Windrose Rural Media Trust has been discovering and saving old cine films of rural life in Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire for 33 years.  These films are a true window on the past; the nearest thing to living history that exists.  A special show has been prepared for the festival of life on Mendip from the 1910s to the 1960s.

The show offers festival goers a unique chance through archive films and songs to experience the heritage of the Mendip plateau including Priddy.  Witness important and fun events in local history, traditional farming, landscapes, celebrations, oral history, daily rural life in the past and the people themselves – our ancestors.  Mendip history in moving image.

Some films have sound and some are silent.  The silent footage is accompanied with Somerset folk songs and music, in particular from Cecil Sharp’s Somerset folk song collection.  There will be an introduction with each film.

Presenters and musicians:

Trevor Bailey

Amanda Boyd

James Harrison

Dave Nash