Unless correctly stored and handled, motion picture film is very easily damaged. So after restoration work and copying, Lincolnshire Film Archive stores the original films in a special vault where temperature and humidity are carefully controlled to ensure long-term future preservation.

An up-to-date Catalogue of all titles held by the Archive is available. To view the listings online goto the Lincolnshire Film Archive website at: www.lincsfilm.co.uk

The Lincolnshire Film Archive is one of a network of regional film archives serving the UK, so the Lincolnshire Film Archive can easily put you in touch with another archives if required.

The Lincolnshire Film Archive locates, rescues and preserves old moving picture film showing life and work in the county. So far as possible, we also make the material accessible to the community through film shows and videos, and by supplying material for use in television.

What's in the Archive?

With around 500 titles, dating from as early as 1901, the collection illustrates almost every aspect of living and working in 20th Century Lincolnshire - from agriculture and the fishing industry, to seaside holidays and family life in the major towns and villages.

Subjects range from royal visits and ceremonial occasions, down to such everyday matters as bathing the baby, shopping, or queueing outside the cinema. As well as acclaimed footage of civilian life in wartime, and holiday antics across the decades at Skegness, you'll also find such unexpected gems as a water diviner at work in the 1920s and a group of enthusiasts building and flying their own hovercraft in the 1960s.

The collection is constantly growing. We are always on the look out for movie film showing any aspect of Lincolnshire life. If you know of any film that you think might interest us, do please get in touch.

It doesn't matter what size or type of film it is - black and white or colour, sound or silent, professional or amateur; it can be the full-size cinema film (35mm), one of the older Home Movie sizes (16mm, 9.5mm, 8mm) or the more recent Super 8. Check here for sizes.

Most films are donated to the Archive, or deposited on permanent loan. But even if you wouldn't wantto part with your film, we'd still like to see it and perhaps, with your permission, to make a copy.

Act now. Film is at risk. Please help us to save it while there is still time.

How is film at risk?

All film deteriorates with age. It shrinks, sometimes becoming too warped or brittle to project. The delicate perforations may be damaged; joins may break or distort; and the image itself can decay through chemical changes or mould growth. Certain types of film may even rot away completely.

But if film reaches us in time, we can clean and repair it, and copy it using specialised equipment. The precious originals can then be stored in our vault at the correct temperature and humidity to ensure long term preservation.

Old movie film brings the past back to life with a vividness and poignancy that ordinary photographs can seldom match. But film is seriously at risk. If neglected, mis-handled, incorrectly stored, or worse still simply thrown away, it may be lost forever.

How do I find out more about the Archive?

Any title in the Archive may be viewed, by appointment only, by anyone with a bona fide interest in the subject matter. Or why not join the Friends of the Lincolnshire Film Archive? Membership benefits include free film shows, a Newsletter and special discounts. We also put on film shows for local organisations such as W.I. groups, Family History Societies, etc. Please ring, write or email for more details.

We also produce a range of compilation videos featuring topics like farming, the county at war and many other aspects of Lincolnshire life. A brochure giving details of all the videos is available on request.

General Enquiries, and details of individual items:
Peter Ryde, Archivist
61 Cathedral Drive
Spalding. PE11 1PG
Tel: 01775 725631

Professional facilities, Charges, Licensing, etc:
Primetime Video Productions
PO Box 140, Boston. PE22 0ZP
Tel: 01205 750055