Hertfordshire sees its history come back to life as a series of DVDs from the East Anglian Film Archive are launched in the county this month. The DVDs, Memories of Hertfordshire Part 1 and Part 2, take us on a journey through bygone days in the county f

Hertfordshire sees its history come back to life as a series of DVDs from the East Anglian Film Archive are launched in the county this month.

The DVDs, Memories of Hertfordshire Part 1 and Part 2, take us on a journey through bygone days in the county from 1916 through to the 1960s. The rare and original archive film included captures a bygone age when steam trains rumbled through the countryside and people made their living from the land.

Andrew Gray, Managing Director of Independent Studios said, "These DVDs are a first for Hertfordshire. Until now, people have only been able to see the county's past in photographs. Now we can all watch, on film, previous generations before us going about their daily lives in the places we know.

"The DVDs are the nearest we will get to time travel - a chance to look back at a chapter of life that has gone forever."

The company behind the releases have also produced a range of other DVDs, covering topics from wartime history to steam railways. They have also released popular Anglia TV series on DVD including the fondly remembered Bygones Specials, The Way We Were and most recently, Anglia at War.

Memories of Hertfordshire Part 1 and Part 2 includes rarely seen footage of towns and villages all across the county including farming scenes filmed in the 1930s near Stevenage, the Warship Week parade in Hitchin in 1942 and the Festival of Britain celebrations in Letchworth Garden City. The earliest piece of film shown is now over 90 years old and this, like the other footage, would have been lost without careful preservation from film archivists.

"Over time, film will deteriorate, unless it is kept under very carefully controlled conditions" says Director of the East Anglian Film Archive, Richard Taylor. "Our archive has the equipment and expertise to preserve this film for generations to come.

"The public don't often get to see the gems from decades past stored here, so we are delighted to be able to share our local history on film with the wider community. These DVDs mean everyone has the chance to see what life was like through the years, by watching film shot by professionals and amateurs from all over the East of England."

The East Anglian Film Archive DVDs cost �9.99 each from selected retailers across Hertfordshire including HMV Stevenage or online at www.archivefilmshop.co.uk.