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
Portland documentary
This documentary takes a unique look at the Isle of Portland and its history and delves into the everyday lives of its islanders.
In partnership with:
Overview
TV reporter Clive Gunnell presents this documentary about the Isle of Portland. Portland is known as the isle of slingers for using slingshot against its encroaching enemies. It is situated in the English Channel and joined by a shingle sandbar Chesil Beach to the mainland at Weymouth. Royal Naval Air Station Portland was opened in 1917 and from 1959 was also called HMS Osprey. The naval base closed in 1999. Thomas Hardy and Dr Marie Stopes had associations with the isle.
The Royal Navy's Research and Development Centre was based at East Weares and a huge ship-like structure offshore for research into underwater sonar. HM Coastguard are now based in a new building on the renamed Ospery Quay. Portland is part of the Jurassic Coast a world heritage site famed for its geology including Portland Stone, a limestone used in the building of St Paul's Cathedral in London and many other famous structures. A by-product of the quarrying was used as aggregate concrete to build Tottenham Court Road's Centre Point building. The quarry workers used to number 700 to 800 people and sons would follow fathers into the industry. Islanders are also recognised for their stonemasonry skills.
Related
Watch for free
Weymouth Weymouth
Promotional 1958 23 mins Location: Weymouth
Enjoy this nostalgic look at the Dorset resort of Weymouth - complete with beachtime fun, Punch & Judy, fishing and a Beauty Queen tug-of-war.
Watch for free
Coasts Coasts
Amateur film 1945 11 mins Silent Location: Lulworth Cove
Frank Bealing's gorgeous colour film captures the timeless grandeur of Dorset's coastline - with huge cliffs, pretty villages and wild seas
Watch for free
Portland Plesiosaur Portland Plesiosaur
News 1968 1 mins Silent Location: Portland
Richard Cooper unearths the sea monster of all fossils.
Watch for free
Beachwear Fashion Show at Portland Beachwear Fashion Show at Portland
News 1965 1 mins Silent Location: Portland
The fashion world descends on Portland.
Watch for free
Portland Stone Quarrying Portland Stone Quarrying
Current affairs 1963 3 mins Location: Portland
Quarrymen of Portland demonstrate hand harvesting of stone.
Watch for free
Sea Fishing at Portland with Ted Tuckerman Sea Fishing at Portland with Ted Tuckerman
Current affairs 1975 1 mins Silent Location: Portland
Sea fisherman cast off with reputed angler
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.