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
Last Cooper
The last apprenticed cooper in the Royal Navy’s Royal William Victualling Yard undergoes a trusso, an ancient rite of passage.
In partnership with:
Overview
Clive Gunnell reports on Robert John Knight, the last apprenticed cooper of the Royal Navy’s Royal William Victualling Yard in the Cooperage Plymouth. A cooper makes staved vessels such as casks, barrels, tubs, churns, firkins, puncheons or butts aided by hoopers. The apprentice enters the unfinished barrel at the shout of trusso and exits as a qualified cooper. The Worshipful Company of Coopers exists as a trade association and guild since its 1501 Royal Charter.
The Coopers’ Company is governed by bylaws granted by Act of Parliament approved in 1741 but these are still a form of delegated law enforceable today. The Company had the power to view and gauge all containers used for the storage of consumables. Coopers supplied vessels for victualling stores on board ship such as food, drink including ale, rum and port, cargo and ammunition and historically a cooper was a rating in the Navy under the Purser. Coopering’s decline as a craft in the last century when containers were replaced by aluminium has not marked its end; cask storage is still popular in the brewing and drinks industry and making something of a comeback. Since 2000 women are admitted to the Coopers’ Company.
Related
Watch for free
Dingles of Plymouth Dingles of Plymouth
Advert 1960 1 mins Location: Plymouth
A charming regional commercial for Plymouth’s best loved department store.
Watch for free
Millbay Laundry Millbay Laundry
Advert 1960 0 mins Location: Plymouth
Help keep your relationship on track by outsourcing your laundry!
Watch for free
Comely Caviar Comely Caviar
Current affairs 1984 1 mins Location: Plymouth
Reporter tests the theory of caviar heightening libido.
Watch for free
Model Clipper Sailor Model Clipper Sailor
Current affairs 1965 2 mins Location: Plymouth
Former shipwright turns his talents to model-making.
Watch for free
Field Gun Practice at HMNB Devonport Field Gun Practice at HMNB Devonport
Current affairs 1962 2 mins Location: Plymouth
Gunboat Crews practise the Royal Navy’s field gun drill in preparation for competition.
Watch for free
Liberté Liner Liberté Liner
Current affairs 1961 5 mins Location: Plymouth
Cruising into the history books SS Liberté makes its final voyage stopping at Plymouth en route to Le Havre.
Watch for free
Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande - Q&A
Inside Film 2024 22 mins
The director of a documentary about British funk pioneers Cymande joins the band at BFI Southbank to talk about the film.
Watch for free
The West Case The West Case
Action and Adventure 1923 28 mins Silent Location: Tilbury
Plotting world domination, Devil Doctor Fu-Manchu steals plans for a new aero-torpedo in this earliest surviving thrill-a-minute serial instalment.
Watch for free
Enter the Scala!!! Enter the Scala!!!
Inside Film 2024 16 mins
Filmmakers Jane Giles and Ali Catterall discuss their documentary Scala!!!, revisiting the legendary and inspirational cinema venue and some of the most notorious films that screened there.
Watch for free
Smith Smith
Charity appeal 1939 10 mins
Long thought lost, this Powell-directed promotional short for a veteran’s charity was only rediscovered in 2003.
Watch for free
An Airman's Letter to His Mother An Airman's Letter to His Mother
Documentary 1941 6 mins
A poignant, stirring letter from a recently deceased pilot to his mother is read by John Gielgud.
Watch for free
The NHS75 Celebration The NHS75 Celebration
Short documentary 2023 3 mins
Former Bristol Poet Laureate, Miles Chambers reads a poem specially commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the NHS.