Mines on Film · AditNow Community

Wyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

I was watching the DVD of "Edge of Darkness" recently and it was interesting to see the scenes in Manod and Gwynfynydd. This got me thinking about mines or quarries on film or TV and how I'd like to see more.
I know of the following examples (apart from the above).
"The Keep" - Glynrhonwy Uchaf
"First Knight" - Llanfair
"Willow" - Dinorwig
"Gone to Earth" - Snailbeach (surface)
The odd Dr Who episode at Parys.

Does anyone know of other examples?
Does anyone have any photos to upload?

Captain Scarlet
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Newbie

18 years ago

#2

I enjoyed "The Stars Look Down" an old B&W with Michael Redgrave from about 1940. I am not sure where it was filmed but the special effects were really good for that era.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031976/

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#3

I've got a friend whose father was horsemaster on Willow - I'll see if they've got some photos they're happy for me to upload.

The Keep, been meaning to ab into the pit for some time to check out the remains - one day :)

I was intrigued to read that part of Edge of Darkness was filmed in Gwynfynydd (I knew about Manod)- do you know which scenes exactly? The tunnel sequences?

TIA!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

JohnnearCfon
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Newbie

18 years ago

#4

Dr Who was also filmed at Graig Ddu slate quarry (episode Five Doctors) another episode was filmed at the Brockham Limeworks, near Dorking, Surrey (at that time housing, and making use of Brockham Narrow gauge Railway Museum).

Artemis 81 starring Hywel Bennett and Sting was filmed in some of the tunnels of Dinorwic Power Station.
Treasure Hunt with Aneka Rice visited Llechwedd during one program.

Brave Old World (an HTV documentary with the late Wynford Vaughn-Thomas) visited Maen Offeren, Rhos, Penrhyn, Oakeley, slate quarries and others.

Slate Makers (a BBC2 documentary) visited Pen yr Orsedd, Maen Offeren, and other slate quarries.

Another TV series used Garreg Fawr/Silurian Iron mines. Sorry, I can't remember much more I think it was a BBC programme and was based on Merlin filmed late 80s or early 90s.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#5

Up in Hollands Miles and I found a tunnel with some evidence of film set (fake wall structures supposedly stone) - any ideas what this might have been? Possibly Brave Old World?

There was a PlayBoy shoot at Llechwedd as well IIRC!?

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

Wyn
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie Topic Starter

18 years ago

#6

Thanks All,

Simon, the tunnel with the engine and wagon sequence, where they drop through a trapdoor into a whinze is Gwynfynydd (I think)

As for Documentaries.
I can think of "Extreme Archaeology" in Parys. The Great Orme on "Coast". There was a couple a few years back on Welsh TV, one about the Gold mines and recent works. The other about Welsh miners involved in consolidation work in Combe Down (Bath).
Anymore ideas.

Barney
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Newbie

18 years ago

#7

"simonrl" wrote:

There was a PlayBoy shoot at Llechwedd as well IIRC!?

Hee hee, yes there was, pervy here has a pic! 😞

jagman
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Newbie

18 years ago

#8

"Barney" wrote:

"simonrl" wrote:

There was a PlayBoy shoot at Llechwedd as well IIRC!?

Hee hee, yes there was, pervy here has a pic! 😞

Share damnit :lol:

Barney
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Newbie

18 years ago

#9

ok, when i can find the software for my scanner i will sort it, as long as no one objects to a pair of tits in my personal album!!! :thumbup:

Captain Scarlet
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Newbie

18 years ago

#10

"jagman" wrote:

"Barney" wrote:

"simonrl" wrote:

There was a PlayBoy shoot at Llechwedd as well IIRC!?

Hee hee, yes there was, pervy here has a pic! 😞

Share damnit :lol:

Hear Hear !!

STANDBY FOR ACTION!!!!...

LAP
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#11

There was another Dr Who episode set at Seacombe limestone mine...
And a classic 1980s series Called the tripods, a scene of which is filmed in a huge welsh slate quarry.. by the looks of things maenofferen... but only external.. no underground.
And later in the tripods, a scene was set at Llechwedd.. with BEVs etc...

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#12

Ah, I remember the Tripods series - didn't realise those scences were set in Welsh slate quarries - thanks for the info!

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

LAP
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Newbie

18 years ago

#13

Presumsbly it must have been a ffestiniog quarry, as it did some panorame shots of massive tips. I guess Llechwedd or Maenofferen. There was also a scene when they were walking through a large, but relic-less mill.... could be Diffwys?

Kein geneis kanaf - Cain gnais canaf
Byt vndyd mwyhaf - byth onddyth moyav
Lliaws a bwyllaf - Líows o boylav
Ac a bryderaf - ac o boryddarav
Kyfarchaf y veird byt - covarcav yr vairth
Pryt nam dyweid - poryth na'm dowaith
Py gynheil y byt - Pa gonail y byth
Na syrch yn eissywyt - na soroc yn eishoyth
Neur byt bei syrchei - nour byth bai sorochai

Heb
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#14

Remember Monty Python's film, The Holy Grail? The scene with the killer rabbits - That looks very much like Tomnadashan Copper mine on the shores of Loch Tay.

hymac580c
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Newbie

18 years ago

#15

Some scenes of'First Knight' were made at Hollands at Oakley and at Cwm teigl on the road to Cwt y Bugail quarry. Also the Maenafferem office addit was used in 'The Keep'. There used to be bit of polysyrene scenes on the right just a little way in. A scene in Macbeth by Polanski was filmed just under 'Drum' quarry. I think it was the wiches dwelling in the small mill by the track.

Bellach dim ond swn y gwynt yn chwibian, lle bu gynt yr engan ar cynion yn tincian.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#16

I wish I'd taken a photo in Hollands - may well of been bits of the First Knight set we saw.

Here's the link to some photos of Willow from Dinorwic (right down the bottom of the page):

http://www.filmhorses.co.uk/pages/gallery.asp?pID=5

Doesn't show much in the way of quarry or behind the scenes - I'll ask the chap if he has any more photos.

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by

stevem
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#17

A few weeks ago they were filming a few scenes for a new program about the life and times of Dylan Thomas. It was supposed to be the period when he was fighting in Greece.
where did they choose. Rhiw Fachno on a wet Cwm Penmachno weekend ::)
Whoever was shooting at him wasn't very good cause they tried all day and never got it. But it wasn't until the afternoon he actually shot back 🙂
Look out for it on an S4C, HTV near you soon!

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who
screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.

stevem
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#18

"stevem" wrote:

Look out for it on an S4C, HTV near you soon!

Belay that order!!
In fact it is supposed to have Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller in it and is called "The Edge of Love"
If I'd have known that I would have gone for a closer look 😮

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who
screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.

stevem
50.2% (Neutral)
Newbie

18 years ago

#19

"stevem" wrote:
Keira Knightley and Sienna Miller

And the characters they play were lesbians :thumbsup:

May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the crotch of the person who
screws up your day and may their arms be too short to scratch.

simonrl
51% (Neutral)
Administration

18 years ago

#20

Flipping heck - it's a good job Miles isn't reading this! 🙂 🙂

my orders are to sit here and watch the world go by