West Bridgford Urban District 1895-1974

Summary

Documentary marking the end of West Bridgford Urban District Council in Nottinghamshire as it is replaced by Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Year:

1974

Duration:

0:30:00

Film type:

Colour / Sound

Genre:

Promotional

Company:

West Bridgford Amateur Cine Society

Master format:

8mm

Description

Exterior view of Bridgford Hall. Inside the building the Chairman of West Bridgford Urban District Council, Councillor Swanwick chats to his clerk Mr Hughes about the imminent demise of the council. We then see views of various amenities controlled by the council: Bridgford Park in the grounds of the hall, Mr Bowers, the parks superintendent talks to camera in the council's plant nursery and we see views of a children's play area and bowling green. We then look at sports facilities and see an amateur cricket match in West Park which cuts to a county championship game at Trent Bridge followed by an exterior shot of the City Ground and Nottingham Forest players onto the pitch and a match. The section ends with amateur football on a pitch on Wilford Lane and a hockey match back in West Park.

We then see a community services event in Bridgford Park with comedian Ken Goodwin meeting local children. This is followed by a council dustbin lorry in use and visiting the local tip. We then see the last surviving West Bridgford liveried bus operating on Central Avenue (the council run service was phased out in 1968). Local clubs are covered with shots of the cine club meeting in the library, amateur dramatics rehearsal and a lecture from the former council clerk Mr Mansfield about the town's history. We then see local views cut with archive stills including the preserved old Trent bridge, Parochial Hall, Central Avenue, Davies Road, site of the Tudor Cinema, and a school. We then see views of County Hall, the Bridgford Hotel, exterior views of the library and streets before we visit the rose nurseries run by Harry Wheatcroft at Edwalton. Council provision of housing is covered with views of Rugby Road, Walcott Drive and flats for the elderly at St Luke's Close which are visited by the housing officer. We then see new saplings being planted on Central Avenue to mark the end of the council and the final sequence shows the last council meeting held in the pavilion at Trent Bridge cricket ground.


Credits

Produced for West Bridgford Urban District Council by West Bridgford Amateur Cine Society
Directed by A.J.A. Jennings and C.B. Pilkington [Bert Pilkington]