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
Oak Apple Day in Great Wishford
The villagers celebrate ancient rights
In partnership with:
Overview
On this day, Great Wishford villagers claim the ancient rights of collecting wood from Grovely Wood. This tradition is said to date back to 1603, when the charter of rights to collect wood in the Royal Forest of Grovely was confirmed by the Forest Court. Oak Apple Day was formally abolished in 1859 and it is debatable whether the celebrations have been kept up or whether they were revived in the late 19th century.
The events of a modern oak apple day include a band waking the villagers, gathering oak branches from the woods at dawn, a village breakfast in the local pub, the Royal Oak and on to Salisbury, where there is dancing outside the Cathedral shouting Grovely, Grovely, Grovely and all Grovely. Oak Apple Day is celebrated in a handful of villages and also thought to be based on Charles II’s escape from the Roundhead army. In 1651 after the Battle of Worcester Charles II famously hid in an oak tree and after the restoration of the monarchy, 29 May was declared a holiday.
Related
Watch for free
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Watch for free
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Watch for free
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.