An amateur film recording residents from the village of Skinningrove working to prepare for and hold their annual Bonfire Night celebrations in 1996. The film features adults building a bonfire structure on the beach in the shape of Noah’s Ark as well as prepare fireworks for a large display while child work to produce large puppets which are paraded through the village as well as lanterns which are hung along the seafront. In the final part of the film crowds enjoying the fireworks display...

An amateur film recording residents from the village of Skinningrove working to prepare for and hold their annual Bonfire Night celebrations in 1996. The film features adults building a bonfire structure on the beach in the shape of Noah’s Ark as well as prepare fireworks for a large display while child work to produce large puppets which are paraded through the village as well as lanterns which are hung along the seafront. In the final part of the film crowds enjoying the fireworks display with the film ending on Noah’s Ark being set alight. Along the rocky shoreline of Skinningrove Beck men work to build a bonfire structure in the shape of Noah’s Ark using planks of wood. Parked beside the structure a flatbed-lorry. Inside a wooden building a woman speaks with the cameraman about two large metal frames that features the images of a raven and dove on them. She explains that these frames will be used to hang fireworks from, on the floor nearby said pyrotechnics. In another room a woman works with a group of children who are helping to paint the head of a large puppet. [Blank] In a third room a different group of children work with another woman to produce lanterns that feature images of elephants making them from pink tissue paper. Back in the other room the children continue to paint the head of the large puppet before holding it up to reveal it to be the head of a bearded man but without his eyes painted in yet. Outside in a courtyard another group of children working with a woman to paint a piece of red plastic laid out on the cobles stones. Working around several trestle tables in a hall a group of adults and teenage boys prepare the fireworks for the display wrapping many in tinfoil. A larger number of metal tubes are laid out on the tape and what appears to be fuses added which are then packed in strips of paper. Back on Skinningrove beach several large piles of wood and wooden pallets stacked around the Noah’s Ark structure as well as several small fishing boats. Returning to the room where the fireworks were being stored the woman seen previously completes finishing touches to the raven and dove metal frames that are now leaning against the wall. Standing outside another workshop two people stand inside a large puppet of what appears to be a dove. Inside work continues on other designs with other puppets being painted. Along a path leading away from Marine Terrace two men work to install lantern canes. A woman walks past a mobile kitchen to hang up a notice while in the near distance on the beach work continuing on the Noah’s Ark bonfire. [Blank] Standing at the rear of Noah’s Ark structure two men throw more pieces of wood from a van onto the pyre. The camera pans along the clifftop overlooking Skinningrove with the cameraman explaining how tonight it will be full of people watching the bonfire and fireworks display. At dusk lit lanterns gently blowing in the wind along the path leading off Marine Terrace, in the gloom Noah’s Ark structure on the beach with people completing final preparations. An empty Marine Terrace changes to the firework frame featuring the image of the dove on it now in the ground near the Ark with people digging in the sand nearby. Crowds gather along Marine Terrace as a procession of large puppets are paraded through the village. In a community hall two women stand behind a food counter chatting as they wait on customers to serve. As the procession of puppets continues to make its way through Skinningrove music starts as the fireworks display begins both on and around Noah’s Ark watched by crowds along Marine Terrace. With the fireworks over the film ends with Noah’s Ark being set alight.