Growth Port

A film that celebrates the history of Felixstowe port from its founding in 1875, and the continuing expansions in 1972, when the film was made.

There has been a dock for ships at Felixstowe harbour since 1886, but it was not until 1956 that it became a port handling larger ships. ‘Growth Port’, made in 1972 by The Felixstowe Dock & Railway Company, tells of the continuing expansion of Felixstowe docks. The film also shows 1930s archive footage of the former flying boat base and the Schneider Trophy seaplanes, forerunner of the Spitfire. In September 1988, the one millionth container passed through Felixstowe port.

A second film, ‘The Living Port’, was made in 1975, that continues the story of the expansion of Felixstowe docks.