SOUTH CROFTY TO FEATURE IN NEW TV SERIES

South Crofty tin mine will feature in a new TV series entitled ‘How We Built Britain’ which is being presented by veteran broadcaster David Dimbleby. 

Mr Dimbleby and his camera crew spent a day setting up and filming 150 feet underground in the mine this week. Lighting was rigged to make the most of the dramatic stopes and tunnels and a smoke machine re-created the eerie atmosphere that miners hundreds of years ago would have had to contend with.

The new series, which is being accompanied by a book that David Dimbleby is also writing, delves into British history from the Middle Ages through to the modern day.  As part of the South Crofty feature, Mr Dimbleby talks about the ore and minerals that the mine has been producing since the 1600s and finds out what it was like to be a miner before the days of electricity and powered drills.

Robin Whale and Colin Taylor, who are both employed by Baseresult Holdings Ltd and who have both been mining for years, were filmed showing how tunnelling through the rock was done using nothing more than a sledgehammer and a borer.  Robin was holding the borer whilst Colin hit it and explained the dangers on camera.

‘The men used to work in pairs and often father and son would be together,’ said Robin.  ‘Tragically there have been recorded incidents of a father killing his son accidentally with a sledgehammer blow to the skull rather than the borer. Fortunately, though, that never happened at South Crofty.’

To highlight the dangerous conditions that miners used to work in, the production crew also filmed Robin and Colin by candlelight.

‘They used to burn the candles on their sides to give greater light,’ said Robin.  ‘Ventilation was a real problem and oxygen levels were low.  It was a short and brutish life but it was better paid than farm labouring.’

David Dimbleby was clearly fascinated by his South Crofty experience.

‘The last mine I went down was a platinum mine in South Africa,’ he said.  ‘This is just as impressive and exciting as that.  The thought that this mine has been worked over 400 years is really very thrilling and moving – particularly when you think of the hardship that miners went through in those days to get the ore out.’

Before he left Mr Dimbleby, aware that the mine is progressively gearing up for future tin production, also wished Kevin and his team good luck with their venture.

‘How We Built Britain’ is a six part series that is scheduled to be broadcast on BBC 1 on Sunday evening at 9pm throughout April next year.

3 November 2006