The Chorlton-cum-Hardy based studio was founded by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall in 1976, it quickly became the UK’s largest animation house. Cosgrove Hall Films produced quality animation by bringing together some of the biggest talents, puppet-makers, actors and animators in the UK to create, adapt and produce popular animations, including Noddy, Animal Shelf and Postman Pat. They also brought characters from popular childhood fiction to life in animations such as Roald Dahl’s The BFG (1989), Kenneth Graham’s Wind in the Willows (1983), and Terry Pratchett's Truckers (1992). Puppet-makers Mackinnon & Saunders started their careers at the studio, as did BAFTA-winning animator Barry Purves and Bridget Appleby.

With the help of ITV, Westley Wood, ex-development producer for Cosgrove Hall, rescued the archive with the sole intention of preserving its history and artifacts. Westley says ‘The work from Cosgrove Hall Films is part of Manchester’s cultural heritage and was important to the development of the animation industry in the UK. It’s with enormous gratitude and pleasure that we are working with the Sale Waterside team, to set up a new home and preserve the archive for people to love and enjoy for generations to come.’

The Archive

The Archive contains a mixture of 2D and 3D animation material and is split between the two. Cosgrove Hall created and adapted both hand drawn animated series and film, and stop motion series. The 2D store contains hundreds of plan, script, storyboard and editing material from an assortment of Cosgrove Hall Films series, including Engie Benjy, Fifi and the Flowertots, Bill and Ben and the Likeaballs. 2D also encompasses select hand drawn set design and character design on paper, hand drawn backgrounds. Hand painted transparent cels from Dangermouse, Avenger Penguins and Victor and Hugo.

We also have an extensive array of 3D assets from Cosgrove Hall Films, including puppets from your favourite animated series, such as Wind and the Willows, Truckers, Engie Benjy, Fetch the Vet, Oakie Doke, Fetch the Vet, Noddy, Postman Pat, Cinderella and many more. Set parts from Fool of the World and the Flying Ship and Wind and the Willows. Props from Noddy and Engie Benjy. Model-making materials, including spare puppet parts, armatures and a selection of original moulds. The 3D store also contains some costume, mainly from Wind in the Willows and Truckers.

To find out more about the archive, click here

Please note, the archive is not currently on display year-round at Waterside's gallery spaces. For information about our upcoming exhibitions, please click here