• Cambridge Museum of Technology (map)
  • Cheddars Lane
  • Cambridge, CB5 8LD
  • United Kingdom

Explore a different side of Cambridge!

Explore Cambridge’s industrial heritage: accelerated, rotated and colour-inverted!

A screening of several films created by volunteers of Cambridge Museum of Technology since 2020 lockdown.

Presented by producer Dr Gordon Davies with:

  • commentary (audio-description)

  • “making-of” producer’s documentary

  • question-and-answer audience discussion (and refreshments) between films. 

Film: Fast-Forward Cambridge

Explore industrial landscapes (and more!) around Cambridge from unique perspectives.

Recorded over two years (2020 – 2022) and presented at high-speed: over 20 hours of footage edited into 20 minutes.

Originally premiered as part of Cambridge Festival 2023 online Festival of Film.

The film night will also feature short extracts from the following films:

Film: BACK IN STEAM

Capturing for posterity the multi-year restoration of the Museum of Technology’s boiler, which culminated in the Museum’s relaunch of Steam Days in 2022.

Hear from volunteers about what the project means to the local community, industrial enthusiasts, and STEM students.

Watch unique perspectives of the restored steam machinery (from above and below ground!). See behind-the-scenes action as the Museum welcomed visitors to the first steam days for eight years.

Film: 50 YEARS OF CAMBRIDGE MUSEUM OF TECHNOLOGY

The story of the museum’s first five decades, created to celebrate the Museum’s 50th-anniversary exhibition:

  • Hear from early volunteers how the Old Pumping Station was preserved and the engines were brought back to life.

  • Salute the restoration work of Fred Dibnah (1938-2004) on the Museum’s chimney in the 1990s.

  • Hear from current volunteers how the redevelopment of the Museum in the 21st-century has created new volunteering opportunities.

  • Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Museum and hear what it means to the community of Cambridge.

PREVIEW: THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE OF INDUSTRY

A preview of work-in-progress film to be premiered at the Association for Industrial Archaeology’s East-West Workshop in November 2023.

The film visually explores artistic and architectural connections in the industrial landscape of Cambridge. The film also includes international perspectives, exploring the best-preserved archaeological “twin” of the former Cambridge University & Town Gas-Light Company, which now stands at Technopolis, Athens, Hellas (Greece). 

Presentation and accessibility information

High-Definition 1080p screen projection with ambient soundtracks

English (UK) spoken-word

Features several films without traditional voiceover narration: these portions will be audio described by the producer for visually impaired.

Presentation includes strobe-laser lighting effects, colour-inversion, rotated-and-accelerated aerial-drone footage.

About Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group

 The talk will take place in the Pye Building at Cambridge Museum of Technology.  Entrance on the night is via the Museum’s Cheddars Lane gate.

 Tickets for the talk are available on the door for £3 | £2 (students) | free to Museum members.

Cambridge Industrial Archaeology group organises a programme of talks on industrial heritage at Cambridge Museum of Technology.  Talks usually take place at 7.30pm on the second Monday of each month.  For further information about Cambridge Industrial Archaeology Group contact Robin Chandler: robin.chandler@btinternet.com