The South West Film and Television Archive (SWFTA) is the regional film archive for the South West of England. Established in 1993, SWFTA's core collection comprises of the combined programme libraries of Westward Television and TSW (Television South West). The archive also cares for a significant number of donated film collections, both amateur and professional, dating back to the early 1900s.
This film is part of Free
How do you say Mousehole?
The little harbour village of Mousehole with its Lamorna stone cottages is the subject of this report.
From the collection of:
Overview
TV reporter Clive Gunnell is in Mousehole pronounced Mauzel. The fishing village was once an important trading port of Mount's Bay and has a fishing and tin mining heritage. Tom Bawcock's Eve is celebrated on 23 December by serving starrey gazey pie where heads and tails of pilchards pop through a pie crust. Legend says that Tom went out to fish in a storm after the village was beset by famine. Only the Keigwin Arms Pub survived when the village was burnt in 1595 in a Spanish raid.
On 19 December 1981 the crew of the Penlee Lifeboat the Solomon Browne was lost at sea attending the Union Star coaster in heavy storms. As a mark of remembrance on the anniversary of the loss Mousehole turns off its Christmas lights every year between eight and nine o'clock. The village has a Wild Bird Hospital set up by sisters Dorothy and Phyllis Yglesias in 1928 and made famous by saving sea birds covered in crude oil after the 1967 Torrey Canyon disaster. At Paul, behind Mousehole a memorial exists to Dorothy Pentreath who died in 1777 and is thought to be the last woman to speak old Cornish. Mousehole has the Cornish name of Porth Enys meaning port of the island and refers to the nearby Clement's Isle.
Related
Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and Sanctuary Mousehole Wild Bird Hospital and Sanctuary
Current affairs 1975 1 mins Silent Location: Mousehole
The cliffs of Raginnis Hill in Mousehole provide a perfect haven for injured birds.
Giant Lobster at Mousehole Giant Lobster at Mousehole
News 1963 0 mins Silent Location: Mousehole
A local lobsterman lands a giant lobster from and for the pot.
Wedding Day - Jannaud Rides Again Wedding Day - Jannaud Rides Again
Home movie 1962 3 mins Silent Location: Mousehole
The beginnings of a wedding videography industry as this home movie maker shoots to fill.
Basking shark off Mousehole in Cornwall Basking shark off Mousehole in Cornwall
Amateur film 1967 10 mins Silent Location: Mousehole
Basking shark in shallow waters off Mousehole
New Perspectives: La Haine New Perspectives: La Haine
Short documentary 2025 4 mins
Charlie Hammersley, a student from Northumbria University, explains how Mathieu Kassovitz's 1995 film holds up a mirror to society.
Dreamers Q&A Dreamers Q&A
Inside Film 2025 30 mins
The film-makers behind a haunting tale of love and community within a UK immigration detention centre visited the BFI Southbank to discuss their film.
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 50 mins
Paul Thomas Anderson and Leonardo DiCaprio in Conversation at BFI Southbank, discussing the making of One Battle After Another.
Laura Mulvey in Conversation Laura Mulvey in Conversation
Inside Film 2025 76 mins
Laura Mulvey in conversation, following her BFI Fellowship Award.
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.
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.