British Pathe

Douglas, Isle of Man.

L/S of houses and hotels on the cliff top across the bay of Douglas. Panning shot to show the promenade, a horse drawn tram is riding towards the camera. The open topped tram is filled with tourists and is decorated with flags. Point of view shot from the driver's seat...

Douglas, Isle of Man.

L/S of houses and hotels on the cliff top across the bay of Douglas. Panning shot to show the promenade, a horse drawn tram is riding towards the camera. The open topped tram is filled with tourists and is decorated with flags. Point of view shot from the driver's seat of the horse and the promenade, another horse drawn tram is riding past in the opposite direction. High angle C/U of the horse's feet trotting along. Panning shot from the moving tram of the sea front, beach and a war memorial. M/S from inside the tram of the passengers and the driver - the trams "traverse the one and a half mile route in fourteen minutes". C/U of the uniformed driver at the reigns. C/U of an old man and a little girl looking at the passing sights from the tram. M/S of a cart horse pulling a covered tram, tilt down to show the runway between the tram lines which is made of a "special preparation, slightly resilient to horses' hooves". M/S of the back of a moving tram, panning shot back to the cliffs and the bay.

M/S of Philip Gerrard leading Betty, a piebald horse, along a row of country cottages. Panning shot follows Betty and Mr. Gerrard, the camera pauses on a sign that reads 'Isle of Man, Home of Rest for Old Horses'. C/U of the sign. M/S, looking through the doors of a barn, of rolling green countryside. Mr. G., proprietor of the home, leads Betty out of the barn and starts to unfasten her bridle. M/S of Betty galloping around a field - she is 25 years old but "still as high spirited as a foul". M/S of various retired horses, some ex-tram workers, galloping freely past the camera. M/S of Mr. G. watching Betty and the other horses scampering off into the meadow, with a beautiful view of the hills in the background. M/S of Betty and another horse grazing in the meadow. M/S of the most elderly horse, Bess, an ex-milk cart horse aged 40. Mr. G. enters carrying a bridle. M/S of Mr. G. fixing the bridle to Bess. Another man comes into frame and holds Bess steady as Mr. G. walks around to check Bess' back feet. C/U of Mr. G. spraying Bess' hoof. Panning shot of a black horse and Betty, who is being fed by Mr. G. M/S of Betty eating from Mr. G.'s hand. M/S of a tram running along the promenade at Douglas taken from the back of another.