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
Video Player is loading.
Cerne Abbas in Dorset
Views of Cerne Abbas village
In partnership with:
Overview
The village of Cerne Abbas in the heart of Dorset grew up around the Benedictine Cerne Abbey taking its name from the River Cerne. The abbey founded in AD 987 dominated the area for over 500 years. During King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries the abbey was partially destroyed. The village continued to develop into a market town producing beer and small water-powered industries.
By the 1920s the village was in decline, now there are few remaining historic buildings. The village is famous for the Cerne Abbas Giant, the chalk figure of a naked male giant carved into the hillside in the 17th Century although there is evidence of a strong Iron Age presence nearby. The mainly 15th century church was restored in the 1960s. Cerne Abbas is known as Abbot’s Kernel in the literary works of Thomas Hardy.
Related
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Fish Tank New Perspectives: Fish Tank
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Adam Smith of Northumbria University explains why Andrea Arnold's coming-of-age story, about a girl who uses dance to escape, is his favourite film on BFI Player.
Watch for free
New Perspectives: Pusher New Perspectives: Pusher
Short documentary 2025 5 mins
Noah Ball of Northumbria University explains why you should seize the chance to watch Nicolas Winding Refn's debut.
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.