Basket Men Of Sussex (1929)

“Down in Herstmonceaux, Sussex, a little colony of trug-makers still make up the old fashioned ash and willow trug-baskets.“ L/S of a man standing on the back of a horse and cart laying down long pieces of wood on a large pile in front of a house. The horse in front has a nosebag. M/S of man sawing the end off a log - he is smoking a pipe. Two other men are at work behind him. M/S of several men working away at pieces of wood (this is all taking place out of doors with lots of wood piled everywhere.) Closer shot of two men preparing the willow. They look quite smart for craftsmen! (V-neck jumpers and ties!) C/U of man slicing willow. The result is a thin bendy piece of willow. He bends it for the camera. The wood is heated in an outdoor kiln then bent around a wooden frame. We see how the traditional basket is constructed through various stages. Nails are banged in, wood is trimmed etc. A finished basket is presented to the camera. Other, smaller baskets are held up too. L/S of the me