This film is part of Free
Local Government: A History in Pictures
An illustrated history of the thousand years of local government in Norwich
Overview
This enjoyable film uses stylised illustrations – skilfully echoing tapestry, wood carving, and painting – to provide an overview of the development of local government, using the case study of Norwich. From its origins in Saxon times, via the burgesses, aldermen and the first mayors of the city, to the guildhall and city hall of recent years, this film explains the gradual accrual of municipal responsibilities.
As an overview of the development of local government, this film offers imaginative depictions of municipal democracy, and the stylistic changes of the illustrations – from Medieval tapestry to cubist art – underscore the adapting form of local government. Created on behalf of the Ministry of Health, which had responsibility for local government from the end of the First World War until soon after the end of the Second, responsibilities were later passed to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in 1951 and after several departmental changes now lie with the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Related
Strangers Strangers
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1973 1 mins
Who needs to talk to strangers when you're the only one who can understand the garbled mewling of your best buddy cat, Charley?
Giro - Fast and Loose Giro - Fast and Loose
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1935 9 mins Silent
Don’t listen to Slacky the Sloucher or Giro the Germ will stage a jailbreak – public health cartoon by the Health & Cleanliness Council
Pan-tele-tron Pan-tele-tron
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1957 10 mins
Ye Gods! It’s the future of telecommunications – as seen through a cartoon modern lens from the 1950s
John the Bull John the Bull
Advert 1930 5 mins
Bloody foreign cows coming over here and becoming our dinners
The Dream of Arthur Sleap The Dream of Arthur Sleap
Advert 1972 1 mins
Dangerously addicted to boring old movies? This is a case for Dr BFI, as demonstrated in this 1970s animated promo
"T" For Teacher "T" For Teacher
Animation & Artists Moving Image 1947 5 mins Silent
Do you know the golden rules of tea making? The Tea Bureau set out to put your cuppa straight in this progressively designed post-war cartoon
"Out West" Norwich Union Cinema Advertisement "Out West" Norwich Union Cinema Advertisement
Advert 1971 1 mins Location: Norwich
It's all hip and happening working in insurance, as this 1971 recruitment advertisement for Norwich Union, made for cinema screening, shows.
The Cromer Train The Cromer Train
Amateur film 1984 11 mins Location: Norwich
The railway line from Norwich to Cromer; a vital link in local life, but will the trains continue?
Norwich Market Norwich Market
Amateur film 1974 4 mins Location: Norwich
Whether you’re after handbags, children’s toys, flat caps, ladies’ coats or your everyday fruit and veg, it’s all here at Norwich market.
Heigham Conservative Ladies Bowls Club in…SPOON'S Heigham Conservative Ladies Bowls Club in…SPOON'S
Amateur film 1936 2 mins Silent Location: Norwich
Women meet on a Norwich bowling green to play a friendly bowls match.
River - A Living Thing River - A Living Thing
Documentary 1983 26 mins Location: Syderstone
Dick Joice introduces this documentary charting the course and the history of the river starting at Horningtoft and finishing in Norwich.
Read's Flour Mill Read's Flour Mill
Documentary 1993 4 mins Location: Norwich
Between the River Wensum and King Street stood Albion Mill, an 1837 yarn mill, repurposed in 1932 as a flour mill by Robert John Read.
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.
Every Moment Counts Every Moment Counts
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 9 mins
A short animation that offers a window into the world of children’s palliative care.