Please read Understanding catalogue records for help interpreting this information and Using footage for more information about accessing this film.

Title: GALES AT SEATOWN, CULLEN

Reference number: 2666

Date: 1953

Director: [filmed by William Davidson]

Sound: silent

Original format: 16mm

Colour: bw

Fiction: non-fiction

Running time: 2.34 mins

Description: The seafront at Cullen, Banffshire, lashed by heavy seas during a January gale. The northerly gales on 31st of January 1953 caused great disruption over northern Scotland, especially in Orkney; however, the greatest damage occurred the following day, when weather combined with high tides caused a sea surge over defences on the east coast of England and Holland. Hundreds of lives were lost in the flooding, and was said to be one of the worst peacetime disasters in the UK.

One of a collection of local topical films made by donor for showing in his 16mm cinema in Aberchirder, near Cullen. Refs. 2651-2666.

See also refs. 2652, 2657, 2658, 2659, 2660, 2661, 2662, 2663, 2664, 2665.

Biographical information in Additional Information file at 11/1/1.

Shotlist: No credits [31/1/1953] gvs heavy seas and waves crashing over seafront and lashing houses along esplanade (0.56) shots harbour under heavy seas. l/s down to seafront during storm (train passes on high ground behind town) (1.30) the morning after (?) woman on beach. Family walking on sand (wintertime) (2.34)