Great bunch of archival films including morris dancing, step dancing, maritime - lifeboats, fishing, crabbing, etc.), folk singing - Cambs. Folk Festival, oh - and railways.

Try a search for 'folk' here

http://www.eafa.org.uk/search.aspx

Highlights:

Here's A Health To The Barley Mow - Blaxhall, Suffolk - 1955

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/5

Folk singing and step dancing traditions in a Suffolk Public House.

The film opens with shots of Ipswich docks and the approach to the pub. The rest of the film takes place inside the Ship Inn, Blaxhall giving a good illustration of the interior of a rural public house in the mid 1950s. There are some women present, although they don't feature in the solo singing. There are pewter tankards hanging above the bar; a man is smoking a small clay pipe and as well as singing and step dancing; some men are playing darts. The singing and dancing is the main feature of the film. During these there are frequent cut-away shots to the general pub scene. The chairman for the evening is Wicketts Richardson, who also sings `Fagan the Cobbler', whilst miming the actions. Other songs featured are; `The Barley Mow' (Arthur Smith), `The Nutting Girl' (Cyril Poacher) and `Brave General Wolfe' (Bob Scarce). The melodeon players who feature are Fred Pearce and Bob Roberts. The film shows scenes of step dancing, which includes two women taking part. One of these women, in a suit and court shoes, is Lilly Durrant. She is dancing with Eli Durrant. Any relationship is not known. The film finishes with all singing `God Save The Queen'.
Background Information:

In 1977, Keith Summers visited the Ship at Blaxhall and met up with some of the performers who featured in this film. These interviews formed the basis of his article Down At Old Blaxhall Ship in the special edition of Traditional Music, Sing, Say or Pay. (Late 1977, Early 1978)

When Peter Kennedy made his famous recordings in the Blaxhall Ship in 1953 he uncovered, albeit only superficially, a living tradition of music making, the roots of which stretch way back to living memory. The singers and musicians he encountered were not reviving half-forgotten songs from their youth for the man with the microphone, but taking part in the recording of their normal Saturday night entertainment at the pub.

From cataloguing record; speaker not identified:
`I first used The Ship when I was thirteen with my father William. We always used to have singing first off on a Saturday. Then I'd say 'We shall now just take a break and in the second half Mr. Pearce will entertain you with Irish jigs and reels and I hope you will all be entertained.'

`I was 38 years at The Ship. I took it when I was 27 from my father John. I've always remembered there being singing in that old pub. When I was just a boy I could hear those old Ling brothers sitting there singing one against the other. Just after I took it they got Wicketts (Alf) Richardson to keep order and he'd say Sing, say or pay for a gallon of beer - and you could go all round that pub and everyone would have a go - not many paid'.

Featured People:
Wicketts Richardson, folk singer; Arthur Smith, folk singer; Cyril Poacher, folk singer; Bob Scarce, folk singer; Fred Pears, melodeon player; Bob Roberts, melodeon player; Eli Durrant, step dancer; Lilly Durrant, step dancer; Mr. Arthur Hewitt, landlord; Mrs. Arthur Hewitt, landlady

Featured Buildings:
The Ship Inn, Blaxhall

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For step dancing East Anglia style see the Cromer Lifeboat Crew entertaining themselves (for the camera) in the boathouse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM9rE4K092k

This would have been more like the stepping that old time sailors on windjammers might have done. The ubiquitous 'Sailor's Hornpipe' being a purely music hall act to portray the life and work of sailors as somewhat idealistic to avoid offending Victorian sensibilities with the reality.

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The Greatest Folk Festival in the World - 1975 Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/136576

Anglia Television celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Cambridge Folk Festival.

The Cambridge Folk Festival is celebrated in this documentary profile by Anglia Television, with the festival's tenth anniversary in July 1974 attracting large crowds, many of whom camp on site. Festivalgoers revel in the unique atmosphere; drinking, chatting, dancing and listening to the best folk artists from Britain, Europe and the United States. Live performances are interspersed with quotes from organiser Ken Woollard, who talks about the festival's success, and interviews with festivalgoers about what makes them return to Cambridge every summer.

American singer-songwriter Arlo Guthrie performs 'Deportees' to a large crowd, whilst others meet, share food and play music in the tent field. Performances from British folk artists Rosemary Hardman, and Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra is followed by a trio of songs by Loudon Wainwright III; 'Liza', 'Muse Blues' and 'Unrequited to the Nth Degree'. The following morning, early risers wander through the litter-strewn fields, as sleeping campers wake, rubbish is collected and the crowds begin to form for another day of live music. George Deacon and Marion Ross perform a traditional English ballad, whilst Scottish quartet Boys of the Lough continue their celtic revival. Crowds drink and enjoy the festival atmosphere as Breton musician Alan Stivell performs a traditional song with his harp, before his full band closes the festival with a raucous set combining traditional celtic music with modern rock instrumentation.

Notes:
Performances include Arlo Guthrie ('Deportees'), Rosemary Hardman ('Spare Rib Rag'), Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra ('Hello Central, Give Me Dr. Jazz'), Loudon Wainwright III ('Liza', 'Muse Blues', 'Unrequited to the Nth Degree'), George Deacon and Marion Ross ('Gold Purchase'), Boys of the Lough, Alan Stivell.

Featured People:
Alan Stivell; Arlo Guthrie; George Deacon; Ken Woollard; Loudon Wainwright III; Marion Ross; Rosemary (Rosie) Hardman

Featured Events:
Cambridge Folk Festival, 1974

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John Betjeman Goes By Train - King's Lynn, Norfolk - 1961

John Betjeman journeys from Kings Lynn, to Sandringham, Wolferton Station, Snettishman, Heacham, and finishes his journey at Hunstanton. Talking about each of these places along the way.
Genre:

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/76

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Morris Men At Berkhamsted - 1951

A group of Morris Men perform traditional dances in Berkhamsted.

http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/1691

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etc.