Alvediston and Win Green Hill
(also Breamore House) The Woodlanders ● Stars: Emily Woof, Rufus Sewell, Jodhi May, Tony Haygarth ● Year: 1996 ● Synopsis: Giles Winterborne and Grace Melbury, the daughter of an affluent timber-merchant, are childhood sweethearts and destined to be married. While Grace manages to elevate herself in the world, Giles is less fortunate and their marriage ends up doomed before it’s had chance to begin. ● On Location: The Children of the Forest was also filmed at Breamore. Castle Combe, Chippenham Doctor Dolittle ● Stars: Rex Harrison, Samantha Eggar, Anthony Newley and Richard Attenborough ● Year: 1967 ● Synopsis: A musical about an eccentric English doctor who becomes fed-up with human beings and decides to talk to the animals instead. ● On Location: The village was transformed into a port with a small harbour being created on the banks of By Brook - a perfect place to land a Great Pink Sea Snail after your travels on the South Seas.  | | Publicity shot from Doctor Dolittle |
● Extras: Villagers who took part in the film were paid £2 10 shillings a day (about £28 in today’s cash), and enjoyed expenses to cover meals, alcohol, and even clothing! ● Take Two: Castle Combe also turns up in an episode of Poirot in 1999, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. The diminutive moustached Belgian sleuth retires to sleepy King's Abbot to cultivate his garden, but even here murder soon rears its head. ● Take Three: in 1984, the series Robin of Sherwood starring Michael Praed as the blow dried Robin of Loxley hit our screens. Ignoring Nottingham, film crews converged on Wiltshire for the duration. Nettleton Mill near Castle Combe became the village of Wickham, the Tithe Barn at Bradford-on-Avon became Nottingham Castle’s great hall, Queen Isabells nearly met her end at Lacock Abbey and Robin and John crossed staffs at Bowood House. Corsham Court, Corsham Remains of the Day ● Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Emma Thompson, Christopher Reeve, Tim Pigott-Smith, James Fox, Peter Vaughan and Hugh Grant ● Year: 1993 ● Synopsis: Set just before World War II, a regimented butler puts his stiff-upper-lip before anything else, especially love, romance and other similar stuff-and-nonsense. ● On Location: The film was shot on location at two other nearby estates: Badminton House and Dyrham Park. Corsham Court was one of four stately homes in the West Country used to film both exterior and interior shots, with Corsham Court used for the library and dining room interiors. ● Take Two: A Respectable Trade, a period drama set in Bristol about love, greed and ambition and set against the slave trade in 1788 was also filmed at Corsham Court in 1997. Devizes Far from the Madding Crowd ● Stars: Julie Christie, Terence Stamp, Peter Finch and Alan Bates ● Year: 1967  | | Bear Hotel, Devizes |
● Synopsis: Based on Thomas Hardy's classic, Far from the Madding Crowd is set in the 19th century, and centres on the somewhat stubborn country-bumpkin Bathsheba Everdene and the three very different suitors who fall for her charming ways. ● On Location: Various locations around Devizes were used in the film, in particular, The Market Place, Corn Exchange, Bear Hotel and St John’s Church. In a clever piece of editing, Fanny Robin is shown running past Devizes Town Hall and the Corn Exchange, which are made to look like the same building even though they’re about several hundred yards apart. Freshford, near Bradford on Avon The Titfield Thunderbolt ● Stars: Stanley Holloway, Sid James, George Relph and John Gregson ● Year: 1952  | | Poster for The Titfield Thunderbolt |
● Synopsis: This Ealing comedy classic (and its first in colour) tells the story of an old railway line is threatened with closure. As the notices announcing the railway’s demise, the local villagers decide to run it themselves, despite being faced with some unfriendly competition from the local bus service and pressure to perform from the Ministry of Transport.
● On Location: The film crew spent six weeks on the closed GWR line from Limpley Stoke to Camerton. The church seen in the film is located in Freshford, as is Stanley Holloway’s house. Titfield was in fact located at the now demolished Monkton Combe station. ● Extras: Locals who feature in the film as extras were paid £1 10 shillings a day and many remember the experience for the location catering, since rationing was still around and so the chance to enjoy some free food went down well! Great Chalfield Manor, Melksham
(also Corsham Court and Luckington) Wives & Daughters (TV)
● Stars: Justine Waddell, Bill Paterson, Francesca Annis, Michael Gambon,
Penelope Wilton, and Ian Carmichael
● Year: 1999 ● Synopsis: Drama about middle-English society on the eve of the Industrial Revolution. Molly Gibson’s life is thrown into turmoil when her father marries the prim-and-proper Claire Fitzpatrick. Lacock, Chippenham Fortunes and Misfortunes of Moll Flanders, The (TV) ● Stars: Alex Kingston, Diana Rigg ● Year: 1996 ● Synopsis: Set in the 18th century, the story of Moll Flanders, from moody-teenager to becoming a prostitute in a whore-house. Despite her problems, Moll’s indomitable spirit shines through. ● On Location: According to the website Corsham-Net, the crew upset local residents by dumping loads of soil to hide the modern road surface, which would have been OK but after it had started to rain for several hours, the soil turned to mud and the humour turned somewhat soggy. ● Take Two: Randall & Hopkirk – the remake of the cult sixties serial – was also filmed partly at Lacock in 1999. Lacock Abbey, Chippenham Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone ● Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Robbie Coltrane, John Cleese, Dame Maggie Smith, Zoe Wanamaker, Alan Rickman, Richard Griffiths and Julie Walters. ● Year: 2001  | | Lacock Abbey |
● Synopsis: Eleven-year-old orphan Harry Potter discovers he is a wizard, like you do, and has been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sorcery, Quidditch and scary beasts ensue. ● On Location: The Abbey's cloisters and side rooms were transformed into the classrooms at Hogwarts School while the location was also used for Harry's discovery of the Mirror of Erised. Lacock, Chippenham
(also, Luckington Court and Sheldon Manor) Pride and Prejudice (TV) ● Stars: Jennifer Ehle, Colin Firth, Susannah Harker, Crispin Bonham-Carter, Alison Steadman, Adrian Lukis and Julia Sawalha. ● Year: 1995 ● Synopsis: The strong-willed Elizabeth Bennet knows that marrying someone with cash is the only way to secure her future. When Mr Darcy, a rides into town, complete with wet shirt and brooding good looks, it seems the answer to her prayers has arrived but this the C18th, so of course she turns him down and a right old tortuous time ensues.  | | Luckington Court |
● On Location: Lacock was used as the village of Meriton. In order to return the village to Regency England, the designers asked locals if they could re-paint doors and windows, and change the door furniture to reflect accurately the period in which the story is set. Luckily, they didn’t have to remove TV aerials and the like, because Lacock’s National Trust landlords make sure none spoils the skyline! The Red Lion was used as Meriton’s Assembly Rooms. The wedding was filmed in Luckington Church, while Luckington Court became Longbourn, the home of the Bennet family, while nearby Sheldon Manor became Uppercross. Mompesson House, Salisbury
(also Wilton House and Trafalgar House) Sense and Sensibility
● Stars: Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant, Gemma Jones, Harriet Walter, Imogen Stubbs, Greg Wise ● Year: 1995  | | Mompesson House, Salisbury |
● Synopsis: S&S is the story of two sisters: no-nonsense Elinor and unruly Marianne. When papa Henry Dashwood shuffles off the mortal coil, his home passes to his eldest son, leaving the daughters marooned in more humble surroundings. While Marianne falls in love, Elinor attempts to forget the beau she has kept hidden from the rest of the family. Eventually they overcome their troublesome affairs and realise that life is better lived when tempered with equal measures of sense and sensibility.
● On Location: Mompesson House in the Cathedral Close, Salisbury was used to film the interior and exterior scenes of the London home of Mrs Jennings, while the ‘double-cube’ room at Wilton House was used to film the ball sequence. ● Extras: The road outside the property had to be disguised using bark chippings while in order to create plausible lighting for an October day (the filming took place in June), special drapes were suspended on scaffolding erected outside the windows. Take Two: The Day After the Fair (1987) Old Wardour Castle, Tisbury Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
● Stars: Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Christian Slater, Alan Rickman, Michael Wincott ● Year: 1991 ● Synopsis: Have-a-go-hero Robin Hood sets out to avenge the death of his dad and then go on to save the lower classes from the power-crazed and down-right nasty Sheriff of Nottingham.  | | Interior of Old Wardour Castle |
● On Location: Old Wardour was used as Locksley Castle, the home of Marion. A staircase in the castle remains is featured in the movie. As Kevin Costner drags himself back from the crusades to the family homestead Locksley Castle he finds it in ruins. Wardour Castle near Tisbury is the stand-in for Locksley Castle. But with a quick vow of revenge sealed with blood and a speedy burial of his father’s remains the action swiftly leaves Wiltshire never to return. ● Extras: Filming had to be scheduled around regular weekend openings and took place over five consecutive working days. The sword used by Kevin Costner in the film is now available for visitors to see. ● Take Two: A private estate at nearby Tisbury was also used to film the river scenes in Chocolat. The ‘river’ was in fact part of the estate’s lake. Renault Building, Swindon View to a Kill ● Stars: Roger Moore, Christopher Walken, Tanya Roberts, Grace Jones, Patrick Macnee, Desmond Llewelyn, David Yip ● Year: 1985 ● Synopsis: Agent 007 races against time (when doesn’t he?) to stop a power-mad industrialist (when aren’t they?) who plots to kill millions in order to corner the world's microchip supply. From the Eiffel Tower to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge, (via Swindon’s former Renault building), JB just can't be stopped. ● On Location: The former Renault distribution centre, designed by top architect Norman Foster, with it’s all-yellow futuristic design, was chosen by the production team to shoot several scenes, however, the outside of the building fails to make it to the movie and only interior shots are used. Motorola, Swindon The World is not Enough ● Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Sophie Marceau, Robert Carlyle, Denise Richards, Judi Dench, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, John Cleese, Samantha Bond, Desmond Llewelyn, Colin Salmon, Goldie, Serena Scott Thomas, Michael Kitchen, Patrick Malahide ● Year: 1999 ● Synopsis: 007’s must protect the sole heir of a British oil tycoon from the influence of terrorist Renard. Unfortunately, she double-crosses him and the world's oil supply is put in peril. Now, he must take on Renard, a villain who feels no physical pain, with the help of do-gooder scientist Christmas Jones. ● On Location: The £82 million Motorola phone factory becomes, for a fleeting moment, the headquarters for a Turkish oil company. ● Extras: Despite the production company spending several days filming the end sequence appears only on the screen for a brief moment – blink, and yes, you will miss it! Local man Perry Dyson from Freshbrook plays a security guard, while the not-so-local-man Pierce Brosnon plays some bloke called Bond. A chilly week in March 1999 was chosen to film making it difficult to imagine Motorola’s grey-steeled Meccano structure being set in sunny Turkey. Trafalgar Park, Salisbury 28 Days Later ● Stars: Cillian Murphy, Brendan Gleeson, Christopher Eccleston, David Schneider, Naomie Harris ● Year: 2002 ● Synopsis: A powerful virus is let loose on a typically unsuspecting British population after an animal research lab is attacked by activists. ● On Location: The house and estate was used as the army’s military headquarters. The scene featuring some rather sick characters dragging themselves across Trafalgar’s neatly-trimmed lawn towards the house is a memorable scene. ● Take Two: Emma (BBC TV), Sense and Sensibility West Kennett, Marlborough Saving Private Ryan
● Stars: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Vin , Matt Damon, Ted Danson ● Year: 1998  | | Byway south of West Kennett |
● Synopsis: As a platoon of American soldiers embarks on World War II's historic D-Day invasion, it is presented with a dangerous special mission to find Private James Ryan, whose three brothers have already been killed. The eight men ask why they are risking their lives to save just one. As the story unfolds, each man searches for his own answer - and the strength to triumph over an uncertain future with honour, decency and courage. ● On Location: The scene in which US army officials tell Private Ryan’s mother about the death of her three other sons is shot on a byway just to the south of West Kennett Long Barrow. ● Extras: The Ryan’s farmhouse was constructed as a set and a typical North American barn is seen alongside, which appears to have been ‘matted’ on to the picture in post production. The scene only lasts a few minutes and very few people would realise that this piece of the US mid-west is actually set in the heart of rural Wiltshire! Wilton House, Salisbury The Bounty ● Stars: Mel Gibson, Edward Fox, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier ● Year: 1983 ● Synopsis: In 1787, William Bligh, a real-life sea captain, steered The Bounty on a 27,000-mile voyage into danger, chaos and mutiny. ● On Location: The Double Cube Room was used by Admiral Hood and Captain Greetham to court martial Captain Bligh. Wilton House, Salisbury The Madness of King George ● Stars: Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Ian Holm, Rupert Graves, Amanda Donohoe, Rupert Everett, Jim Carter, Geoffrey Palmer, Alan Bennett ● Year: 1994 ● Synopsis: King George III begins to behave in an odd manner thirty years into his rule over England, shouting obscenities at people, spouting garbled rubbish and attacking his wife's young Mistress of the Robes, Lady Pembroke. ● On Location: The interior of Windsor Castle was recreated at Wilton House, where the ‘Double Cube’ room stood in for one of George’s state rooms at Windsor. Wilton House, Salisbury Mrs Brown ● Stars: Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Geoffrey Palmer  | | Dame Judi Dench as Queen Victoria |
● Year: 1997 ● Synopsis: Based on the true-life relationship between Queen Victoria and her royal servant, John Brown.
● On Location: Wilton House doubled as Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s favourite residence.
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