Situated on the south coast of Cornwall, the village of Charlestown has caught the eye of the filming industry a fair few times. Location scouts have been quick to spot the potential of the port and transformed it into unimaginable scenes such as a Central American beach.
It’s no wonder that this perfectly preserved location has been picked for filming time and time again. It’s not only the last standing 18th-century Georgian harbour, it’s also proudly part of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In the future, once the lockdown restrictions have eased and you fancy a trip to teleport you back in time, we hope you’ll consider our holiday village in Cornwall as a place to call home while you explore the heritage of Charlestown.
In the meantime, here are a few references to give you an idea of the stunning scenery that Charlestown has to offer and the films that made use of its captivating character.
Filmed in 1993, with a cast of Charlie Sheen, Keifer Sutherland and Chris O’Donnell to name a couple. The Three Musketeers made use of a ship on a night-shoot. Charlestown is home to the galleon was used in that scene.
Cornwall’s landscape was used in various other scenes throughout the film, such as Golitha Falls, a small wood that was used when the musketeers were escaping the pursuit of the guards.
A much more recent account of the Georgian harbour being captured on film would be in February of 2011 when Doctor Who filmed an episode where Matt Smith battled space pirates.
This was not the first time Doctor Who had been filmed in Cornwall. In 1975, St Austell’s clay pits were used as part of the set. We can only wonder when they’ll be back to film another episode!
Director Mel Gibson impressively staged a 16th century Mexican Mayan homeland in Cornwall. Using Carlyon Bay and Polgaver Beach to set the scene for the main character, Jaguar Paw, to run out onto a Central American beach during a battle, in which he is trying to save his family.
The 2010 adaption of Alice in Wonderland directed by Tim Burton and starring Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, was filmed in Charlestown too. The harbour was utilised to set the scene where Alice sailed away.
And last, but not least, Charlestown is most notably used for filming the Poldark series. Aired on BBC One in 2015, the period drama was adapted from Winston Graham’s novels. Charlestown was also used to portray Truro and Falmouth in the 1970s Poldark series too.
Have we missed out any of your favourites? Be sure to let us know; we’d love to hear your thoughts!
THE VALLEY is proud to be the only 5 Star Gold Self Catering holiday village of its size in the whole of Cornwall
