Murder mystery series aims to memorialise teen
It has taken Mr Baldwin 15 years to research, fundraise, film and edit Lucy Sands' story after a strange dream led to him finding out about the unsolved case.In 1881, the 16 year old's body was discovered hidden under a pile of stones beside a railway line in Workington, Cumbria.She had gone to meet friends in town but never returned.Mr Baldwin said the discovery of Lucy's body attracted worldwide attention and dominated the local news at the time.
Her murder came a few years before the attacks in White Chapel, London perpetrated by notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper.Until then, Mr Baldwin said: "This (her murder) was massive. "It was billed as the most heinous crime against any female in Victoria's reign until the White Chapel murders."He says her story fell into obscurity however, adding: "I feel like I've been tasked with the job of being messenger, to find out what happened and give her some peace... giving her the justice she's been robbed of."
This is Mr Baldwin's first time writing and directing a TV series.He used to be a tailor and moved to Tavistock to bring up his family.While in the South West he became an extra on two series of the BBC One drama Poldark.Initially, he wanted to find out how to provide costumes for the show, but found himself increasingly intrigued by how television was made and ended up wanting to film his own drama.
He had connections to both Cumbria and the South West and recreated Lucy's story using locations he knew in Cornwall and Devon that would fit the story. Flambards Victorian village provided the perfect ready made set.Mr Baldwin said: "It became like a second home to us. "We had uninterrupted usage of the place."
Cornish actor Emma McGee added that it was like fulfilling a childhood dream: "I went there many times as a child. "So to be there as a film set and sort of explore it, rather than just to move through it and to live in it, felt really real."
Tavistock court and Bodmin Railway were also used as film locations to tell Lucy Sands' story.The railway doubled as the place where her body was found.Mark-Allan Pilgrim, who played Detective Inspector Isaac Bird, said: "The strange thing about it is the platform and the waiting room is almost a carbon copy of a photo of the one it's meant to represent."Jimmy James who works at the Bodmin Railway and doubled up as an extra as a guard on the steam train, said: "They took over, it was very different and lots of fun."
The series is still looking for a home on UK television but those who want to see Cornwall's starring role in it, can join some of the cast at a screening on 5 July at The Old Library, Bodmin.
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