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
Beating the Bounds in Penzance
Beating the bounds in Penzance with a traditional walk of the parish boundaries
In partnership with:
Overview
The tradition of beating the bounds in Penzance is where parishioners check the town’s boundary stones and halfpennies are thrown for the children at St John’s Hall. Young and old, including the Mayor are turned upside down and bumped on the stones. This tradition, dating back to before the Norman Conquest in some parts of the country, continues in Penzance until 1974 when the Borough Council ceases as an administrative entity.
The ceremony is revived in 2014 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter to Penzance by King James I in 1614. Four original bound-stones erected in 1687 in a half-mile radius from the Market Cross in Greenmarket are struck four times by four people during the ritual. Two of these original stones exist at Chyandour and St Clare. A third bound-stone was replaced at Alverton as was the fourth at Wherrytown after its loss in the storm of March 1962. Seven new bound-stones were erected around the borough in 1934 and this film is the thirtieth anniversary celebration.
Related
Watch for free
Boots and Minis Boots and Minis
Current affairs 1964 9 mins Location: Plymouth
Girls embody the spirit of everyday wear in the sixties and boots and miniskirts as fashion items are discussed.
Watch for free
Cornwall Trip 1935 - Part 1 Cornwall Trip 1935 - Part 1
Amateur film 1935 12 mins Silent Location: Penzance
The open road: come along on a motoring trip around the West Country in this early holiday home movie
Watch for free
Scenes on the Cornish Riviera Scenes on the Cornish Riviera
Advert 1912 19 mins Silent Location: Plymouth
From Saltash to St Ives, a whirlwind tour of Edwardian Cornwall.
Watch for free
Inauguration of Penzance to St Mary’s Helicopter Link Inauguration of Penzance to St Mary’s Helicopter Link
News 1964 1 mins Silent Location: Penzance
A new helicopter link from Penzance in Cornwall to St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly offers speedy transfer
Watch for free
The Appeal Fund for Penzance after the Storm The Appeal Fund for Penzance after the Storm
News 1962 12 mins Location: Penzance
An appeal fund is set up for Cornish communities after significant storm damage.
Watch for free
The Tragedy of the Jeanne Gougy Trawler The Tragedy of the Jeanne Gougy Trawler
News 1962 6 mins Silent Location: Land's End
Trawler in trouble as rescue crews arrive.
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.