Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front (1901) | BFI Archive

Panoramic View of the Morecambe Sea Front (1901). Subscribe: bit.ly/subscribetotheBFI
This film is part of the Mitchell and Kenyon collection - an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century.
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[@tanyamathias3222]

The guy in the white shirt and dark apron is my Grans Grandfather who came over from Italy. And Darrenburnfan they all lived through the war!

[@heandfi]

The Mitchell & Kenyon films especially give me a tummy tingling sense of poignancy for times long before I was born. The people must all now be long gone and I am especially moved by the young boys, who, in many cases would have been some of the young men sent to war in 1914. All those people knew nothing of the times to come, the Wars, the technological changes etc. They all seem familiar yet its a whole other era. Thanks for the films. I love them.

[@Saturnome]

Love this film. There's so much to look at. The man missing a leg (2:02), the other one playing with is umbrella, the kids running, people on the beach.. And then the jump cut where suddenly the people have stopped moving and here they are, looking directly at you... This is amazing.

[@DaughterofAlbion]

The boys waving their caps are adorable!

[@oldskertonion]

Wonderful to think that decedents and families of the boys could still reside in Morecambe to this day

[@theprophet20]

It's a haunting look back into a byegone era. But what I find most surprising is how well-dressed all the people in this film are.

[@KenfromDublin]

Just so amazing, so detailed, this is as near as we get to time travel right now.

[@OUTBOUND184]

cannot imagine how different their lives were. LOVE this.

[@rexluminus9867]

Well try it. No tv . Slow news, slower travel more walking. Better deeper sleep.Less excitement harder work and more.

[@improcat1]

Haunting indeed! The nearest we can get to time travel.

[@patriciahall2223]

It feels like you can reach out and touch these beautiful people , who fought so hard in life , beautiful memories of Morecambe beach ..God Bless you all ...🇨🇦

[@PetriSihvolaMusic]

So many details to marvel at here. The quality is amazing! Nicely presented with the calm voice and music, one of my favorite videos for sure.

[@hofnerman1]

When ever I watch these very old films I cannot help but think that all these ppl are now deceased and but shadows of themselves caught on film. What would they think if they only knew that we would be watching them on a thing called the Internet over 100 years later into their future. As mentioned earlier, "this is as near as we get to time travel right now".

[@neilbain8736]

This is so human. You can see through the clothing and identify with the people. It is as clear and bright as the day it was filmed. Fresh as the sea air ( and a generation before Eric ).

[@martin4458]

What amazing footage. I am fascinated with this period.

[@1979LITTLEMISS]

Love this film, especially the little boys running along after the camera and the man swinging his umbrella from 1:12. I wonder how they would respond to a modern day car driving past with a camera!

[@darrenburnfan]

The saddest thing about this film is that, no matter how many people see it worldwide on here or on DVD, all the people in it, the excited young boys running; the ladies and men, the one legged man; the man twirling his umbrella, ect, will never be identified. No one will come on here and say, "Oh, that was my great grandfather, or those boys were his sons. They were all killed in The Great War, ect. The names of all the people with their hopes and dreams, are lost in the mists of time.

[@rexluminus9867]

Acashic records hold all existences. Time travel 101.

[@incongra]

"the past is a different country- they do things differently there". Amazing the difference if you hit the HD button. This is a beautiful clip.

[@musicalsimsy]

The man from 1:12 to 1:20 with the umbrella is, quite frankly, the epitome of cool.

[@rexluminus9867]

At 1:50 is a lucky time traveller man. So different and no one really noticed him.

[@Ivanatis]

these old street short films are so awesome

[@xTriggerHappi]

It looks like they're having a nice day out on the beach just like you or I would, only in another era, but what makes it haunting is that everyone shown in this picture is 6ft under by now

[@marvy1118]

Glad I don't have to put on my three-piece suit to go to the beach in the Summer anymore.

[@theprophet20]

Beautifully put. It's the closest thing we have to a time machine - to be able to glimpse the late Victorians as they were in life, at the end of the 19th and on the brink of the 20th century.

[@nawffoh]

Another great video and it strikes me that it looks so modern for such an early film.

[@boy18inva]

It's like taking a trip in H.G. Wells' Time Machine.

[@systemanic]

Very well preserved piece of film and very good resolution. I wonder how many of our old home videos shot on Hi8, VHS, etc will still be around or in this condition even in another 30 years? probably not many unless you never play the things or have kept them dust free. And I wonder many of how super hi-def HD home videos that have been transfered to some flimsy DVD will last this long without being scratched and be made unplayable. All the people in the film look well dressed and decent, no scallies to be seen anywhere.

[@neilloughran4437]

They (along with several hundered films) were only found again in the 1990s... luckily they were in oil drums since 1900s.. then they we carefully restored (chemically treated/post processed) by the BFI. I think they were almost falling apart..

[@rexluminus9867]

Great video and musick. I would love to time travel there.

[@musicalsimsy]

Spot on mate. It's quite harrowing when you see people in this film looking at the camera, looking back at them knowing they are long gone.

[@TheMichaelWilcock2016Railways]

I used to go to the Winter Gardens every w/e in the 50/60s Happy memories, the swimming pool was the best in the North West with Miss GB bathing beauties

[@mujawooja]

I always love seeing this wonderful historic film all those wonderful souls from the past bernie

[@shaunswift2738]

My great grandma would have been 10 years old at that time.

[@irenejohnston6802]

My maternal grandfather was 40 yrs of age. Born 1861. I'm 81

[@greenisland75]

Wouldn't it weird if you were watching one of these old film's for the first time and recognised one of your ancestors in the film.

[@BanksDavid]

Fantastic find. What must it have been like to live in those times? Note also, the lack of fat (sorry) obese people

[@FutureofGoodnessKindness]

Wow what a beautiful video. I believe we all lived in those days just as different people obviously. So I must say this takes me back to a really simple happy time.

[@rexluminus9867]

We often responde deeply to these videos. Our genetic memories have feelings even for hundreds of years back.

creepy to think that all of these people are no longer here!! even the young kids?? great footage indeed!

[@alexeiromanov870]

Wow! I remember that day as if it were yesterday, it was a pleasant climate, I am the child who dropped his handkerchief at 2:05 ... it is a very nice memory for me.

[@theshadow664]

Have you still got that handkerchief?

[@philiptharm2]

I wonder what a hard time the gentleman with only one leg must have had and how he lost it. Maybe he was at one of the historical battles of the 1800's. What pain with no anesthetic he must have suffered. How he managed to survive without antibiotics.

[@rexluminus9867]

Valid thoughts. Yes I wonder myself about it. Healthier food and mostly good knight sleep those days.

[@manchestertart5614]

Maybe he was a casualty of the Boer war, or he had an accident at work or an infection?

[@miambao]

You have to love the guy spinning his brolly at 1:18.

[@Cor_Inquietum]

Amazing...

[@joyceflanary]

Love it !!!! I love old movies youcan learn so much from them sometimes they make you wish you could have lived in that time ! :)

[@AngelupNorth1]

Amazing film!!

[@terry.chootiyaa]

*OMG...the Google Street view car cameras has arrived 😆*

[@CarlosTadeus]

Because the quality of the English videos, is very upper to the Americans of the same time... 1900~~ from Brasil

[@dfcvda]

i worked there in 1988 I miss Morcambe it hasnt changed

[@user-vz8dt5jp6c]

Bwahahahahah its change mate very2x change trust me ,bwahahahahahahaha we cannot go back to the old day ei

[@TREYOLDHIPPIE]

Imagine, 100 years.. what is now.. is not all that great.. but people do live longer..we have to find simpler ways to live well, and not make everything for disposal. I loved this film, Mom once 'stole a Model A(or T), flipped it over, and pulled it back up, and brought it back.. A joy ride back then, prison now. Thanks again for sharing this 'dream' we get to see, no actors..

[@nicks4934]

Wow what a great film. Looks like another world.

[@ant697]

I love these films but I also find them sad... To see the children running along the seafront on a summers day in Morecambe with their whole lives ahead of them. They must be all long dead by now. I wonder if anyone will be looking at films of us in 100 years and thinking the same....

[@rexluminus9867]

Perhaps if there is any life left on earth. If not than all living creatures lived for what ?

[@nedmarc]

Around 1:40 we think the narrator says that the films were made and shown the same day. Did we hear correctly? If yes, we couldn't quite figure out how she ascertained this. It seemed to be something in relation to the boys running with and waving at the camera. Thanks for any help understanding this.

[@marvy1118]

I just hit the HQ button and it was so much better. Wow, what a difference.

[@youngsteph1]

Fantastic picture quality for the time. A lesson to James White & Edison on how to make a documentary.

[@videotimesss1]

@MaryOMackie Bless your heart, MaryOMackie, your are so right about the times, and how even though things are better in some ways now days, we have lost something very important, and the folks in these films would be shocked in many ways if they knew what the future holds.

[@rexluminus9867]

They would snap in one hour in our time !

[@VOXS2]

I also wonder as you can see this footage.. look carefully at the long tall lights stoods on the side edge of the road... I wonder how old are these lights... must be clean and new.. U might see some of these around in london but not working but the while thing may look very old and dirty and not clean the frame of the light stoods

[@Ramzzy666]

@VOXS2 not really... everyone back then that you'd see at a seaside usually were on holiday...so to be on holiday and someone pop up with a camera (no matter what country you lived in back then cameras that could record film were rare) obviously they are going to look, see any other video in say the streets of london no one looks at the camera cause they're getting on with there day.

[@Rentaghost76]

Life was much tougher in those days - most people worked hard manual jobs and had no indoor plumbing. Unless you were idle rich of course...

[@Arez-xm3mn]

Am a plumber

[@justbreakingballs]

Where is the rest of the footage shot that day? Does anyone know if it's available?

[@charliebobbie1]

Wonderful

[@incongra]

@incongra sorry meant HQ button

[@peterkay8073]

looks rather elegant in days gone by, looking at morcambe now a days and there is a certain lack of style. if you visit go to the northern end, hest bank and walk around the coastal area

[@manchestertart5614]

Lack of style? That's a bit harsh, I live there and I love it. The views and the sunsets are breathtakingly beautiful and can't be beaten. How about spending a week in the Midland Hotel and having a tour of the local villages and towns.

[@zulemajohnson1413]

People in this film look elegant, because they .ca afford to go to the beach. There is a film of poor people in Liverpool

[@joseluisv.m8189]

Viendo estos videos de épocas pasadas, no puedo evitar pensar que todas esas personas ya no están entre nosotros. Contrasta esa idea con la vida que se aprecia en las imágenes. Dentro de unos años, en un futuro, habrá quienes nos observen y pensarán lo mismo de los que ahora disfrutamos de vida

[@stephenguppy7882]

I am sure everyone who featured in the film would be horrified to see how run down Morecambe has become.

[@marcse7en]

My Paternal Grandfather was 17 years old in 1901 when this film was made.

[@kiltedjohn1000]

the kids wouldve been in their 20s in ww1 and in their 50s in ww2

[@rickb1266]

People will be looking back at us one day and saying the same thing.

[@williamkopanchuk]

@incongra It was the real UK, Real British people, CULTURE. Nice Video.

[@marvy1118]

Until you had to go to the dentist, or until the hot months arrived. No AC. No tank tops or shorts allowed. No sandals. It looks idyllic, but the reality was far less.

[@VOXS2]

its interesting this video.. everyone used to stare at the camera.. but on other videos of 1901 like usa people didnt much care stood there staring at a camera men... but this video looks like as if no one have seen a camera before.... I gues usa was more advance then what uk was at the time ? Is this available on dvd? whats the name of it so i can look it up.

[@manchestertart5614]

Just Google it and see, there is one I've seen of Lancaster (UK) Mill workers

[@ctangkau]

How deep is the water? 1:51 seems like a horse running on it.

[@manchestertart5614]

The tide was out

[@ukipwarrior]

woah 2:04 missing a leg

[@manchestertart5614]

Boer war?, accident at work?, infection? All a possibility

[@MrJohnQCitizen]

Is that a Yamaha pss-722?

[@MerleOberon]

I was in this "video", it was a scorching day...

[@surfdigby]

+MerleOberon That would make you over 120 years old.

[@manchestertart5614]

Some of the older people could have been in the Crimea or the Zulu wars.... It's like us talking of the Korean war and the Falkland war.

[@Rentaghost76]

This film made me sad more than anything... how many of those happy go lucky kids would've become cannon fodder in W.W.II, dying in agony and going insane through the horror of industrialized warfare? When we're kids we don't know just how short our innocence will be, and once it's gone it's gone it's gone forever.

[@lkijju]

Good posts MaryOMackie

[@tiberiousss]

Like I said, I doubt people want to see us banter back and forth. Take care.

[@VOXS2]

@Ramzzy666 Sure. but that doesnt mean the city is busy and people looked at the camera less then this one on the sea side.. living back then in a busy city doesnt mean they allready had cameras in store... it was still kind of new stuff like never seen before or at least something strange back then... So thats why i was wondering why the city peopled just moved on and careless about a guy with a strange technology camera back then in 1901. Maybe they had ofther better technology in thier minds

[@arealmench]

The people born 10 to 20 years after this was filmed are also dead. We are all doomed.

[@marcse7en]

Cheerful! 😂😂😂

[@charles2767]

Morecambe of old

[@edwardmclaughlin7935]

Bradford by the Sea. Suffered the same fate as Bradford.

[@alastairwest5200]

Before Morecambe became a dive...

[@mastomasto6197]

Bacana demais.

[@tiberiousss]

I think one of the horses seen in this film was owned by a long lost cousin of mine.....yup

[@greenman4946]

The three young men in the upper left corner 0:38 can be seen crossing the street 1:07.

[@fasthracing]

The old Midland hotel and the ship breaking yard.

[@nicholasalexander4743]

The forgotten Midland hotel.

[@fasthracing]

@@nicholasalexander4743 Not forgotten just not there any more.

[@nicholasalexander4743]

@@fasthracing It has been eclipsed by the 'new' Midland Hotel. Hardly anyone knows it ever existed, far less what it looked like. A bit like the 1961 Ford Capri...

[@fasthracing]

@@nicholasalexander4743 You mean the Capri with the wings on the back and for headlights of course?

[@fasthracing]

Four headlights

[@terencebennison6275]

Everyone wore a hat didn't they? Your hat seemed to denote your station in life. I e bowler hat = office worker, flat hat = shopfloor, top hat = toff!

[@enferoui]

@rebecks1974 - It's 1901. The comment about 1903 is entirely spurious. More information at: ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/717201

[@LabRat6619]

Thats just a great movie. I know the town quite well and used take my son their as child. Strange to think you are looking at "dead" people as its now 2009! Wheels keep turning and we are living in primative fashion as people will think 100 years from now!

[@salamparadise9183]

Women were so modest and dignified in their way of clothing. Today is a total mess!

[@OUTBOUND184]

also, check on google eart, little different today...

[@tiberiousss]

Okay soon as you stop sending me private messages, asking about horses, and what makes them able to walk on four legs. . Go search BFI films for more images of your granddad. I'm sure you will claim to have seen more of him.

[@tiberiousss]

Seriously? You recognize your great great granddad? If my great grandad came back from the dead, from either side of the family, and stood in front of me I wouldn't know who he was.

[@rexluminus9867]

No living associating interactive memories with them.They would be just like any other strangers. Yes we would have some conversations with them but not much in common .

[@matildabond..2390]

It is so beautiful to watch,the children running along,probably going into WW1,,So carefree.I hope they had decent lives

[@VOXS2]

are these kids all wearing school uniforms or what? it seems they all seem to wear the same clothes.. unless it is the only one thing fashion was... like different types of clothes would be nice perhaps? but very neat they wear.

[@manchestertart5614]

No such thing as teenage fashion then or children's clothes. Boys wore smaller versions of the clothes men wore.Some of the boys look like school children and are smartly dressed, maybe their school clothes were the best they had and they were Sunday best too. Girls were allowed to wear their hair up in a bun when they were eighteen. They were probably in a "liberty bodice" and then in corsets. Hot, sweaty and smelly, by our standards today but accepted then.

[@Take_Me_Back_To_The_1980s]

I wish you could upload these without the bint talking over them

[@gingerali]

No one showing any flesh , how have we got to where we are today ?

[@zooeyhall]

Those little boys running alongside and waving at the camera. To imagine that just 15 years later they were old enough to be killed on the Somme.

[@alastairwest5200]

+zooeyhall Very good point - quite sad, really...

[@FaerieCrone]

Back when the term 'ladies and gentlemen' rang true.

[@wesleypresley1000]

A lot of those young children skipping along would be dead just 15 years later in the horrors of WW1

[@williammize8270]

Their around a 125-135 yrs old if they are still alive? Not

[@tiberiousss]

Sounds leaky. Carry on.

[@pyewackett5]

I think I would've preferred Morecombe to Blackpool . Less people.

[@Jungleland33]

I don't think I saw one overweight person. Contrast that with the scene you would witness today. God only knows what muck we're eating now.

[@gama3302]

Jungleland33 was thinking the same thing.

[@rexluminus9867]

That's right. Processed food brings deases and body weaknesses and stress. Be ware !!!