East Anglian coast stories revealed in newly-released archive

The Marjorie was one of the historic barges that traded between ports such as Maldon and Harwich and London docks

Hundreds of films that span 100 years and document the history of the East Anglian coastline have been released.

Footage of barges sailing off the Essex coast, herring drifters in Norfolk and a sail designer from Suffolk are among those featured.

The films are sourced from the British Film Institue (BFI) national archive and the East Anglia Film Archive (EAFA).

The footage is viewable via an interactive map on the BFI Player.

Dr Tim Snelson, director of EAFA, said: "East Anglia has some stunning coastline and a rich maritime history, and this has inspired regional filmmakers to document and represent our coastline in creative ways."

Highlights of the films include:

A 1972 film shows barges plying their trade between Essex and London and is narrated by Sir Michael Hordern

A silent film documented a storm on the north-west Norfolk coast in 1938 that led to the sea breaking through at Horsey

A 1983 educational film about the Norfolk coastline focused on the problems of erosion

Boat and sail designer Austin Farrar, from Stutton, in Suffolk, featured in and made a 1966 documentary on making a sail

A colour film from the 1950s shows the return of herring drifters to the quayside at Great Yarmouth

A 1951 amateur film shows the Alpington villagers' annual visit to Wells for cockling in the 1950s