Pebble Mill Studios

[izzy eckerslike]

Did any of you work there?

Contrary to popular belief very little scenery was produced at Pebble Mill, it was nearly all contracted out, mostly to Eagle Road Studios in Redditch. I worked on the scenery there from 1980 -1998, hundreds of programmes inc Howards Way, Juliet Bravo, Dangerfield, Noels telly addicts etc. the Dickens classics, Oliver twist, Martin Chuzzlewit, parts of which were filmed at Redditch studio. The final series of All creatures was also filmed at Redditch studio.

I have a few photo's and memorabilia, here is the filming of 'Anna of the five towns' location was at the Black country museum, large plywood frontages were installed held up by scaffolding. If you look across the end of the street scene you can see a row of scenery buildings, they were put there to hide the busy dual carriageway as articulated lorries zooming past would be out of place! They were actually fitted onto the sides of lorries so they could be driven away at close of each days filming.

 

[izzy eckerslike]

Another photo showing filming in progress, all those buildings are scenery, painted by me, the brickwork is Vacform and comes as grey plastic sheets made by Pinewood studios, it has to be stapled on and painted using emulsion paints and spray gun treatment to age it.

 

[A Sparks]

That's really interesting!
I remember watching Anna of the Five Towns.

 

[mikejee]

Fascinating

 

[carolina]

How interesting to see what goes on behind the scenes

 

[Nooze22]

Does anyone have any knowledge of Chas Lewis? I believe he was a cameraman at Pebble Mill. Thank you

 

[Lemonella]

Did any of you work there?

Contrary to popular belief very little scenery was produced at Pebble Mill, it was nearly all contracted out, mostly to Eagle Road Studios in Redditch. I worked on the scenery there from 1980 -1998, hundreds of programmes inc Howards Way, Juliet Bravo, Dangerfield, Noels telly addicts etc. the Dickens classics, Oliver twist, Martin Chuzzlewit, parts of which were filmed at Redditch studio. The final series of All creatures was also filmed at Redditch studio.

I have a few photo's and memorabilia, here is the filming of 'Anna of the five towns' location was at the Black country museum, large plywood frontages were installed held up by scaffolding. If you look across the end of the street scene you can see a row of scenery buildings, they were put there to hide the busy dual carriageway as articulated lorries zooming past would be out of place! They were actually fitted onto the sides of lorries so they could be driven away at close of each days filming.View attachment 148535View attachment 148536

I did some temporary office work in the expenses department at Pebble Mill in 1973 and I had a bad experience with a 'manager' who worked there. She covered for the real manager for two weeks and I covered for her. As soon as she sat in the manager's chair she turned into Cruella de Vil. She made my life hell and roasted me when I was late back from lunch one day. The other staff were shocked and said I should have gone home, but I stayed as I needed the money. Her nasty comments have stayed with me and I know first hand how women change when they have been given a bit of power.

 

[Lemonella]

Another photo showing filming in progress, all those buildings are scenery, painted by me, the brickwork is Vacform and comes as grey plastic sheets made by Pinewood studios, it has to be stapled on and painted using emulsion paints and spray gun treatment to age it.View attachment 148529

The scenery is amazing, but the horses are so beautiful and in great condition, they would not have been so well looked after in the old days.