Water Mattress (1965)

Water mattress made from Norfolk reeds and willow on the River Ouse, Kings Lynn, Norfolk. Various shots of workmen building the raft on the sides of the River Ouse. The workers collect bundles of reeds from what looks similar to a large wheat sheaf. They are laid flat inside the foundations of the mattress. The commentator tells us that the mattress is to be sunk to the bottom of the Ouse so as to be used for a foundation for building a sea wall. Numerous more shots of men carrying large bundles of willow branches. Men weave the flexible branches around short poles protruding from the base of the mattress, these are then tied in place. M/S’s of mattress being towed out on river by tugboat with two barges of stone. M/S of workmen looking at map and pointing out over the river. M/S of man placing large pole into the river. M/S and L/S’s of workmen putting plank into position from barges to the water mattress. They then proceed to carry the rocks one by one until the mattress sinks. Nice shot of men s