An Introduction To Millom // Documentary Short Film // My RodeReel 2018

A short video documentary about Millom, a small south Cumbrian town.
Produced as our 2018 entry to the MyRødeReel International Film Competition by Røde Microphones.
Archive media courtesy of Jade Hughes at the Millom Discovery Centre.

[@thebadloser]

This is a really nice potted history of Millom mate - well done. I was born there in the early 60;s when it was a thriving town with full employment. My mother started her working life at the Tannery and dad worked at the Ironworks. I can remember, as a five year-old boy, when they held a mock funeral, carrying a coffin through the streets when the Ironworks closed to signify the death of the town. I've always loved going back to visit family and spend holidays, but as the film says, the town has been shamefully neglected over the decades since by Copeland Council. In hindsight, demolishing all the buildings associated with the industry was a big mistake if you see what Whitehaven has made of it's industrial heritage. Millom could've done the same. But it still has beautiful coastline, unbeatably friendly, decent people and I really hope the future is as bright as the film suggests. Millom deserves a bit of good luck. But please don't fix the road down to the Rocks and the Mains - I selfishly still love having them all to myself when I go for my coast walks!

[@anthonybrewer6605]

My grandmother is from Millom and I visited in October from Texas. Wonderful, down-to-earth people live there, and I felt completely at home, oddly enough. I would rather spend a week there chatting and drinking with the locals than I would dragging around London or some other popular "destination".

[@HawkValleyProductions]

Thanks for your comments! (Sorry for the delayed reply!). It's a fascinating place, with a great sense of local history. As you say, though, pity so much of the historical structures have been lost or demolished - they could have been such an asset!So close to the south lakes but not really benefiting in the way some towns and villages have on the more fashionable side of the lakes!

[@millomweb]

Millom wouldn't be so bad if a civilisation moved in. There are too many inhabitants keen on killing everything off.

[@derisleybrittain]

Excellent video 👍👍👍😁😁😁😁

[@Glenn1967ful]

Interesting, I was in Haverigg yesterday and you can see the remains of the ironworks in Millom. Also until 1992, the town had a factory producing stockings and tights. Yet Millom seems to be fighting back as the tourist industry in Haverigg is bringing more money into the area, the town has a Tesco now, and the prison is a major employer. Then Barrow, where hundreds of people work at the shipyard, is served by an hourly train service from Millom.

[@HawkValleyProductions]

Thanks for your comments! I've lived here for a few years now, it's a very interesting place with lots of local history!

[@millomweb]

@@HawkValleyProductions Keep digging - still more history to find - like the dead baby found on the tip on 1st Dec 1989

[@wiganfan3373]

And that Tesco is rubbish, before Tesco we had a Morrison's, Lipton's, Somerfields, Safeways and a few others in the same place, Safeways was by far the best

[@Glenn1967ful]

@@wiganfan3373 Been a long time since I've been into Millom, only thought there was a Tesco.

[@wiganfan3373]

@@Glenn1967ful they where all in the same building at some point, Tesco is just the most recent, would love Aldi to take it over

[@Straker1923]

A few faux pas in this rather woodenly narrated documentary. The Iron Works closed in Sept '68 hence the works hooter would cease then, not 1969! Facts laddie, get the facts!

[@millomweb]

When did the mines shut ?
I've got it in my mind that the iron works shut in 69.

[@Straker1923]

@@millomweb Defo Sept '68

[@millomweb]

@@Straker1923 Yeah, could be right - three years after 65.