A tour around Durham City during a 1950s autumn and winter made by amateur film-maker Edward Roberts. View of a die-cut metal sign marking the civic boundary of the City of Durham, depicting Durham Cathedral on the top of a hill, and lettered with the text, “City of Durham”. Title: Photographed by E. Roberts. View of Durham Cathedral from the south side. View of the weir across River Wear, panning upwards to a view of the Cathedral from the east side. Close-up shot of the Cathedral’s...

A tour around Durham City during a 1950s autumn and winter made by amateur film-maker Edward Roberts. View of a die-cut metal sign marking the civic boundary of the City of Durham, depicting Durham Cathedral on the top of a hill, and lettered with the text, “City of Durham”. Title: Photographed by E. Roberts. View of Durham Cathedral from the south side. View of the weir across River Wear, panning upwards to a view of the Cathedral from the east side. Close-up shot of the Cathedral’s architecture. Landscape view of Durham Castle. Below, on the river, a rowing four and coxswain row past. View of Prebends Bridge. Another view of the river shows a single skull rowing boat passing by, immediately followed by a crew of four. Further view of the Cathedral. View of the roadway crossing one of Durham’s bridges, then a close-up of a poem-inscribed monument stone: “Grey towers of Durham / Yet well I love thy mixed and massive piles / Half church of God half castle against the Scot / And long to roam these venerable aisles / With records stored of deeds long since forgot”. View of the Cathedral from the valley below. A short series of shots records views of riverside gardens and parkland. View of road traffic crossing a bridge, the Cathedral towers visible in the background. View of a city centre street, the Castle dominating the background of the shot. Visible also, is an Essoldo theatre. Two red United buses pass. View of a narrow cobbled street, its pavements busy with shoppers. View of the Lord Londonderry statue. View of a traffic policeman’s gazebo, next to a Doggarts department store. A series of shots shows the traffic police officer inside the stone and iron gazebo directing traffic. View over Elvet Bridge. View along Old Elvet St. Further views of the cathedral, and a church. Close-up view of a piece of religious architecture – a statue of a saint (?). View of a bridge, riverside gardens, and a riverside footpath. Over-head view of a cricket ground and its cricket square. Beside the river, families and children sit on the grass. Boaters row on the water. Panoramic views of the Durham cityscape, and long-lens views of the cathedral and castle. Views of streets around the city. The next series of shots records views of snow-covered Durham locations: a bridge, a house beside the weir, and rowers getting out of their racing boats at the riverbank beside the weir. Over-head, panoramic views looking down on the city of Durham: castle, university, and the surrounding landscape. Views of traffic being directed at the traffic policeman’s gazebo station. Views of parkland and close-ups of flowers: roses. View of a bridge. The film closes with a view of the same die-cut metal City of Durham sign which opened the film.