This film is part of Free
Workmen Leaving Platt's Works, Oldham (1900)
A visually memorable film of staff exiting a turn-of-the-century Lancashire machine factory.
Overview
Teeming workers on a sloping street are shot from a low angle, with strong perspective and a foggy vanishing point, making this a visually striking and rather haunting film. Towards the end, one man lingers in front of the camera. With his direct gaze, inscrutable expression and ethereal presence (he's too close to the camera to stay in focus) he seems to us like a ghost staring at the living.
You have to feel for the boys who also loiter in front of the camera, much more joyously no doubt but, unfortunately, largely below the frameline! The horse, and later a tram, travelling away from the camera add to the film's visual power, while the drinks vendor offering to refresh the exiting workers is an interesting social detail. Over and above their cinematic qualities, Mitchell and Kenyon's 'factory gate' films make fascinating entry points into the late Victorian and early Edwardian economy. As this crowded film suggests, Platts was a large employer. It produced machinery for Lancashire's cotton mills and for Yorkshire's wool trade. Both industries are themselves heavily represented, with many more women workers than here, in the M&K collection.
Related
Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901) Workforce of Parkgate Iron and Steel Co., Rotherham (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 3 mins Silent Location: Rotherham
Edwardian workers react to the camera at one of Rotherham's major employers.
North Sea Fisheries, North Shields (1901) North Sea Fisheries, North Shields (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: North Shields
Girls gut herring on the quay at North Shields while a Showman tries to stir up trouble.
Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901) Miners Leaving Pendlebury Colliery (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Pendlebury
A black miner makes an intriguing addition to an already captivating film of coal workers up from their pit.
Workforce Leaving Alfred Butterworth and Sons, Glebe Mills, Hollinwood (1901) Workforce Leaving Alfred Butterworth and Sons, Glebe Mills, Hollinwood (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 1 mins Silent Location: Hollinwood
A flood of Lancashire cotton workers and their children at the end of another shift.
Turn Out of the Newcastle Fire Brigade (1901) Turn Out of the Newcastle Fire Brigade (1901)
Non-Fiction 1901 2 mins Silent Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Glistening brass and galloping horses thrill the crowds at a municipal Fire Brigade drill.
Co-operative Wholesale Clothing Factory in Manchester (c.1900) Co-operative Wholesale Clothing Factory in Manchester (c.1900)
Non-Fiction 1900 2 mins Silent Location: Manchester
Victorian Manchester mill workers enjoy the novelty of a moving picture camera.
A Centre is Made A Centre is Made
Amateur film 1956 33 mins Location: Oldham
Disabled people working in the community in Oldham.
Power behind the Spindle Power behind the Spindle
Documentary 1969 22 mins Location: Oldham
A last look at the mighty steam engines that once powered Lancashire's mills.
Lancashire's Time for Adventure Lancashire's Time for Adventure
1948 21 mins Silent Location: Oldham
"Britain's bread hangs by Lancashire's thread" – cotton, Britain's great post-war hope.
Platt's Lap Converter Platt's Lap Converter
Promotional 1951 13 mins Location: Oldham
Forget the carding machine - you need a lap convertor. Puzzled? Find out more here.
The George Saxon Engine, Magnet Mill The George Saxon Engine, Magnet Mill
Documentary 1966 7 mins Location: Chadderton
See how steam powered the textile industry of Lancashire.
Two Lancashire Cotton Workers Discuss Safeguarding Two Lancashire Cotton Workers Discuss Safeguarding
Party political broadcast 1935 8 mins Location: Oldham
Not a politician in sight in this clever Conservative election campaign film.
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.