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
Maypole Dance at Ashill Primary School in Ilminster
Ashill pupils dance around the maypole
In partnership with:
Overview
Pupils of Ashill Community Primary School in Ilminster in Somerset dance around the maypole in Victorian costume. May Day festivities fall on the first of May or on Midsummer’s Day on 21 June. Maypoles are erected on village greens and ribbons attached to the top for people to dance around weaving a pattern and decorating the pole. Maypole festivities celebrate the arrival of spring and the festival used to be dedicated to the pagan god Frey giving the name Friday.
The tradition is adopted by Christians. A Green Man, now a common pub name, wears a suit of green and is covered in green branches and leaves and represents the wild wood and the fresh shoots of spring. A Queen of May is crowned with greenery gathered from the woods and fields. Maypole festivities died out in industrialised areas but survive in may rural communities to this day.
Related
Watch for free
Pressing Cider in Illminster Pressing Cider in Illminster
Current affairs 1984 2 mins Location: Ilminster
Cider is a pressing concern in Ilminster
Watch for free
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Watch for free
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Watch for free
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Watch for free
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
Watch for free
George Clooney in Conversation George Clooney in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 74 mins
George Clooney visited BFI Southbank to look back on his life and career.
Watch for free
Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Chloé Zhao Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 65 mins
The Oscar®- winning director of Nomadland discusses her unique approach to filmmaking and the inspiration behind the adaptation of Hamnet.