This film is part of Free
300 Year Old Custom
This curious custom sees Anglesey locals diving after the red-hot coppers thrown at them by the town's top brass.
Overview
It's the first hunting meet of the season, and excitable crowds jostle in the street outside the Bulkeley Hotel in Beaumaris, Anglesey, attempting to catch the hot pennies flung their way. It's unclear how this curious tradition started, but it seems the local gentry found it entertaining to throw the hot coppers over the hotel's balcony to the chilly townspeople below.
The Beaumaris event still takes place today, albeit with warm rather than scalding hot pennies. Similar traditions are observed in other parts of the country at different times of year - find out about the West Country equivalent in Honiton Hot Pennies Ceremony, also available on BFI Player.
Related
Anglesey: castle and priory, lighthouse and church Anglesey: castle and priory, lighthouse and church
Home movie 1955 7 mins Silent Location: Beaumaris
Blues, greens, browns and whites: the soothing colours of the land, sea, sky and buildings on Ynys Môn/Anglesey.
Ambling through Anglesey Ambling through Anglesey
Amateur film 1946 5 mins Silent Location: Beaumaris
Ambling Scottish ramblers, members of The Countryside Club, enjoy Anglesey at a leisurely pace.
Land of the Red Dragon Land of the Red Dragon
Advert 1968 18 mins Location: Snowdon/Yr Wyddfa
Wales: seeped in history (castles) and clothed in modernity (sports and eating out). Why go elsewhere?
Welsh Story Welsh Story
Travelogue 1941 14 mins Silent Location: Llandudno
Romance blossoms amongst the donkeys on the beach at Llandudno and the glories of north Wales are explored, from piers, lakes, hills of sheep.
Roving in Wales Roving in Wales
Amateur film 1937 13 mins Silent Location: Dolgellau
The Cox family, who have lost their hearts to Wales, motor from Dolgellau in Gwynedd to Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey, and Smut the dog comes too.
On the Isle of Anglesey On the Isle of Anglesey
Non-Fiction 1929 2 mins Silent Location: Anglesey/Ynysmôn
Intriguing scenes of a centuries-old hunting tradition at Beaumaris, Anglesey.
Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A Starve Acre - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 24 mins
Daniel Kokotajlo talks to Nia Childs about Starve Acre, his folk horror about a couple digging deep into grief in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A Sky Peals - Exclusive Q&A
Short interview 2024 30 mins
Sky Peals director Moin Hussain and lead actor Faraz Ayub talk to Tomisin Adepeju about their magic realist drama.
Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell Inside the Archive: The Early Films of Michael Powell
Documentary 2024 42 mins
Documentary exploring the BFI National Archive’s role in rediscovering and remastering the early films of Michael Powell.
Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels Inside the Archive: The Riviera Revels
Short documentary 2024 12 mins
Bryony Dixon, curator of silent film at the BFI national archive, explores the origins of a series of comic travelogues, and Michael Powell's involvement in making them.
New Perspectives: Oldboy New Perspectives: Oldboy
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Discover why Dan George of Northumbria University believes everyone should experience Oldboy at least once.
New Perspectives: Wings of Desire New Perspectives: Wings of Desire
Short documentary 2024 4 mins
Trixie Parkin-Christie of Northumbria University offers fresh insight into why Wings of Desire remains essential viewing.