Costume and Design – photos by Laura McNeill

Photographs copyright of Laura McNeill, no reproduction without permission.

These photos feature various costume and design staff at Pebble Mill, amongst others – mostly taken at parties.  They include: Terry Powell, Paul Gooch, Ray Holman, Peter Lloyd, John Ellis, Jacqui Pratt, Maggie Thomas, Diane Lester, Al Barnett, Tracey, Sally Holden, Cathy Ayerst, Lesley Thomas, Carl Dolan, Conrad Fletcher.

Pebble Mill Signs – from Russell Parker


Photos by Russell Parker, no reproduction without permission.

The first sign used to hang in MFA (multi format area) of Post Production, where tapes and film would be transferred. I don’t know what the machine was that the sign was pointing out the dangers to, nor what the ‘liquid’ was, but I love the dramatic nature of it!

The second sign obviously was displayed on the BBC Birmingham Club, which was a separate single storey building over the brook from the main Pebble Mill block.

The sign may have been referring to the film processing equipment, which was run by Alan Barnby and John Brian.

It’s reassuring to know that these little bits of history were not consigned to landfill when the building was demolished – but live on to be enjoyed!

Electrical Safety Sign – from Andy Frizzell

Photo by Andy Frizzell, no reproduction without permission.

This sign was salvaged from BBC Pebble Mill, before the building was demolished, and rehomed.

It used to hang on the wall between the inner and outer doors of studio A (airlock) nearest the Foyer. There must have been others at the other entrances.

Judging by the BBC logo it must have been there from the day the studios opened.

Pebble Mill the farm

Pebble Mill the farm

This picture is of the original Pebble Mill farm long before BBC Pebble Mill was even a twinkle in the Corporation’s eye.  It probably dates from the 19th Century.

The BBC acquired the site about ten years before the building was erected.  The land was actually owned by the Calthorpe Estate.

Thanks to Juliet Dean from Film Unit for making this picture available.

The future of the Pebble Mill site – Paul Newman

entrance to Pebble Mill car park

Pebble Mill security hut

7 years after the BBC decamped to the Mailbox planning permission is now well advanced for a relocated Dental Hospital where the BBC Nursery used to be, with its frontage onto the Bristol Road. The big construction project is due to start next year and open for patients around 2014. The side of the site facing Pebble Mill Road is due to be occupied by a private hospital – I don’t know which group – but there is a question mark over funding, or so my contacts tell me at the City Council. One third of the site has no fresh use planned at present, although a nature trail is under consideration alongside the brook. Last time I walked past the tree in the middle of the car park was still standing, rather forlorn, but it probably has some form of limited legal protection from the bulldozers. I suppose it’s rather ironic, if that is the right word, that a film location where a fictional medical drama was shot every day will soon become a location where real medical dramas happen every day.

Paul Newman