Village Media & TV
Gin Pit Village and Astley and Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Institute (Gin Pit Club) have had their fair share of fame over the years. Both have featured in several TV series from the 1970’s to the 2000’s. Here are just a few
SAM (1972-1975)
Perhaps the most famous and longest running of all the TV series filmed in Gin Pit. A tale of the changing fortunes of ordinary people, Sam was a period drama made by Granada Television created by John Finch. It ran for 39, one-hour episodes over 3 series and two years.
It was a story about mining and was set in Yorkshire. It was the tale of embittered miners thrown aside by the industry they had given their lives to.
Only the opening titles were filmed in Yorkshire; the rest was filmed in collieries around Manchester and in Gin Pit Village.
At the time of production in the 70’s mining was an industry that had not changed much from the 1930’s in which the first series of Sam takes place. So scenes at the pit head were not too difficult to recreate. The pit villages were different: an improved standard of living had altered the appearance of the considerably. But eventually directors of the series found one, called Gin Pit Village. It seemed to have been stuck in a time warp and with some minimal changes, removing television aerials and motorcars, the village was transported back to the 30’s.
The series showed a picture of the past, which would go some way to explain the pressures that have made us what we are today.
BARE NECESSITIES (1996)
This was an hour-long comedy, featuring saucy scenes shot in Gin Pit Village. Most viewers gave the thumbs-up to the play about ex-miners turned strippers baring their assets on the stage at Astley and Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Institute.
While “The Full Monty” was a one-off stunt in the film of that name, here a group of unemployed miners from the industrial wasteland of northern England make it their profession to tour the country by bus, and perform in Chippendales-style, both individually and together in a grand finale. The physical selection may be less strict and the training more rudimentary, they have enough British stage flair to make their all-female audience go absolutely wild with excitement. There were also backstage scenes, and the business side of the enterprise.
The play was set in Yorkshire, and based around the fictitious Debbington Colliery mining community; it was filmed on location in Gin Pit, Tyldesley and Yorkshire. In the ex-pit village once at the heart of a thriving Lancashire Coal Field, the comedy earned almost unanimous approval.
Some residents had to move out of their homes for a week whilst their homes were used for filming, they were compensated of course. Homes were redecorated and had new carpets and kitchen units.
Other residents were able to watch the filming from the comfort of their own homes. One resident had to watch four or five takes of the scene in which a young lady had to bare her breasts at a School Street window – purely in the interests of art you understand.
The play did show the village in a good light, every comment was very positive.
Some other scenes were filmed in Tyldesley town centre and featured Frank’s Café in Elliot Street. The owner felt the film was a laugh but still portrayed northerners as the flat cap, whippet and pigeon brigade.
VINCENT (2005)
A Crime Drama starring Ray Winstone as an ex cop turned private investigator. Vincent Gallagher and his team of PI’s do whatever it takes to tackle cases that come to them. The show also starred Suranne Jones and Joe Absolom.
Astley and Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Institute was featured in an episode of the series as the location for a lottery syndicate’s party to celebrate their big win on the national lottery.
DISAPPEARING BRITAIN (2006)
Astley and Tyldesley Miners’ Welfare Institute was featured in November 2006 as part of Channel Five’s TV series Disappearing Britain – Age of Coal. The programme was presented by well known comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson. He examined the history of industrial Britain and shared his interest in coal mining.
The programme highlighted that Gin Pit is a thriving community, unlike many such villages built for the miners that no longer exist
When the programme visited the club in August 2006 the camera crew filmed some cycle speedway action and whippet racing for the report.
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If you know of any other examples of filming or media interest in Gin Pit Please let me know
Email Phil
