Heronsdale Manor Harvest

From the collection of

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton collects, preserves, catalogues and provides public access to its collection of films and magic lantern slides. The collection charts the rise of screen culture in the region and the nation and captures many aspects of life, work and creativity in the South East from the late 19th century to the present day. It is available for research, screenings, creative re-use and commercial access.

Heronsdale Manor Harvest

Screen Archive South East at the University of Brighton
Waldron
1942-01-01
Silent
3m

The war seems far away in this pastoral film but suddenly there's a reminder when a flight of Hurricanes pass overhead. Then it's back to the work of feeding the nation.

This delightful colour film from 1942 starts with bucolic scenes of farm labourers stacking sheaves of hay that are created by a reaper-binding machine working in the background. By way of contrast, we next see a squadron of Hurricanes flying overhead. Also seen are what might be young evacuees, helping with the harvest and picnicking in a hay-cart. Other farming tasks are also seen such as ploughing, drilling and sowing.

Dig for Victory

Keeping the nation fed and healthy was the greatest priority of the Home Front. Women replaced absent farm workers, while ordinary Britons were exhorted to 'grow their own'.

'Dig for Victory' was perhaps the most successful official campaign of the Home Front. Britons in their millions picked up their trowels, and acre after acre of parkland, waste ground - even back gardens - was repurposed as makeshift vegetable plots. Just as the factories were constantly increasing their productivity, great efforts were made to increase agricultural yields, while the 'land girls' of the Women's Land Army enthusiastically took the place of farmworkers fighting overseas.