BATA
Located in East Tilbury, Essex, the Bata Heritage Centre is based on the historic site of the British Bata Shoe Company Ltd. The area’s rich industrial and architectural legacy is closely tied to the lives of its workers—reflected in the modernist homes built by the company, many of which are still inhabited today.
In 2021, as we emerged from the Covid lockdown, we hosted our first outdoor screening at Grays Town Park. Working with the East Anglian Film Archive, we discovered rare 1950s–60s silent films shot by Sir John Tusa at the Bata site. 🔗 Explore the East Anglian Film Archive
With permission to re-edit the material, we created new soundtracks and recorded local historian Mike Ostler, who shared vivid accounts of the Bata community and its heritage.
These short films were presented by Mike Ostler and screened at the Thurrock Film Festival 2021.