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
Punky Lantern Procession at Dalwood
The children of Dalwood process with their punky lanterns of mangelwurzels
In partnership with:
Overview
In Dalwood East Devon mangelwurzerls are the lantern of choice for Punky Night. Held at the end of October and thought to be celebrated since the turn of the twentieth century, villagers traditionally hollow out mangelwurzels, a type of turnip for animal fodder and make them into lanterns known as punkies. A Punky Night Procession walks around the village at dusk.
Punky Night is popular just across the county border in the South Somerset area. Its origins are unknown although a story about wives hauling their drunken menfolk back after a market fair at Chiselborough with the chanting of rhymes in celebration, seems most likely. The wives used hollowed out mangelwurzels as lanterns to find their way to and from the fair on what was thought to be, a stormy night.
Related
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.