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
Barnstaple Skateboard Park Competition
Sidewalk surfing - Skatepark holds a tournament
In partnership with:
Overview
A skateboard park in Barnstaple holds a tournament where the new fad for sidewalk surfing has prompted the local council to build a skateboard park. Young hopefuls show off their skills and tricks.
The earliest skateboards from the 1940s were simple wooden boxes with roller-skate wheels attached and came about because surfers grew restless when there were no waves. Skateboarding also became known as sidewalk surfing until custom-built skateparks helped launch it as a competitive sport.
Related
Watch for free
Halloween Hubble Bubble Halloween Hubble Bubble
Current affairs 1968 5 mins Location: Barnstaple
Children of a Devon primary school try to explain what happens on All Hallows Eve.
Watch for free
Barnstaple Fair Barnstaple Fair
Non-Fiction 1915 3 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
Roll up, the fair's in town - even with a war on.
Watch for free
Barnstaple Fair in the 1920s Barnstaple Fair in the 1920s
Amateur film 1926 5 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
Join the crowds in Barnstaple for fairground attractions
Watch for free
View from an Engine Front - Barnstaple View from an Engine Front - Barnstaple
Non-Fiction 1898 2 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
A 'phantom ride' along a fondly remembered Devon railway, crossing the distinctive Taw Bridge into Barnstaple on the way to Ilfracombe
Watch for free
Building and Launch of the "Crepath" at Barnstaple Building and Launch of the "Crepath" at Barnstaple
Non-Fiction 1918 5 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
Barnstaple's experimental concrete-hulled ship gets a visit from a jolly Italian admiral.
Watch for free
Barnstaple snow Barnstaple snow
Current affairs 1979 2 mins Silent Location: Barnstaple
Heavy snow fall in Barnstaple during the Winter of Discontent
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.
Watch for free
Edgar Wright on The Running Man Edgar Wright on The Running Man
Inside Film 2025 28 mins
The director talks to Mark Kermode about putting Stephen King's dystopian life-or-death gameshow thriller through its paces.
Watch for free
Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Richard Linklater Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 69 mins
Richard Linklater discusses his remarkable and wide-ranging body of work, including Blue Moon and Nouvelle Vague.
Watch for free
Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025 Daniel Day-Lewis Screen Talk | BFI London Film Festival 2025
Inside Film 2025 73 mins
Daniel Day-Lewis, the ultimate actor’s actor discusses his career in conversation with Mark Kermode.