Take a scene from an old British film.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of a village church; cyclists ride along leafy lanes, children play with hoops, and a narrow road dotted with cottages on either side leads to an old forge where Sir John Mills is busy working.

Get the picture? Who could have imagined Minster and Eastchurch would have been perfect locations?

The new animated DVD produced by Colin Harvey absolutely proves the point.

Back in the late 1800s and at the turn of last century, both villages, and Halfway were quite beautiful.

The publishers of scenic postcards, and people who captured families on camera, could not have imagined in years to come their pictures would form such an essential part of our past.

Colin’s animation and close ups inside old buildings like Minster Abbey and All Saint’s, Eastchurch, show them in seldom seen perspective.

Even more exciting is a picture of Shurland Hall, exactly as it used to be before it fell into disrepair.

It will be interesating to compare it when restoration is complete.

Views from Telegraph Hill over the rooftops of Halfway houses are stunning, and travelling rutted roads into Minster, over the undeveloped Leas, shows how popular the beach at Minster used to be. Continue up through Wards Hill Road past the old cottage hospital and entire communities spring up.

It is hard to believe that still pictures – some sepia with age – seem to come alive.

More than 600 images were trawled before the final selection was made, and it is fascinating to watch the growth of rural areas. To families who grew up there this DVD is a moving journey through childhood.

Called Minster and Eastchurch it is the sixth in the Island series produced by Colin and runs for 80 minutes.

On sale at Sheerness Times Guardian office, 44 High Street, Sheerness, and other outlets, it costs £10.