British Pathe

Plymouth Carnival, Devon.

Shots of people in 17th, 18th and 19th century costume at a stadium or sports ground. A man who seems to be dressed as Admiral Nelson is introduced to a young girl by another man in historical naval uniform. Cut to footage of large group of officials coming out of...

Plymouth Carnival, Devon.

Shots of people in 17th, 18th and 19th century costume at a stadium or sports ground. A man who seems to be dressed as Admiral Nelson is introduced to a young girl by another man in historical naval uniform. Cut to footage of large group of officials coming out of a building (town hall or cathedral?) and walking along, putting up umbrellas in the rain. Mayor greets a lady who smiles at the camera. Several shots of people in 17th century costume at port - could be marking sailing of Mayflower? More costumed people arrive in a large rowing boat and disembark. Young boys in old-fashioned sailor and soldier uniforms walk along cobbled street near sea front. Little girls and teenagers in white dresses bring up the rear. People riding on stagecoach. Costumed men outside town hall (?). Dramatisation of scene from 'Oliver Twist' with people in Victorian costume - Fagin clearly seen. Young ruffian picks pocket of well-to-do man; Bill Sykes threatens Nancy while Oliver protests. Mayor and other costumed people outside town hall, including man dressed as Admiral Nelson. Pan across large group of children in costume (sailors, soldiers and girls in white dresses).

Cut back to the stadium scene. M/S of group of girls in costume - Scottish, Bodicea, Welsh and others. Marching band in old-fashioned sailor uniforms move across grass, followed by girls in short dresses, skipping along and playing beribboned tambourines. Lord Nelson and others in costume follow. More of the dancing girls with tambourines (quite a limited dance routine, this).

Then several shots of people walking along in parade (through stadium?), wearing all kinds of huge, papier-mache heads and elaborate head-dresses. Some of the heads look rather sinister, with long pointed noses. Also clock faces and large cow heads. The cows or bulls lock horns and pretend to fight. On a platform in the stadium four girls in short dresses do balancing display and dancing / exercises in formation (looks quite funny as we cut from one pose to the next). Then very dark footage showing fires at night - not sure if they are on the water or on land. Seems to be a burning rooftop in one shot. Illuminated (burning) figures and insignia. Catherine wheel spinning round. Back to daytime: sailors turning wheel on platform. Mayor making speech (but heads are out of frame). More girls in tunics and plaits doing dance routine (looks like a hornpipe - quite funny). People in costume on balcony and making speeches. Float shaped like an old clipper goes past. People in small and large papier mache heads. Mayor shaking hands with Nelson. Parade of open carriages carrying officials past crowds. Others in costume on foot.