The Box is a major cultural and heritage attraction and archive, which opened in Plymouth’s city centre in September 2020. Its collection, formally the South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA), is the regional film archive for the South West of England, comprising the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and Television South West (TSW). It also includes a significant number of donated film collections dating back to the early 1890s.
This film is part of Free
Ilfracombe
A promotional film shows the famous holiday destination of Ilfracombe.
In partnership with:
Overview
The Georgians and the Victorians transformed Ilfracombe from a quiet fishing village into a seaside resort. Visitors arrived first by steamship from Bristol and Wales and then by train from urban areas to enjoy the unspoiled beauty and the rise and fall of the North Devon coastline. It goes from combe to cove to cliff. Capstone Hill and Hillsborough Hill frame the harbour and offer beautiful views and interesting promenades and walks around the town.
In the 1820s four tunnels were carved to provide access to Tunnels Beaches and a tidal bathing pool and this is still a major attraction. Southwest along the coast is Lee Bay and a three mile stretch of sands at Woolacombe. A combe is a steep narrow dry valley. Broadsands Beach, Turks Cove and Golden Cove invoke a smugglers' past near Coombe Martin as does Rapparee Cove. In 1997 human remains were found here from the 1796 shipwreck the London. The bones were thought to be slaves from St Lucia, French prisoners of war or British and Irish sailors. It was not unusual after shipwrecks to bury bodies quickly in mass graves. The Burial of Drowned Persons Act 1808 put an end to the practice of mass burials after shipwrecks.
Related
Watch for free
Devon Devon
Travelogue 1939 18 mins Location: Exeter
The cream of Devon painted in an unfamiliar palette in this Dufaycolor travelogue
Watch for free
Seaside Seaside
News 1983 26 mins Location: Ilfracombe
TV presenter and broadcaster Robert Robinson illustrates the transformation from off to on season in Ilfracombe.
Watch for free
On Glorious Devon's Ocean Coast On Glorious Devon's Ocean Coast
Amateur film 1955 20 mins Location: Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe on Devon's north coast is the perfect destination according to its Chamber of Commerce.
Watch for free
Devon/Fishing Net Industry Devon/Fishing Net Industry
1911 14 mins Silent Location: Ilfracombe
Recreation rules the day at Ilfracombe, while work continues on Hastings beaches
Watch for free
Baer: VE Day Baer: VE Day
Home movie 1945 19 mins Silent Location: Littleover
At Littleover in Derby the end of war in Europe is marked by Britannia leading a fancy dress parade. And, after nearly six years of war, it's finally time for a street party!
Watch for free
Butcher's guardpuma Butcher's guardpuma
Current affairs 1976 3 mins Location: Ilfracombe
Solomon the guard puma - put your paws up!
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.
Watch for free
Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked Jon M. Chu: The Wizard of Wicked
Inside Film 2025 49 mins
Director Jon M. Chu discusses his ground-breaking vision of Oz.
Watch for free
Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Yorgos Lanthimos Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 66 mins
Yorgos Lanthimos sits down with Succession creator Jesse Armstrong to reveal the secret ingredients that underpin his uniquely weird brand of satire.
Watch for free
Islands - Extended Q&A Islands - Extended Q&A
Inside Film 2025 31 mins
Director Jan Ole Gerster and actor Sam Riley talk about Islands, a thriller with noirish undertones and echoes of Hitchcock and Highsmith.
Watch for free
Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Lynne Ramsay Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 67 mins
Lynne Ramsay discusses her singular career populated by visually intoxicating, ground-breaking and provocative films.