Amateur film footage by a senior ICI manager, Mr Bridger, that records ICI ammonia factories at Low Prudhoe, Northumberland, set up to produce agricultural fertiliser and explosives for the war effort, the Tyne at Ovingham and Thomas Berwick’s grave, the pond at Norton, and footage of social events and sports days in the 1950s at a variety of ICI clubs, in Prudhoe, Billingham in 1956, and Clitheroe, Lancashire. [Black & white film] General views of the industrial landscape around the...

Amateur film footage by a senior ICI manager, Mr Bridger, that records ICI ammonia factories at Low Prudhoe, Northumberland, set up to produce agricultural fertiliser and explosives for the war effort, the Tyne at Ovingham and Thomas Berwick’s grave, the pond at Norton, and footage of social events and sports days in the 1950s at a variety of ICI clubs, in Prudhoe, Billingham in 1956, and Clitheroe, Lancashire. [Black & white film] General views of the industrial landscape around the ICI factory at Low Prudhoe below the castle with mountainous chalk tip, first seen from the River Tyne, then moving onto the tip itself where a group of ICI officials are supervising the tipping. Rail trucks wait at sidings beside the tip at the Spetchells. The group walk along a road at the ICI factory site, looking towards the ICI plant cooling tower, Prudhoe Castle in the distance. General view of the River Tyne near Ovingham. Close-up of the gravestone of Thomas Bewick, a famous engraver, at Ovingham Churchyard. A couple (friends of the filmmaker, the Watsons) stroll around the pond at Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees. Children are fishing with nets in the pond. A sports gala takes place in 1954 at ICI Prudhoe, cooling tower in the background, with footage of a brass band performing, fun greasy pole fights between lads, a skipping contest, flower competition in a marquee, children's fancy dress competition including nurse and tramp outfits, dog show, girls and boys sack races, police dog stunts, boys and girls obstacle races boys sprint, girl and boys egg and spoon races, and girls competing in the three-legged race. A close-up follows of the memorial stone to men who lost their lives in WWII from ICI’s Dowlais ammonia factory, Glamorgan, Wales. A nurse walks out of a building to meet two ICI managers. General view of Dowlais. General views of a leaning gas holder at an industrial site. Firefighters’ competitions take place at ICI Billingham Synthonia Club in 1956, a public bathhouse glimpsed in the background. A fireman’s ankle is bandaged after being injured. A group of young male band members from the Moss End Pipe Band, in full regalia including kilts, lounge on the grass then perform at the event. [Colour film] General views of the construction of a silo in Heysham, Lancashire, and a colourful, closed fairground with exterior mural ‘Swift and Lovely’. Firefighters’ competitions take place at ICI in Clitheroe, part of the Agricultural Division, in June 1957. Some of the firefighters in uniform queue at a Swales ice cream van. The firefighters continue aiming water from their hoses at a target, and a child gets soaked. A child is trotted by on a horse past the sign for ICI (Clitheroe) Sports and Social Club. More children enjoy horse rides at the summer gala event. Boys and girls take part in a sprint race. Other children take a carousel ride, eat ice creams and play with balloons. A children's sack and skipping race takes place. Toddlers have fun with a pile of colourful balloons. A boy hops off a horse after a ride. A mother teases her son after he wins a couple of coconuts. A group of women enjoy tea and cake in their summer frocks. Lunch is enjoyed on the grass. A men’s tug o’ war contest is in progress, a child having a horse ride waving at the camera in the background.  Children then have a go at tug of war. A group of firemen chat beside their fire hose equipment. Women stand casually at a table selling raffle tickets. A young men and women’s gymnastics display entertains the crowd outside a marquee, including leaps through a burning ring. A group of men in white boilersuits again demonstrate their fire hose expertise to the crowd.