Blog – Page 3 – What Was Pebble Mill?

Anna of the Five Towns Publicity Photos

L-R Katie Carey, Linsey Beauchamp, Emrys James, director Martyn Friend

F/g Dir Martyn Friend, make-up Linda Webster, Engineering Manager Dick Bentley

Possible location Port Erin, Isle of Man

Publicity photographs taken on location for the 1985 drama: Anna of the Five Towns. Most of the locations are at the Black Country Museum.

Pebble Mill Nursery

This cutting is from the opening of the Pebble Mill crèche in 1989 – one of the first in the BBC. It was actually Pebble Mill’s second creche, the first being in the 1970s, and only lasting a year or two. Ruth Barretto (Gill) and her daughter, Elena Rebekah were at the 1989 opening, along with Head of Broadcasting, David Waine and creche Manager, Pauline Mandry.

Anna of the Five Towns – Publicity Card

Anna of the Five Towns was transmitted from 9 Jan 1985 on BBC 2.

Promo card inside cover

Promo card inside

Promo card back page

Martin Chuzzlewit – Crew Photo

This photo is of the cast and crew of the drama serial ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’ 1994. It was taken to celebrate the 1000th slate.

The director was Pedr James, with John Kenway as DoP.

Thanks to Josephine Mainwaring for sharing the photo. It was probably taken by photographer Stephen Morley.

Martin Chuzzlewit – photos from Mark Smithers

Here are some photos from Mark Smithers of ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’, featuring some of the cast. ‘Martin Chuzzlewit’ was produced at Pebble Mill in 1994. With filming all over the Cotswolds and Kings Lynn in Norfolk. Mark remembers that it was a constant surprise turning up on location and being transported back 200 years by the amazing design team.

Costume designer Jeremy Turner won a BAFTA in 1995 for his Chuzzlewit costume designs. His assistant was the talented and knowledgeable Paul Higton, and various pieces were created at Pebble Mill by brilliant seamstresses.