This page features four films made by Catcher Media for the Waterworks Museum in Hereford. Made some years ago, much of the material relates to the county of Herefordshire. One film tells “the story of the great River Wye” while the others, chart the development of clean water in the county.
Nowadays, the state of the River Wye and the nation’s rivers are the cause of grave environmental concern, with private water companies rightly scrutinised. However, these films were educational pieces intended for school groups and other museum visitors.
(1) Wye Valley: Story of a Great River
Follows the River Wye from its source in the Welsh mountains at Plynlimon, picking out interesting details about the history and geology as the river flows past Rhayader, Hay-on-Wye, Hereford, Ross-on-Wye and Monmouth.
(2) Water On Tap: Water Supplies Yesterday and Today
Charts the development of clean water supplies from prehistory to the present-day, highlighting Bromyard, Kington, Ledbury, Leominster, Ross-on-Wye, the city of Hereford and the Waterworks Museum. NB: Films 1 & 2 were filmed in SD.
(3) Worthington-Simpson Ltd
Shows off the Simpson beam engine (first used in Cardiff, 1851) and a boiler feed pump which are in working order at the museum – and in steam!
(4) Reverend Robert Stirling: inventor of the hot-air engine
