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
Rope and net-making in Bridport
Bridport Rope; plenty to go around
In partnership with:
Overview
Bridport is a market town synonymous with rope-making dating back to the 9th Century and the Port Bredy of Thomas Hardy’s fictional Wessex. In 1213, King John (1166- 1216) ordered Bridport locals to produce as much cordage as they could to aid the Navy. Rope produced was used to make the hangman’s noose so the phrase “to be stabbed by a Bridport Dagger” came into use to denote a hanging.
In 1858, 14 firms manufactured nets, cordage and canvas. In 1947 Bridport Industries Ltd. formed out of the Edwards and Hounsell groups and in 1963, Joseph Gundry and Co. Ltd., established in 1665 united with Bridport Industries Ltd. to form Bridport-Gundry Ltd. The area around Bridport has the perfect conditions for growing flax and hemp, the raw materials for rope and net manufacture and the long wide streets and garden ‘Rope walks’ are a lasting testament to its industrial heritage. Ropes, nets and canvas were shipped all over the world.
Related
Watch for free
Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen Caefelin Laundry, Llangollen
Home movie 1937 20 mins Silent Location: Llangollen
Nellie Boote's laundry in Market Street in operation, the women dashing away with all manner of smoothing irons as clothes are sorted, mended, washed, ironed and sorted again.
Watch for free
For Sheer Perfection For Sheer Perfection
Documentary 1965 24 mins Location: Langley Mill
A mile of yarn and a million loops to make one stocking: the culmination of a four hundred year old craft.
Watch for free
Paper Fashion Paper Fashion
News 1967 6 mins Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Fashion doesnt grow on treesor does it! Tyne Tees TV was bang on-trend with this brilliant news feature on the hip 1960s cult for a disposable age - paper fashion.
Watch for free
Fancy Yarn Production Fancy Yarn Production
Industry sponsored film 1971 23 mins Location: Greengates
Twisted yarns and empty spindles, everything from Bouclé to Slub yarn, from beginning to end, and all, in the end, displayed on a ‘normal’ model in typical 1970s fashion.
Watch for free
Working to a Pattern Working to a Pattern
Documentary 1980 32 mins
Rag trade revival or sweatshops? In the back streets of Brick Lane, Bangladeshi machinists sew 70s fashions
Watch for free
Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth Winter Fashions have been Modelled in a Park in Exmouth
Current affairs 1977 2 mins Silent Location: Exmouth
Wearing Fur gets Hairy
Watch for free
Tiger Cubs holiday in the South West Tiger Cubs holiday in the South West
Current affairs 1969 2 mins Silent Location: Bridport
Tiger cubs from Chessington Zoo take a break from it all
Watch for free
Come with Me to Bridport Come with Me to Bridport
Travelogue 1951 20 mins Location: Bridport
"Line, twine and netmaking" - in Dorset with Richard Dimbleby.
Watch for free
Dorset's Bridport Carnival Dorset's Bridport Carnival
Current affairs 1978 1 mins Silent Location: Bridport
Bridport Carnival Caper
Watch for free
Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A Twin Peaks star Kyle MacLachlan on working with David Lynch - Q&A
Inside Film 2025 38 mins
Kyle MacLachlan talks to BFI CEO Ben Roberts about working with David Lynch on the legendary series Twin Peaks.
Watch for free
On Falling - Exclusive Q&A On Falling - Exclusive Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
Writer-director Laura Carreira talks to Nia Childs about her debut feature, On Falling.
Watch for free
Layla - Exclusive Q&A Layla - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 27 mins
Writer, director and performer Amrou Al-Kadhi talks to Rico Johnson-Sinclair about their debut feature.
Watch for free
All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A All We Imagine As Light - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2025 28 mins
Payal Kapadia discusses her Cannes prize-winning and Bafta-nominated drama with Ashanti Omkar.
Watch for free
Khichdi Khichdi
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2023 16 mins
The interwoven stories of four best friends who reunite in the UK, thirty-five years after training together as nurses during their teens in Ferozepur, Punjab.
Watch for free
Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology Dr XYZ: A Medical Drag Transthology
Documentary 2023 15 mins
A satirical take on the healthcare service announcements of the 1960s and 70s.