• Short Summary

    An item about the quarrying of Serpentine Rock and the souvenirs made from it.

  • Description

    The Lizard, Helston, Cornwall.

    Serpentine Rock is broken from the cliffs and transformed into souvenirs.

    L/Ss of surf pounding rocky coastline. L/Ss of men using crowbars to dislodge boulders from the cliffs. At the bottom of the cliff one of the men choses the best bits of coloured stone and chips them down to size.

    Shots of a man in a workshop using a lathe to smooth and shape the rocks. He is carving an ash tray.

    A woman is shown out side a shop admiring souvenirs made from the rock - more ash trays, ornamental light houses, barometers. etc.

    The man in the workshop is Arthur Williams - he has carved Serpentine Rock for 35 years. The quarrymen shown are Vivian Bosustow and Harry Butler.

    Cuts exists - see separate record.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    229.12
    Media URN:
    3204
    Group:
    Unissued / unused
    Archive:
    British Pathe
    Issue Date:
    05/05/1963
    Sound:
    Sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Colour
    Duration:
    00:01:56:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:48:11:00 / 01:50:07:00
    Canister:
    CP 436

Comments (1)

  1. millipina says

    Dear Pathe,
    it was wonderful to find the film of the serpentine rock, even more wonderful to see Vivian Bosustow, I knew him 40 years ago when he had a workshop at Church Cove, The Lizard.
    Vivian took me and my Dad out in a boat to show us around the coves near by, also he let my Mum and I sell models of seals and seagulls that we had made in his little shop.
    The lamp base we watched him craft for us I still have.
    Is the short piece of film the full length or is there more to see ? I would love to watch more.
    I am in a way following in Vivian\'s footsteps, I have always loved serpentine and go to Kynance Cove where Vivian used to go and collect serpentine to make jewellery from.
    Millipina

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