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
Bere Alston Carnival
A May Day procession through the village
In partnership with:
Overview
The May Day Procession in Bere Alston travels to the local market town of Tavistock. Villagers dress up in the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee which was celebrated on 6 May. The Fair dates from the time of the opening of the silver-lead mines. Reginald de Ferrers obtains a market and a fair in 1295 and shortly afterwards the village becomes a borough. The fair continues to this day.
The village is one of the largest in Devon and lies in the Bere peninsula between the rivers Tamar and Tavy. Its origins lie not only in the once thriving mining industry where tin, silver-lead and arsenic were extracted but also in market gardening where mainline trains to London would stop at the village to pick up locally grown produce of cherries, strawberries and daffodils destined for the capital.
Related
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred One Per Cent of Us - One in a Hundred
News 1986 52 mins Location: Plymouth
This documentary charts the progress and challenges of disabled people living in the community.
Watch for free
One Per Cent of Us - Children No More One Per Cent of Us - Children No More
News 1976 45 mins Location: Plymouth
The TV cameras return to Downham School to see what has changed for disabled children since 1966.
Watch for free
Ugandan Asians at Plasterdown Camp Ugandan Asians at Plasterdown Camp
Current affairs 1972 4 mins Location: Tavistock
The plight of refugees expelled from Uganda is highlighted.
Watch for free
Devon Great Consols Devon Great Consols
Current affairs 1972 1 mins Silent Location: Tavistock
Old opencast mine has a lot to offer on the surface.
Watch for free
Tavistock Grammar School Sports Tavistock Grammar School Sports
Amateur film 1955 8 mins Silent Location: Tavistock
Jolly hockey sticks - staff and pupils at Tavistock Grammar School get competitive with various sporting events
Watch for free
Tavistock Goose Fair Tavistock Goose Fair
Current affairs 1975 1 mins Silent Location: Tavistock
To Tavvystock Goozey Vair!
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.