Wallsend Local History Week is a celebration of the town’s rich heritage, showcasing its industrial past, Roman roots, and community stories through exhibitions, talks, and local events. This July we're excited to be taking part with free drop in screenings of three Amber Films made in/about Wallsend, showcased at Segedunum Roman Fort & Museum.

The Art of Shipbuilding, Amber Films, 20 minutes, 2017

The Art of Shipbuilding is a photofilm that brings together poetry, painting, photography and moving image to reflect on the industrial and cultural legacy of shipbuilding on the Tyne. Developed in 2017 by Amber Films, the work was created for Side Gallery’s major revisiting of Bruce Rae’s 1983 exhibition Shipbuilding on the Tyne. It draws on Rae’s striking 1980s photographs, alongside Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen’s images and archival film material from Amber’s 1970s documentation of the industry.

Wallsend '72, Amber films, 11 minutes, 1972

Wallsend 72 is a short film produced by Amber Films in 1972, offering a glimpse into the cultural life of Wallsend during that period. The film focuses on two musical groups: Swan Hunter's Brass Band and The Rising Sun Legionnaires juvenile jazz band, capturing their performances during the Wallsend Festival.

Launch, Amber Films, 10 mins, 1974

With a commitment to documenting working life in the North East, the scale and visual drama of shipyards were immediately attractive to Amber. Made for only £400, Launch looks at the epic experience of shipbuilding communities through the launch of the “World Unicorn” oil tanker in Wallsend.