England 1888. A gothic tale of loneliness, control, exploitation and the spark of liberation
Bal Maiden dramatises the lesser known role of women within the mining industry in Cornwall in the 18th century. In an 18th century Cornish tin mining community, two isolated young women risk their lives to break free from abuse after a local miner pushes them to breaking point.
Cornish 'Bal Maidens' were female surface workers in Cornish metal mines, whose numbers peaked in the 18th and 19th centuries, handling tasks like ore dressing, which involved breaking, smashing, and separating valuable ore from waste rock.
While first documented in the 13th century, their work became more prominent after a 14th-century post-Black Death mining revival. They were often depicted as romantic figures in art and literature, despite the difficult conditions of their work. Their decline was due to changing Victorian attitudes about gender roles and the rise of new technologies and industries.