Blackcraig1
10 years ago
Hello all,

I've uploaded a selection of screencaptures from the 2015 "Poldark" TV series into my personal Aditnow photo album. They show a mix of surface and underground mining scenes, including Wheal Owles (Cardogna Shaft) and Botallack (Crowns Section) Mines, digitally dressed-up as 'Wheal Leisure' and 'Grambler' mines in the series. Underground scenes shot at Poldark Mine - Wendron - are also included. What does everyone think of these, and how well the series portrays 18th Century Cornish copper mining?
jhluxton
10 years ago
Thanks for this gives one time to really study the images rather than the fleeting glimpses one gets on screen.

The producers certainly went to a lot of trouble to reconstruct digitally the Crown's Section at Botallack albeit as it would appear 100 years later.

Basically as there is no surviving 18th Century infrastructure liberties have had to be taken. In the original 1970s series which didn't spend as much time at the mines, there was an attempt to portray a Newcomen type beam engine / engine house I recall.

Whilst I can be a bit of a nit picker when it comes to historical authenticity I think we have to forgive the set anachronisms in Poldark as I think the series does capture the spirit of Cornish Mining and generates awareness and interest to a much wider audience of millions given the series popularity not only here but also in Australia and US which can only be good.

Quite a few may wish to find out more about our industrial past and who may well join the hobby. I think we should forgive the errors, enjoy the the forthcoming five series and welcome the positive effect it will have on industrial history.

BTW what is noticeable is the lack of headgear on the miners when working underground. In the original series we did see the felt hats (tulls) with candles secured with clay not really apparent in this series.

John
www.jhluxton.com - Transport, Industrial Archaeology Photography and More
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jhluxton/  - my Flickr Photostream

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