a British Transport Film documentary about Stratford on Avon and The Cotswolds, the largest areas of Britain, stretching over a hundred miles from Chipping Camden to the city of Bath. The film was directed by Michael Clarke and written by him and John Moore, and narrated by Stephen Murray. The film was intended to promote tourism and travel, especially of course by rail, while celebrating the quiet unchanging image of rural Britain. The narrator of this film is Stephen Murray (:28) and it opens with a map pointing to the heart of England where the narrator was born (:47).
A span of the countryside catches a tractor at work on a farm (1:08) as winter was ending and leading into spring. The area consists of valleys and hills and houses are constructed from stones retrieved from nearby so that they match the natural setting (2:09). A few streams in the area follow such as once called Wind Rush (3:03). The River Avon (3:20) flows through Evesham and farmers of the city are seen growing brussels sprouts (3:25). Plums are grown in Pershore (3:29) and most of population at the time worked in agriculture. Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford follows (4:26) with a picturesque shot of orchards in bloom. In mid-May as the climate warmed up, townsfolk are seen pushing small boats into the water and rowing long boats (6:03). Around this time, wheat began growing in the Cotswold hills (6:27). This area was once known as sheep country as Cotswold was born from the wool boom in 1450 (6:43). A native saying is that the sheep built the churches and this is because during 1400-1600, towns folk grew rich from wool and were able to put money into community constructions such as the churches (6:58). Burford is the center of the Cotswold wool trade (7:42).
Other towns in the area pointed to are Northleach and Camden (8:01). Tewkesbury, the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, follows (8:11). The Lancastrian heir to the throne; Edward Prince of Wales, was killed during this battle (8:23). References to Shakespeare are all over the area including the ‘Shakespeare Hotel’ (8:38) as Tewkesbury is only 25 miles from his hometown. Townsfolk and countrymen alike are seen attending the pre-countess show (9:26). Livestock is walked through the area and farmers take time off from the field to show what they have grown here (9:45). Clydesdale horses, which the farmers used for sturdy plough horses (10:25) preclude a horse jumping competition (11:16). The fair at the pre-countess show also allowed farmers to check out new equipment (11:50). The corn fields are shown in high summer now (13:09) as well as gardens abloom with decadent flowers in Cheltenham at the foot of the Cotswold hills (13:15). A spa which was once used by the Georgians follows (13:26).
Other notables from history that once resided here are Charles Barnett and Wally Hammond, the English cricketers who played for Gloucestershire (13:46). Yellow wig plums are seen picked from trees (14:38) and a combine harvester works on a corn field (15:21) during this season of harvesting and storing. After the harvest is completed, fairs open up (17:09) in Evesham, Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury and Stratford. The film begins to wrap up with footage of the season beginning to change into autumn and as winter moves in and leaves again, the cycle of growth and harvesting will soon begin anew (19:20).
A span of the countryside catches a tractor at work on a farm (1:08) as winter was ending and leading into spring. The area consists of valleys and hills and houses are constructed from stones retrieved from nearby so that they match the natural setting (2:09). A few streams in the area follow such as once called Wind Rush (3:03). The River Avon (3:20) flows through Evesham and farmers of the city are seen growing brussels sprouts (3:25). Plums are grown in Pershore (3:29) and most of population at the time worked in agriculture. Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford follows (4:26) with a picturesque shot of orchards in bloom. In mid-May as the climate warmed up, townsfolk are seen pushing small boats into the water and rowing long boats (6:03). Around this time, wheat began growing in the Cotswold hills (6:27). This area was once known as sheep country as Cotswold was born from the wool boom in 1450 (6:43). A native saying is that the sheep built the churches and this is because during 1400-1600, towns folk grew rich from wool and were able to put money into community constructions such as the churches (6:58). Burford is the center of the Cotswold wool trade (7:42).
Other towns in the area pointed to are Northleach and Camden (8:01). Tewkesbury, the site of the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471, follows (8:11). The Lancastrian heir to the throne; Edward Prince of Wales, was killed during this battle (8:23). References to Shakespeare are all over the area including the ‘Shakespeare Hotel’ (8:38) as Tewkesbury is only 25 miles from his hometown. Townsfolk and countrymen alike are seen attending the pre-countess show (9:26). Livestock is walked through the area and farmers take time off from the field to show what they have grown here (9:45). Clydesdale horses, which the farmers used for sturdy plough horses (10:25) preclude a horse jumping competition (11:16). The fair at the pre-countess show also allowed farmers to check out new equipment (11:50). The corn fields are shown in high summer now (13:09) as well as gardens abloom with decadent flowers in Cheltenham at the foot of the Cotswold hills (13:15). A spa which was once used by the Georgians follows (13:26).
Other notables from history that once resided here are Charles Barnett and Wally Hammond, the English cricketers who played for Gloucestershire (13:46). Yellow wig plums are seen picked from trees (14:38) and a combine harvester works on a corn field (15:21) during this season of harvesting and storing. After the harvest is completed, fairs open up (17:09) in Evesham, Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury and Stratford. The film begins to wrap up with footage of the season beginning to change into autumn and as winter moves in and leaves again, the cycle of growth and harvesting will soon begin anew (19:20).