Ive been taking a more 'slow filming' approach with this project - governed by the seasons, changeable weather and letting stories come to me naturally while not forgetting to grasp opportunities as they arise. Like filming the magnolia's before they go over with a drone (more about this in later posts!), or when a visitor appears out of the blue at Trengwainton who has a wonderful story to tell about place and history - capturing moments in time...
Here's a little bit about Billy Barr who I interviewed in February 2016 filmed in the atmospheric Trengwainton tool shed...
In 1941 Billy Barr left school at 14 years old to join his father on the Trengwainton estate who was a mason. He had hoped to become a general worker for the Bolitho family and their various properties so he could travel around but the only job available for Billy at the time was to work at Trengwainton garden.
Billy was a gardener through a fascinating period of Trengwainton's history from 1941 - 1944. He experienced the Madron/Penzance area during WW2, met land girls who also worked at the garden and grew potatoes and other vegetables along the terrace to feed the troops up in London.
Billy 'joined up' in 1944 and returned to Trengwainton in 1947 to work in the garden again for a further year. But the army had changed him and as he was a young man he wanted to experience new things further afield.
After having been away from Cornwall for many years he now lives locally again. He visited Trengwainton recently and following this trip sent the Trengwainton gardening team a letter - below is an extract;