SCREEN HERITAGE

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.
🔗 Visit the Bata Heritage Centre

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.
🎥 Watch the videos on YouTube

GRAYS CARIBBEANS AFTER WINDRUSH

This project presents a powerful collection of oral history interviews with 15 members of Thurrock’s Caribbean community. The interviews will be available to view online from October.

To accompany the digital release, four curated display panels will tour Thurrock Libraries and the Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre throughout October, followed by a full exhibition at the Tilbury Cruise Terminal in November and December.

Led by our Young Film Network and supported by Historic England, the project honours the voices and contributions of Caribbean residents in the region in the decades after Windrush.

Exhibition Venues

Grays Library and other local libraries RM17 5DX (Weekdays in October 2025)

Purfleet Heritage & Military Centre RM19 1ZZ (Sundays in October)

Tilbury Cruise Terminal RM18 7NG (3rd November – 31st December 2025)