Film features

Eight years after his death in 1999, North Devon photographer James Ravilious is being hailed as one of the greats of British photography.

Ravilious took around 80,000 black and white photos of a small area of North Devon - mainly around Dolton, Beaford and Chulmleigh.

The photos were taken over a 17-year period between the early 1970s and the late 1980s. They comprise The Beaford Archive and when he died, the work was handed to Beaford Arts.

James Ravilious at work

A documentary film has been made about his work, entitled James Ravilious - A World in Photographs, and two exhibitions are planned in London in 2008.

Ravilious photographed rural life, knowing that this way of life would soon be gone forever.

His wife, Robin, took us on a tour of 'Ravilious Country,' taking in landscapes and buildings Ravilious photographed 30 or so years earlier.

The four short films show how things have changed, and Robin recalls some of the wonderful characters Ravilious caught on camera.

Beaford Arts has given permission to use some of the Ravilious archive images in the films. Here is a list of the photos in the films.

Westacott Farm film:

Wheat reed ricks at Westacott, Riddlecombe, 1985
Wheat reed ricks in snow, Westacott, Riddlecombe, 1985
Wilfred Pengelly setting up stooks, Woolleigh Barton, Beaford, 1974
Reed-combers' tea-break, Westacott, Riddlecombe, 1974
Bill Hammond thatching a rick, Westacott, Riddlecombe, 1986
Reed-combing at Westacott, Riddlecombe, 1974

Addisford film:

John Bennett, traveller, Addisford, Dolton, 1980
George Ayre and Jo Curzon spraying a shorn lamb, Addisford, Dolton, 1985
Archie Parkhouse and Ivor Brock moving a sick ram, Millhams, Dolton, 1976
Ivor Brock and Archie Parkhouse lambing, Addisford, Dolton, 1978
Archie Parkhouse in a wood, Addisford, Dolton, 1974

Archie Parkhouse film:

Millhams cottages, Dolton, 1976
Ivor Brock and Archie Parkhouse lambing, Addisford, Dolton, 1978
Young bulls eating thistle heads, Millhams, Dolton, 1981
Lost sheep in a lane, Millhams, Dolton, 1982
Archie Parkhouse with ivy for sheep, Millhams, Dolton, Devon, 1975

The Forge film:

Jim Ellis gardening in front of the family forge, Bridge Reeve, near Chulmleigh, 1976
George Ellis, blacksmith, at work in the forge, Bridge Reeve, near Chulmleigh, 1976

All photos by James Ravilious; copyright Beaford Arts.