Watched Poldark on the Yesterday channel where they showed a scene of someone exploring a potential copper mine.
Although not sure if this was an actual mine, a cave or an adit opening into a cave. I wondered where it was, looked online and although many sea caves are mentioned, can't find any info easily (googled) on where the underground scenes where filmed.
An obvious guess would be Poldark mine, but I guess that (the tourist attraction part with tour) came after the series.
Wherever it was was very wet.
Does anyone know off the top of their heads?

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underground scenes for the early series were filmed at the CSM's King Edward Mine during the summer vacation.

Stretching memory cells to the limit, Prof Tony Batchelor, John Watton the photographer, Tom Bowden the miner, and students including Julian Lloyd and Dave Starke variously appeared as extras.

later series didn't appear to have the budget for this, and the Crowns area at Botallack makes an appearance. Watch Cap'n Poldark's house; the indoor and outdoor scenes were filmed in several locations, plus various studio sets, and the continuity was a subject of a certain amount of vulgar humour even then 😉

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Thanks!
Hard to see too much as the 1970's Cameras just left huge trails after the candle lamp actor (or CSM Student!) was carrying.
In last night's episode, Ross is married with a child and looking to reopen/rework an old copper mine which had been explored by an old colleague, so could be series 2?

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I believe there were others.. a number of students worked as stage hands, as well.

I do remember that a large temporary tank was set up at one time, for a scene in which a character was supposed to have fallen in the sump. I believe this was done in the mill building, which was otherwise out of use at the time ( the min pro element of the course having moved to the Trevenson campus )


I think the supposed 'old working' in Series 2 is probably the old men's workings at Botallack.

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I always remember it as typical period bodice-ripper in the Catherine Cookson style, my wife was a great fan of it... which says it all, really :)

if you want a really super piece of hokum, I reckon Roger Moore's scenes in the flooded mine in 'Gold' take some beating.. wonderful stuf...

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The outdoor scenes were shot on location using 16mm film stock - the indoor scenes were mostly studio based and recorded on video. The early studio 3 tube plumbicon colour TV cameras couldn't cope with 'speculars' or naked flames, hence the "comet tailing". Later versions employed complicated circuitry that reduced significantly this unwanted effect, but when broadcast CCD colour cameras became available, the problem went away. But the change of quality between film and video edited together in the same episode could never be overcome.
I seem to remember that the Poldark House was in fact the farm at the top of the mine road leading down to the Crowns' section, Botallack, but a lot of artistic licence took place - parts of the same scene could be shot in several Cornish locations, on a tight lens, if the director thought it necessary. Keen eyed viewers still noticed, however.

I was told that the front of the farm house was used but not the back, but the interior scenes had already been shot, partly in another house altogether and partly in the studio and so the internal and external layouts of the house were different ::)

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Think you will find much of the later filming took place ain and around Godolphin House near Breage. Quite apt when you consider this was the home of the Godolphin family who made much of their wealth from copper and tin mines such as Great Work and Godolphin Bal - right beneath their feet.

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I was told by John Bullock that the water in one scene where the miners have to sit/lie in it was warm !

On a slightly different track, anyone remember treasure houses - A miner takes his son underground for the first time. The sequence was down the cliff at Levant and then underground in Condurrow, - that is some adit !

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There was also the series "Penmarric" (79 - 81??) which featured Cornish mines. I haven't seen it since, but I think it was based around the St.Just area and may have featured some local mines. I cannot remember if they had any underground scenes, but the series was based on the fortunes of a Cornish mining family.
Perhaps time for another Cornish Mining Costume drama - I am sure Geevor, Poldark and South Crofty could help out with underground scenes. I would also like see a tin or china clay version of the excellent coal house family shown on BBC4 (or was it 3) recently.
Thanks for info on Cameras - I did wonder.

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