Mining filming in Cornwall

Our recent commission to produce a film about mining filming in Cornwall was one of our most intriguing and enjoyable Cornish filming projects.  Through Screen Cornwall we won this commission to produce the film for Cornwall Mining World Heritage Sites. It was a great honour to work with both organisations.

Cornwall’s Mining Heritage

Cornwall’s landscape is rich in mining heritage sites. Many historic engine houses and crumbling mining structures still grace the county’s impressive coastline. These now iconic landmarks are monuments to the time when Cornwall was the world centre of tin and copper mining.

Cornwall’s landscape is littered with mining ruins

Mine closures

Sadly in the twentieth century, the last few remaining mines ceased operations. South Crofty near Camborne was the very last tin mine in the UK to close, with the mine’s first documented production dating as far back 1592.

Geevor

Poignant memories

Finally Geevor mine closed in 1990. Furthermore it is now a time capsule of mining open to visitors. Particularly poignant is “The Dry”. This was where the miners would change before and after shifts. Frozen in time on the day the mine finally closed, even the miners clothes and boots still hang by their lockers.

Poignant image of The Dry, Geevor, after mine was closed

Incredible ruins

Significantly, many old engine houses scattered across the county are easily accessible. They are awe inspiring and atmospheric structures.

Inspiring ruins

Old ruins become nature reserves

The World Heritage region includes many former mine sites that have become important ecological habitats. A wide variety of flora and fauna can be found. Buzzards and kestrels perch high in the ruins. Greater Horseshoe bats hibernate over winter in the safety of the deep shafts. And a rare butterfly with an unusual life cycle thrives in the post-mining ecosystem.

Caterpillar that lives among ants

History spanning many centuries

With a history spanning from antiquity to the mining heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries, there is so much to learn. About the landscape, natural resources and communities that made many of the mines’ success possible.

Iconic engine house

Cousin Jacks

As Cornish miners spread across the world, taking their expertise to mines around the globe, they became affectionately known as Cousin Jacks. And that is the title of our film…   celebration of mining filming in Cornwall