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.
Wrong Bathroom Wrong Bathroom
Drama 2024 9 mins
A trans high-schooler is tempted by toxic masculinity in the boys’ bathroom.
We’ll Go Down in History We’ll Go Down in History
Documentary 2025 25 mins
Two years in the life of TRUK United FC, a beacon for positive change and trans inclusivity in football.
If I Make It To The Morning If I Make It To The Morning
Drama 2024 9 mins
A Chinese teenager dreams of living with her cool aunt in New York, until tensions boil over during a crab dinner.
Dragfox Dragfox
Animation & Artists Moving Image 2024 8 mins
A child struggling with their identity and a charismatic fox (voiced by Sir Ian McKellen) learn to embrace their differences in this heart warming stop-motion animation.
Wait, Wait, Now! Wait, Wait, Now!
Drama 2024 13 mins
A Maori and a Kiwi teen buddy up to raid their mum’s wardrobe and pucker their lips with red.
NGGAK!!! NGGAK!!!
Drama 2024 8 mins
‘I pronounce you wife and wife.’ A young couple design their perfect wedding online, but then mum dials in.