The Constable Country

From the collection of

East Anglian Film Archive at the University of East Anglia
The East Anglian Film Archive, the UK's first regional film archive, offers a unique record of the East of England's social and cultural history. As part of the University of East Anglia, we continue to lead moving image heritage research and inspire audience participation through community projects and events. Our collections represent a broad range of amateur and professional creativity, from 1896 to the present day.

The Constable Country


Glimpses on Super 8 film of the picturesque landmarks and pretty countryside that inspired Romantic artist John Constable's paintings.

The countryside of the Essex-Suffolk border inspired Romantic landscape artist John Constable, who portrayed many of this area's rural landmarks on canvas, so much so, that it has become known as “Constable Country”. Amateur filmmaker Bert Gregory, a member of Clacton Cine Club, along with John Douglas and Arthur Webber made this short film, narrated by Bert Gregory, and featuring many of the villages and their landmarks that hold a connection to John Constable.

St Mary the Virgin's Church in East Bergholt, birthplace of Constable and Flatford Mill, owned by Constable's father, and the subject of Constable's most famous painting, The Haywain, is featured. So too, is the picturesque Willy Lott's Cottage, now a National Trust Property, Dedham's 15th century St Mary's Church, Stratford St Mary's Church, Langham Church, and Nayland Church, all being the subject of Constable paintings. Also captured on Super 8 film is Dedham Grammar School, in which Constable attended, and Dedham Mill, again, owned and run by Constable's father.


Tags