Country Town (1943)

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The British Council Film Collection is an archive of more than 120 short documentary films made by the British Council during the 1940s designed to show the world how Britain lived, worked and played. Preserved by the BFI National Film Archive and digitised by means of a generous donation by Google, the films are now yours to view, to download and to play with for the first time.

Set in Boston, Lincolnshire, this short film aims to introduce the viewer to a typical, thriving, market town. Narrated by the friendly local newspaper editor, County Town focuses on the themes of community and industry, gently and genially exploring the changes brought about by World War 2.

This film is set in the town of Boston, Lincolnshire (identifiable by the often-shown tower of St Botolph's church, known locally as 'The Stump'), though no names are given in the film. Whilst the effects of the war are often mentioned, it is often as an aside, or presented as a positive change for the area. This film strongly promotes country living, presenting the town's inhabitants as hard-working, but happy. It also portrays the town as making a real contribution to the war effort, along with those who have moved out from the cities to live there.

It is speculated that the newspaper editor, credited as Philip Robinson, may actually be the editor of the Lincolnshire Standard, as the paper was/is owned by the Robinson family.

The man walking towards St Botolph's at the beginning of the film has been identified by the local parish committee as Mr Holton. He was the Clark of Works during the 1920's / 1930's restoration of the church, and then stayed on as the verger thereafter. He is depicted in vergers robes and can also be seen in one of the church's stained glass windows as a figure clad in green, holding books.

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