Northwest Vision and Media, create the bigger picture
Rossendale Recognised as Prime Filming Location
A STUNNING giant sculpture trail in the heart of the
Pennines has been named December’s filming Location of The
Month, in recognition of the amazing collection of public
art.
The prestigious accolade has been awarded to the
Rossendale Valley by Northwest Vision and Media, which works on
behalf of the TV, film, radio and digital content industries.
Together with a collection of other hidden gems found in
Lancashire’s Rossendale Valley, the sculpture trail will now
be marketed to film and TV production companies across the county,
in a bid to bring more filming to the region.
As one of the largest public art projects in the country, the
six-mile long stretch of the Rossendale portion of the sculpture
trail first appeared in 1987, and is a delightful display of
environmental art. It also makes for a fascinating filming
location.
“Everyone knows Lancashire as an area made famous for its
textile industries, down to earth folk and quirky traditions. But
Rossendale has lots of other things to offer, too, which is why
it’s now ready to welcome a new generation of visitors
– film crews,” explains Vision and Media’s
Lancashire Film Officer, Lynda Banister,
Rossendale is made up of four main areas – Bacup, Haslingden,
Rawtenstall and Whitworth, with the pretty Lancashire borough
offering an array of landscapes, backdrops and fascinating
locations.
“Rossendale is uniquely positioned to offer both rural and
urban landscapes,” says Lynda. “The stunning giant
sculpture trail is visible for miles, then there’s all the
museums we have to offer, together with traditional settings
echoing the area’s industrial past. For filmmakers, there
really is so much to offer.”
Cowm Quarry is also a fantastic quarry location, used for the first
time last year when Avalon TV's Kombat Opera and Granada's
I’m A Crash Test Dummy was filmed. “In Crash Test the
film crew wrapped a double-decker bus in bubble wrap then pushed it
over the quarry to see what would happen! It was an amazing sight,
and proves the filming potential of the quarry,” says
Lynda.
Set against a stunning yet unruly background, the site covers 150
acres. Occupied by Cowm Leisure in Whitworth, it also offers a
number of outdoor activities such as quad biking and clay pigeon
shooting as well as holding a range of other events throughout the
year. Standing at one of the pinnacles of the Rossendale Valley,
the attraction perfectly emphasises the eye-catching landscape and
the ambience of the surrounding hills and moors.
Rich in industrial relics, Bacup in particular has been formally
recognised by English Heritage as the Best Preserved Mill Town in
England, while Rawtenstall is home to Fitzpatrick’s,
Britain’s last remaining temperance bar, serving traditional
beverages such as Blood Tonic, Black Beer and Sarsaparilla.
“Although Rossendale is no stranger to the limelight, as
we’ve had a number of gritty northern productions filming in
the Valley in the past, Vision and Media felt the time was right to
showcase the area’s many talents once more,” says
Lynda.
Both the Helmshore Mills Textile Museum and the East Lancashire
Railway offer a step back in time, using traditional buildings as
their base and bringing the past back to life.
“The Museum dates back to the 1700’s and incorporates a
fully working waterwheel, together with an original mule spinning
room and an original Spinning Jenny,” explains Lynda. The
East Lancashire Railway, a fully operational steam railway
stretching 12 miles between Rawtenstall and Bury, is equally
impressive.
“Once on board you saunter through the beautiful countryside
and lose yourself in history. It’s still very much an
untouched route, and we’re confident filmmakers and location
managers alike will be as impresses with the area as we are,”
she adds.
Features of
the Month - December 2007
