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Charlestown

In Brief

Name: CHARLESTOWN
Classification: Village (confusingly)
Twinned with: No-one
Population: A few hundred people now but it actually started off with just nine people when it was known as West Polmear back in the 18th century
Notable former resident: More of an owner than a resident, noted entrepreneur Charles Rashleigh bought and then transformed Charlestown into a busy south coast harbour for the china clay and mining industry in the late 18th century. It’s still named after him
Films shot in town: Loads, including ‘The Eagle Has Landed’ (1976), ‘The Three Musketeers’ (1993), ‘Apocalypto’ (2006), ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (2010) and ‘Bait’ (2018). TV shows include an episode of ‘Doctor Who’ called ‘The Curse of the Black Spot’ (2011), ‘Taboo’ (2017) and, of course, ‘Poldark’ (2015-2019)
Interesting factoid: The grade II listed harbour in Charlestown has been described as ‘the last open 18th century Georgian harbour in the UK’

CORNWALL’S MOVIE STAR: CHARLESTOWN

Seasoned movie stars don’t have to be rich and famous. They don’t even need to be people. What they do have to be is dependable, versatile and featured in many great films over a great many years. The fishing village of Charlestown, barely a mile south of St Austell in Cornwall, fits the bill perfectly. This star of the serene southern coastline has been featured in an array of massive movies and tremendous TV shows over countless years. The grade II listed Georgian harbour is the leading light here, as are the tall ships that can oft be seen within its walls and the period properties and traditional stone fishermen’s cottages that surround it. Charlestown is certainly a village to visit if you want to conjure up scenes from ‘Poldark’, ‘Doctor Who’ or even ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Get those cameras rolling…