This film is part of Free
Rural Reconditioning
Grand Designs of the 1930s: rural slums turned into country cottages with the help of government money.
Overview
Home makeover, 1930s style: this amateur film looks at a number of rural houses redeveloped from top to bottom to make viable modern homes. These aren't country cottage weekend retreats, but essential agricultural housing. The Housing (Rural Workers) Act of 1926 was part of a wider attempt to deal with slum housing in Britain, which was not just an urban issue but affected workers on the land too.
Matthew Nathan was a prolific 'pro-am', or semi-professional, cineaste for over 50 years, making films into the 1980s. This was the second of two films he made for The Housing Centre Trust (a voluntary organisation that discussed housing issues), the other of which looked at urban housing.
Related
The Open Road The Open Road
Travelogue 2006 65 mins Location: Land's End
Startling colour photography of 1920s Britain imbues Claude Friese-Greene’s 1920s road trip around Britain.
Clyde River Clyde River
Travelogue 1939 17 mins Location: Lanark
A trip from source to sea along the banks of the Clyde in a lesser-spotted Scotland where the sun always shines.
New Perspectives: Tangerine New Perspectives: Tangerine
Short documentary 2025 3 mins
Harry Wallace, a student at Northumbria university, explains why Sean Baker's LA-set comedy-drama, about a transgender sex worker on the hunt for her cheating -ex, is worth your time.
Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode Daniel Craig in Conversation with Mark Kermode
Inside Film 2025 44 mins
Daniel Craig talks to Mark Kermode about his acting career, from his early role in Love is the Devil through to the Luca Guadagnino directed Queer.
New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.
New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
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.