• Short Summary

    A new bridge is constructed.

  • Description

    A bridge is constructed - South Benfleet, Essex.

    Opens with scene of various vehicles fording a flooded area or shallow river; while on left a bridge is being constructed. MS as horse-drawn cart and small bus cross; meanwhile in foreground a man is spreading the earth around; so as not to have deep ruts where they drive out of water? Cut to an old truck that died while still standing in water - the driver is at the front cranking away for quite a while.

    Several trucks drive across - 1 with a large pipe held by men riding at the back. Small truck now started; drives out. Pedestrians carefully walk across stepping on narrow strip sticking up. Pan left over frame of new bridge under construction. MS Rolls Royce crossing. Man crossing carrying bicycle; another wheels his across.

    Ceremony for dedication of new bridge: crowd on bridge - Girl Guides lined up; priests stand at right. Priests shake hands with VIP who has arrived. VIP meets other men. CU worker with machinery - VIP flips switch. Clergyman says prayer; then they; followed by VIP with wife etc. walk down ramp. 2 little girls give bouquets to ladies. MS crowd around a tower / scaffolding / pan up - various shots as block on top keeps dropping onto pole (like pistons) hammering it down. CU pole sinking deeper in ground. MS vehicles fording river.

    Title - 'When Imperious Spain - at her mightiest - in 1588, sought to impose her will, it was Drake and the Wooden Walls of England that kept her proud boast - "This England never did, nor never shall, Lie at the (timecode obscures rest)'.

    Title - 'Nelson - greatest of all Sailors - at Trafalgar handed down to us for all time our glorious heritage - The Rule of the Sea. In our day - we remember, with pride that the British Navy kept her command of the Sea, the essential to victory - in the Great World War'. MS drawing of battleship.

    Cataloguer's note: the titles at the end do not seem to be related to the item.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    2342.03
    Media URN:
    75185
    Group:
    Old negatives
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    1920 - 1930
    Sound:
    sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:06:17:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:02:51:00 / 01:09:08:00
    Canister:
    ON 218 D

Comments (2)

  1. MickEssex says

    This was filmed from the bank at South Benfleet, Essex. This was the first bridge constructed to link Canvey Island with the mainland at South Benfleet. The bridge has been replaced twice since this bridge was built. As you can see from the film clip, the only way to cross Benfleet Creek with a vehicle or horse and cart was at low tide, pedestrians would use the stepping stones. There was a ferry available at higher tides for foot passengers only.

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  2. British Pathé says

    Thanks very much for identifying!

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