Film Commission Archive

“You have been in every prospect I have ever seen since - on the river, on the sails of the ships, on the marshes, in the clouds, in the light, in the darkness, in the wind, in the woods, in the sea, in the streets. You have been the embodiment of every graceful fancy that my mind has ever become acquainted with. The stones of which the strongest London buildings are made . . .” Great Expectations. Charles Dickens

A quote from Dickens who himself epitomises the Victorian era. For this newsletter the focus is on Victorian locations, of which Screen South has abundance. The Victorian period was a very prosperous time where tremendous wealth was made by merchants trading overseas, in engineering and in banking. With this came a new era of grandiose house design which exhibited that wealth.

Waddesdon Manor, the magnificent French Rennaissance styled Chateaux near Aylesbury built in 1874 by the Rothschilds is a fantastic example of this. No expense was spared on the building of this house. It’s furnishing and priceless collections of art were an example of Rothschild’s wealth and his extensive travels around Europe. Now owned by the National Trust but run by the Rothchild estate it welcomes film makers though its elaborate gates to film in the 5000 acres.

Mentmore Towers was also built by the Rothschilds in 1855 as a wedding present. Sir Joseph Paxton was commissioned to design the house.  Although Paxton was not a trained architect he was a great favourite of the Rothschild family who were probably impressed by the Crystal Palace he built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and his work at Chartwell. Mentmore has been empty for the last few years providing the perfect location for many films, TV dramas and commercials; even a few pop videos have used the magnificent great hall. We are eagerly awaiting news on the future of this stunning location.

The Astors, America’s richest family renovated and extended Hever Castle at the turn of the century. The magnificent gardens of this ancient moated castle took two years to create and are only now reaching their full maturity. The most splendid area is the Italian garden which was designed to display William Astor’s collection of Italian sculpture. At the far end of this garden is a magnificent 35 acre lake that took around 800 men two years to dig. A mock Tudor village was added to accommodate the frequent house parties which descended on this former residence of Anne Boleyn.

In 1893 the Astor’s bought the infamous Cliveden House in Berkshire much to the annoyance of Queen Victoria, a frequent visitor to the house over the years.

Hughenden Manor was the home of Victorian prime minister and statesman Benjamin Disraeli from 1848 until his death in 1881. Most of his furniture, books and pictures are preserved and are a great example of the strong bold and lavish interiors favoured by many Victorians. Now owned by the National Trust whose regional office is based there – what a great place to work

As travel became easier it was fashionable for the Victorians to retreat to the coast. They carved much of the South East coast line into popular resorts, engineering great promenades to hold back the ravages of the sea. Families would spend time holidaying, convalescing, being creative or just generally partying. These resorts, many of which remain unspoilt, attracted everyone from London’s working classes to Royalty and celebrity.

Bognor Regis was made famous or was given its Regis when King George convalesced there after an illness.

Brighton was a favourite of Prince Edward, the playboy Prince who built the outrageously lavish Brighton Pavilion.

Southsea, a suburb of Portsmouth, has two fantastic intact Victorian piers: Clarence Pier built in 1861, and South Parade Pier, from 1879.

Eastbourne offers a range of smart Victorian architecture with an impressive promenade set against the spectacular backdrop of Beachy Head

Writers and poets were a society to themselves during the Victorian period. Love or loathe his work, Charles Dickens is with out doubt the most pervasive of English writers, and he wrote about the locales he knew and loved, as well as those he was less fond of.

He mapped and documented Victorian society with evocative detail and imagery that still inspires many film makers to recreate it today. The South East of England is synonymous with Dickens. From the bleak marshes that are Pip’s playground in Great Expectations, to the tall spires of David Copperfield’s school in Canterbury, the ancient and creaking mansion that was the home of Miss Haversham in Rochester and so it goes on. The Screen South region is where Dickens spent most of his life and from which he drew much of his inspiration.

Hampshire

Dickens was born in Portsmouth his house and street are preserved as closely as possible. Tucked away in the old quarter of Portsmouth, you will find twisty, cobbled streets that are as instantly evocative of Dickens as thinly veiled, arch social commentary. HMS Warrior the pride of Queen Victoria’s Black Battle fleet still stands in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. Bigger faster and more heavily armed than any other war ship of her time she has been painstakingly restored to the original condition of her commission in 1860.



On a less aggressive note looking at the grandiose Victorian hotels and the splendid parks, you realise that Portsmouth is an ideal location to do a period drama.

Portsmouth has a fabulous film office, who will be more than happy to advise you on the finest of their locations.

Contact Louise Neville, Portsmouth Film Office on 023 9283 4116.

Chatham

Chatham Historic Dockyard has been a favourite location for many films and TV productions. Standing in over 80 acres Chatham has a wealth of locations on offer. With approximately 100 buildings and structures the site was in use as a Royal Dockyard from 1613 to 1984 and today is the most complete Dockyard of the Age of Sail to survive in the world.

Chatham is a site of international maritime heritage significance. For over 300 years it played a highly important role in supporting the Royal Navy, building over 400 ships including HMS Victory, Nelson’s flagship at Trafalgar and repairing and maintaining thousands more. During this time the Royal Navy achieved and maintained an unrivalled mastery of the seas - a crucial factor in the development of Britain’s global influence.

It was also once home to the Dickens family where Charles’s father was a pay clerk for the Navy. What a strange twist of fate that it has now become the favourite location for doubling as Dickensian London.

You can reproduce the ancient cobbled streets that Oliver Twist got lost in, the tall warehouses and narrow alleyways where Nicholas Nickleby or Little Dorrit lived, or indeed where you will find Jack the Ripper’s London. London’s East end can be created in the unspoilt docks where the dank dingy underworld of Sherlock Holmes’s criminals come to life

For more information and a disc of images, you can call Screen South on 01753 656 412 or Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (Bob Sutton) on 01634 826 809.

As he became prosperous Dickens moved back to Kent. At first he had a holiday house perched on the cliff top in Thanet over looking Broadstairs charming Viking Bay. Here he wrote Nicholas Nickleby and Bleak House, drawing on the local influences to shape his novels. For the last 12 years of his life he lived at Gads Hill Place near Rochester. He wrote some of his best work including the semi autobiographical David Copperfield. Miss Haversham’s house in Great Expectations was based on the Restoration house in Rochester and Pip’s family were buried in a church yard in nearby Cooking.



Further into Kent racy BBC drama Tipping the Velvet loved Whitstable. Famous for its oyster beds, it also has a number of delightful roads with a variety of architecture, including traditional Kentish weatherboarding and fisherman’s cottages,

Canterbury

Canterbury has some fantastically well preserved architecture. With its Tudor houses, cobbles, and ancient alleyways, this city is evocative of the ancient parts of London that were lost through catastrophes such as fire and bombing. You could create the opium dens that Sherlock Holmes used and which featured extensively in Dickens unfinished novel “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, or the labyrinth of alleyways that Bill Sykes walked

For more information or images of any of the locations mentioned above, contact us on 01753 656 412.

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All things Brighton Beautiful!

C-side own and operate some of the most intriguing nightspots in Brighton. Here, they tempt us with some of the choicest offerings.

The Funky Buddha Lounge

This 200 capacity venue is right on the lower part of Brighton sea front. It has a classy yet underground feeling, with it’s two long tunnels and white VIP bar. The entrance and exterior look great at night. If after a days shooting you had the energy, it is open till 8am Fridays and Saturdays. The eagle eyed amongst you may well remember it, it was used recently in C4’s Sugar Rush

The Beach Club

This 500 person capacity club is on the lower part of the sea front. It has a large main room with ornate Victorian pillars and arches. The large outside terrace leads onto the beach itself. It has been used a as backdrop for intros and links in C4’s Risking it All. As if that wasn’t enough, it also has a performance ready stage and sound system for live music/comedy/dance

Gemini’s
Tiny inside, this is a ‘surf shack’ type bar with enormous outdoor arena right on sea front. This is where Fatboy Slim’s stage was when he did the Brighton beach event! Used as the backdrop for virtually every hot weather news link mentioning the south coast and during the Labour Conference. It has great winter views over the sea. It is located right below the famous Grand Hotel. We are assured it is the best place to see the sunset on the south coast!

The Fortune of War
A real oddity. Right on the promenade, a proper pub in a world of bars!
It is like being in a gigantic upturned wooden boat with a bar inside it which looks like an old fashioned lifeboat! Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles liked it so much he presented his entire Brighton road-show from the pub in 2004!

These are only a sample of the venues C-Side have to offer.

At C-Side they are used to working with all forms of visual media, photographers, film and music video and are happy to assist in any way.
For further information contact Simon Woplin 01273 648000
Or E-Mail simon@cside.co.uk


The Isle of Thanet
Location, Location, Location

This relatively unknown area of Kent is really opening its arms to film makers with a very film friendly attitude. The area is quite literally steeped in history with lovely examples of Regency, Victorian and Georgian houses, cobbled and quaint roads, country manor houses, smuggler caves, and a unique shell grotto and flint cottages. Ramsgate for example has the highest number of listed buildings of any town in the South East and Margate is going to be home to the new Turner Contemporary Arts Centre. It’s the hottest place to buy property, according to a recent Times article

Theatre Royal, Margate.

This beautiful theatre is one of the oldest in the country, opening in 1786. The auditorium meanwhile is the oldest un-restored auditorium in the country, dating from 1874. It’s gold leaf and red velvet seats make its interiors perfect for any period from the 1850’s, and is incredibly evocative of Theatre’s heyday. It’s seaside heritage is incorporated in to the beautiful mouldings with mermaids decorating the circle balcony. In total the auditorium can seat 440 people, but is currently licensed for 360. Not bad for a provincial seaside theatre.
Backstage, you will find a lot of the original beams, which came from royal navy vessels. It boasts period perfect three line hemp flies, operated from a fly-floor 16ft above stage level, and a total flying height of 32 feet. To the uninitiated, this is the space where the scenic cloths are lowered from. As well as it’s period features, it’s also fully functional as a modern theatre, complete with a friendly and helpful crew.
The Theatre Royal has another claim to fame, although somewhat more macabre. It is arguably the country’s most haunted theatre. If you need anything remotely theatre-y, the Theatre Royal is hard to beat.
Thanet can also boast 26 miles of sandy coastline, donkeys, cockle stalls, penny arcades, Punch & Judy shows, kite and wind surfing as well as chalk reefs of national importance and views of the stunning new Kentish Flats wind farm in the Thames Estuary.

Thanet has a long and historic relationship with artists and Art Culture. It’s famous sunsets, seascapes, wildlife has inspired artists from Turner and Van Gogh to Tracey Emin.

So many locations to choose from and all just over an hour from London - to find out more visit www.thanet.gov.uk/filming or call 01843 577169


Portsmouth Film Office

From stunning historic ships to castles and forts, Victorian buildings and modern architecture, Portsmouth could be just the location you’re looking for. City streets, urban areas, open spaces & parks and our own seaside resort of Southsea adds a further dimension – four miles of seafront promenade, stunning gardens, a castle and a Victorian pier.

Portsmouth has been increasingly popular for filming and photography over the years and more recently has played host to EastEnders, Silent Witness, James Bond, Robbie Williams’ music video and the exciting Naval drama, Making Waves.

This is what Louise Neville from the Portsmouth film office has to say about her area

There are some great locations in Portsmouth:

• Port Solent is the country’s third largest marina, and with the stylish Mediterranean atmosphere its easy to see why it is so popular. Cafés, bars & restaurants make the most of the waterside setting with terraces & balconies.

• The Florence House Hotel in Southsea is the area’s only Boutique accommodation. Designer furnishings within a lovingly restored Edwardian building – a unique setting.

• Old Portsmouth’s cobbled streets and narrow lanes are home to some great English pubs & tea rooms. Add to this the vibrant Camber Dock’s fish markets, stunning sea views and fortifications.

• Sites such as the Hilsea Lido and South Parade Pier lend themselves perfectly to music videos and photo shoots. Plenty of space and atmosphere, with a touch of faded grandeur.

• Pounds Marine is a fascinating site which began life as a scrap merchants in the early 1900’s. Disused ship parts, storage buildings and scrap give Pounds a fantastic industrial feel.

• Southsea’s streets are host to a range of contemporary cafés & bars, individual & high street shops. Head slightly further south to the seafront area where there’s a traditional pier, funfair, award-winning gardens and hovercraft landing point – not forgetting the panoramic views across the Solent and to the Isle of Wight.

• The D-Day Museum, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Royal Marines museum have all advised on major feature films in recent years, including Saving Private Ryan and Master & Commander: The Far Side of the World and Sahara.

• Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower is now open – with viewing platforms at 100m, 105m and 110m, the views of the South Coast are unrivalled. The Spinnaker Tower is within Gunwharf Quays, the multi-million pound waterfront development with designer outlet shopping, stylish bars and restaurants.

• Portsmouth has two magnificent theatres – The Kings Theatre (opened 1907) and the New Theatre Royal (1884).

• Fort Nelson, Fort Widley and Fort Purbrook are situated high on top of Portsdown Hill, overlooking Portsmouth Harbour. Networks of tunnels and plenty of open spaces.

• The award-winning Blue Reef Aquarium has naturally themed displays featuring everything from seahorses to tropical sharks. At the aquarium’s heart, the giant tropical ocean reef tank has it’s own underwater walk-through tunnel.

• Portsmouth boasts two wonderful cathedrals – the Anglican St Thomas’s Cathedral with it’s light stone, huge arches, spacious nave and towering bronze doors; and the Catholic St John’s Cathedral, in a 19th century French Gothic style.

• Portsmouth’s sporting venues include Fratton Park, home to the Premiership team ‘Pompey’, Portsmouth Greyhound Stadium and the outdoor Southsea Skatepark.

Our services
We offer a free information service for film crews, location managers and photographers wishing to use the area. Based within Portsmouth City Council, we can easily liaise with the necessary council departments, the police, residents and local businesses. Hotel or Guest House accommodation can also be sought for film crews. Please contact us with your requirements and we’ll endeavour to find the perfect location for your needs.

Contact us
For more information please contact:
Louise Neville, Portsmouth Film Office on 023 9283 4116 or email louise.neville@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Visit our website at www.visitportsmouth.co.uk or view our image library at www.portsmouth-mediastore.co.uk for more inspiration.

Bar Bluu/Tantrum

On Portsmouth seafront, this is an exciting new venue with a real sense of style; three very different spaces in the same complex. The chilled out easy going vibe of Bar Bluu is complemented by the squishy sofa’s and booths.

Meanwhile Tantrum, the club, has three different rooms devoted to different music. The VIP area really is something else. How many other clubs can boast an 8 person Jacuzzi? If you fancy something a little different then there is the elegant White Room, a Thai Restaurant. This is one of Portsmouth’s hottest nights out. For more information on this location please call Screen South on 01753 656 412

NEW LOCATIONS

Oakwood House.

Oakwood House in north Buckinghamshire is a 1930’s property described as “run down, but habitable”. It will be demolished in 2006 to make way for the new house which is currently being built. It still has the original fireplaces, windows and bathroom. If you did need to shoot it being demolished (go on, we love to be surprised and challenged) this may be possible. It is situated on a 2.5 acre plot, with rolling fields and mature woodland.
Being built behind the house is a large Georgian style property that will be five bedrooms, with a large hall and airy rooms. However this is not scheduled to be finished until next year.
If you would like further details on this property, please contact Screen South on 01753 656 412.

Gallagher Group

A new addition to the database is the Gallagher Group. They own a Ragstone quarry near Maidstone in Kent. They have a great diversity of locations, from the quarry face, farmland and livestock, woodland with tracks for the public. A lovely site, the previous quarry sites have been sympathetically returned to nature.
As well as all this, the Gallagher Group has it’s own race yard, horses, gallops, horse walker and lunge ring. Not bad eh? For more details on this location please contact Screen South on 01753 656 412.

Screen South news . . .

The Da Vinci Code has wrapped. The film was based at Shepperton Studios and has left no (religiously significant) stone unturned in their search for the perfect location. According to IMDB it is due to open on May 19th 2006. Which curiously, co-insides with the first Friday night of Cannes. Would anyone like to place a bet on an Out of Competition Gala Screening?

The Children of Men shoot continues apace at Pinewood. With it’s intriguing premise, creative credentials and box-office friendly cast, this is an exciting project.

Flight 93 has started principal photography at Pinewood studios. This is a 9/11 of events aboard the doomed aircraft that was destined for the White House; but whose passengers over powered the terrorists, resulting in the aircraft crashing in to the Pennsylvania countryside. The website for the film (www.theflight93project.com) will include posts from producer Lloyd Levin and director Paul Greengrass.

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“Well, might I ask what you expected to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The hanging gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically...”
Basil Fawlty, Fawlty Towers.

Perhaps Basil may have been happier with a hotel in the south East

Here is a mere sliver of the hotels available in our stunning region. With some of the country’s top tourist destinations, we have more hotels then even the biggest Hollywood picture could want. From the grand opulence of Cliveden to the seaside elegance of The Grand at Brighton, read on for a whirlwind tour . . . .

Cliveden House Hotel & Gardens.

Mere minutes away from all the facilities at Pinewood Studios, and the major transport infrastructure of Heathrow and the M25, this beautiful hotel is steeped in history. From 1666 right through to the present day, the hotel has been home to the rich, famous and infamous; the Profumo affair started there. From the hugely decadent fountain, to the darkly baronial Great Hall, Cliveden stands over looking a magnificent valley, a true aristocrat amongst hotels. Its elegant poise screams luxury. With an award winning restaurant, Rolls Royce Phantom, period launch, suites and sumptuous rooms Cliveden is the last word in luxury.
The house was Lady Penelope’s home in the 2004 Thunderbirds film, where her pink Rolls Royce screamed down the drive before taking off. The grounds, which are owned and managed by the National Trust, are also available for filming, through the lovely Harvey Edgington. The Octagon Temple (or Chapel) has a dome and upper walls ornamented in colourful mosaic (by Clayton & Bell). Subjects are Old and New Testament, the principal tier is scenes from the life of Christ. Formerly a two storey tea house and observatory this building is very ornate with an altar and the memorial plaques of the Astor family. With stunning views of the river Thames, Italian gardens, a meditative memorial garden, and many other beautiful features, Cliveden is a real all rounder location. Guests can also stay in hotel’s cottage which is idyllic in every way. A favourite of Queen Victoria’s it sits right by the river and makes the most perfect location having been used in a number of productions, including Terry Jones The Wind in the Willows


The De Vere Grand, Brighton.

Located on Brighton Seafront, this famous hotel has it all - great sea views, stunning interiors, a great location, versatile rooms and lots of character. Designed in the Italianate Renaissance style of the late nineteenth century The De Vere Grand, Brighton has been portrayed on the small screen to feature films because of its' distinctive style. Prominent features include the sweeping staircase and bright Atrium, the gleaming facade with intricate designed balconies and the Presidential suite where the many rich and famous have stayed. The 200 bedrooms are a combination of suites, deluxe sea-views, sea-views and standards and most of the sea-facing rooms include balconies. Whether your filming requires just a bedroom shot or maybe the entire hotel - the five star staff are here to help.
Contact Caroline Prosser for details on 01273 224356
caroline.prosser@grandbrighton.co.uk
Eastbourne is packed to the rafters with hotels. Here are just some of the suggestions from Eastbourne Council’s one-stop film office. All of these hotels have been used as accommodation for units, or as a location. For more suggestions, please contact Neil Gallini on 01323 415 433 or check out www.eastbourne.gov.uk/Business/

Chatsworth Hotel.

Great Location – Victorian Seafront Hotel – as featured in BBC’s “Bramwell” & ITV’s “Dr Bodkin Adams”

This three star privately owned hotel in a central seafront location, is very close to pier, shops, and theatres. It was built in 1876 as three Victorian houses then expertly converted in 1905 to an elegant Edwardian Hotel. One of the distinctive features is an elegant gated lift with original car. Other features include a high ceiling seafront restaurant and many large bay fronted windows. Some rooms have recently been refurbished, and many have excellent sea-views. There is an elegant Victorian restaurant with sea-views, and the Chatsworth Bar with Sun Terrace.
For more information contact Peter Hawley at The Chatsworth on 01323 411016.

Cavendish Hotel.

The Cavendish Hotel is a magnificent property located on the seafront of Eastbourne's Grand Parade, opposite the Bandstand and minutes walk from the theatres. With history dating back to 1873, the Cavendish has played host to a lot of royalty and even survived an air raid during the second World War.
Today, the hotel has been refurbished to it's former glory with the Bonnington Hotel Group spending nearly £4 million on it's public areas and bedrooms. Guests can enjoy the spectacular sea views from the Marine Restaurant while dining in stylish surroundings or relaxing in our cosmopolitan Bar. The contemporary bedrooms offer a range of amenities, 24-hour room service and selection of room types to suit all requirements.
The Executive Rooms and Suites add that extra touch of luxury to make it your perfect stay.
The vibrant history of Eastbourne attracts many film crews to whom we have had the pleasure of welcoming throughout the year. We are also looking forward to filming taking place in our Marine restaurant this October. For more information regarding rates and room hire please contact Jessica Viljoen on 01323 410 222

The Royal Harbour Hotel.

Ramsgate goes all ‘Film Friendly’! James Thomas, the Proprietor of The Royal Harbour Hotel has gone all ‘film friendly’!
It started last year when ‘Medb Films’ approached the hotel for help in producing the Dogme feature Gypo. Such was the success of the film and the blossoming relationship between both parties that further collaboration has quickly developed. James continues. ‘Medb Films’ were looking for a permanent base in the area for production and post production, not only with their own films but with other people’s projects as well. We had the space and so the Royal Harbour Hotel is now home to ‘Medb Films’ with a production office and an 1:1 online capable Avid media/film composer version 11.8 editing suite already in place with a Final Cut Pro HD system on the way!’
Future plans include the installation of an up to date sound suite and a 50 seat screening room. This will make the hotel probably the only hotel in the country that can offer a ‘one stop on-site shop’ for film production; from shooting to editing, from catering to accommodation.
‘We believe that the hotel with its quirky eclectic personal style will appeal to a wide range of film makers who are seeking a real ‘home base’ away from the expense and stress of London production’ says James.
Indeed the hotel has already secured a second feature film in January, a short film in September and a documentary in June.
The Royal Harbour Hotel is a privately owned boutique hotel, set in a garden crescent overlooking the historic ‘Royal Harbour’ of Ramsgate, 70 miles from London. An 18 bedroom hotel, offering a perfect escape from the humdrum!
Rula Lenska: ‘….welcoming , comfortable, unpretentious, with stunning views, and a friendly homely atmosphere... If I was staying in that neck of the woods it would be my first choice....
Pauline McLynn: ‘Many thanks for a truly memorable stay!
More information; James Thomas
james@royalharbourhotel.co.uk T: + (44) 1843 591514
Elaine Wickham
elaine@medbfilms.co.uk T + (44) 870 3407215

Four Seasons, Hampshire.
The Four Seasons is an internationally recognised brand, elite, chic and gorgeous in every possible way. Screen South is delighted to announce the arrival of the Four Seasons in Hampshire.
Set in the beautiful and historic Dogmersfield Park, this hotel is everything you would expect the Four Seasons to be. Set within 500 acres of grounds including rolling hills, lakes and woodland this is the perfect country retreat. Inside you will find classic oak panelling, hand carved fireplaces, and sweeping staircases. 111 guest rooms, 22 suites, and a spa are among the numerous facilities available to filmmakers and guests alike.
The hotel is ideally placed within easy reach of Highclere Castle, Windsor Castle, Odiham, Stratfield Saye House, Jane Austen’s house, Portsmouth, Southampton and London. It is, in a word, ideal.
For much more information go to www.fourseasons.com or call Claire White, Pr Manager on 01252 853 000


New Locations in the South East Region

Inholmes Copse, West Sussex, is a fabulous new location. Secluded, unspoilt and perfectly ravishing, it boasts a lake, boathouse and summerhouse. The lake dates from the early 1800’s and is surrounded on all sides by approximately 21 acres of woodland that stop the intrusion of the out side world. The woods are varied, with spectacular bluebells in spring. The lake is approximately an acre in size, with water that is safe for bathing and a small footbridge. The summer house dates from 1920, and also remains largely untouched, with period features like a cooker, lights, some wood panelling, and a small paved area in the back. It was originally built for the Duchess of Bedford. The site benefits from virtually no extraneous noise. If you want more information on this wonderful new location, the please give the Screen South Film Commission office a call on 01753 656 412.

Minley Manor and Estate
A great location with so many possibilities - the dogs ….***….!!! According to one location manager who has recently filmed there
Minley Manor is a stunning 19th Century French style chateaux set in mature grounds of 490 acres. It has been home to the officers of the Royal Engineers and a base for the MOD for nearly 60 years.
You will find here some fantastic locations and a very film friendly attitude from Captain John McConnell. The gardens to the house are immaculately maintained boasting a sunken garden, an arboretum, an estate church and a wonderful avenue of trees leading up to the back of the house which is probably its best side. You have the barracks across the road which has an assault course, an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium, a football and a rugby pitch. The site also boasts two static bridges which are used for demolition practice and make a perfect film set. This is in addition to all the usual paraphernalia you would expect to find in a working army barracks.
Home farm, formerly the estate’s model farm, now lies empty and part derelict with a sinister fence surrounding the property. There are three empty cottages and a stable block all red brick and abandoned and easily could double for anywhere in war ravaged Europe or alternatively upgraded to act as any period set.
To make this a complete package there is a large wooded area with a lake, plenty of tracks and a sandy airstrip. There has been an article recently about troops being hired out as extras and at Minley the Troops have been used to provide security and have carried out preparation work for filming as substantial as ground works and as cosmetic as minor set dressing.
Versatility and variety is the essence of Minley and are two of the main selling points of the estate and training area. Whether it’s the modelling of an American Civil War harbour on the estate’s lake from the feature Sahara, a Korean border bridge especially constructed by the Royal Engineers for Bond or even a forested French lane for a car sequence in recent feature, Minley has it all.
Contact Captain John McConnell 01252 863 694

Great Pride, but no Prejudice in Winchester.
There was much rejoicing in Winchester recently as a great many people joined together to witness a regional premier of Miss Austen’s best loved novel Pride and Prejudice. Produced by Mr Bevan and Mr Fellner’s most esteemed company Working Title, some parts of it were shot in Miss Austen’s most beloved Hampshire. Although the beautiful Miss Knightley was unable to attend, the very dashing Mr McFadyen and the charming Ms Blethyn were in full attendance and much admired, as was the film in general. It must be said that Winchester’s Great Hall where the pre-show soiree was held looked very elegant, adorned as it was with pictures and posters from the film. The ladies and gentlemen of Hampshire County Council are very pleased to encourage filming within their boundary, and offer what is termed a 'one stop shop' for film makers looking at the county’s bounteous locations. If you wish to further investigate the wealth of sites available, then do hasten to www.filmhampshire.co.uk where there are some most agreeable pictures. The pictures below denote Ms Blethyn and Mr McFadyen in the Great Hall at Winchester.

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Just browsing . . . ?

If you aren’t looking for anything specific, allow us to tempt you with just some of the tasty morsels we have received since the last edition.

Wicklesham Lodge in Farringdon Oxfordshire, is one such. A large Victorian house with stunning views across the Vale of the White Horse. It boasts 34 rooms and sits in 4 acres of garden, with a 400 acre estate. For more details, contact the Commission office on 01753 656 412.

Where are all the 1950’s holiday camps when you want them? Well we have one on the Isle of Wight. Atherton Bay Holiday Camp is a truly unique location. With distinctive features from the 50’s and 60’s it is well worth investigating further. Contact us on 01753 656 412.

Willow Brook House in Harwell, Oxfordshire is a gorgeous Timber framed house set in 1.3 acres. Built between 1300 and 1400, it has a heated outdoor pool, and is full of that quintessentially British charm. In idyllic surroundings, it is worth giving us a call to get more details of this lovely property. Call us on 01753 656 412

If you are looking for something fresh and modern in Portsmouth, we have a lovely apartment on Spinnaker Quay. This three bedroom penthouse has balconies and views to the Camber Dock, Millenium Tower and Gunwharf. Once again we have the details so give us a call on 01753 656 412

Collyers in Hampshire is a Victorian country house set in 50 acres of parkland. With its Elizabethan inspired barley twist chimneys, oak panelling and fine carved oak stair case, this is a beautiful property, with its own unique style and charm. Externally, it boasts a small lake, a large duck pond and a swimming pool, as a well as a drive half a mile long. We have loads of images, so if you want more details, give us a ring on 01753 656 412

What’s doing where?

Lots going on all over the region. The Da Vinci Code is getting all paranoid over at Shepperton, so hold on to your oil paintings.

Storm Breakers is at Pinewood. This story of a 14 year old who is pulled in to the murky world of espionage has proved a great hit. If you haven’t heard about it, find a 14 year old and ask them to tell you about it.

Harry Potter helmer Alfonso Cuaron is set to take up the megaphone on Children of Men, a grim sci-fi story set in a world where no children have been born in eighteen years. The delectable Clive Owen is slated to star.

Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction is at Pinewood at the moment. Sharon Stone reprises the role of Catherine Trammell, David Morrisey joins her as Dr Andrew Glass.

Rosemary and Thyme is currently shooting in the Buckinghamshire and Berkshire area.

Midsomer Murders is doing another series. There are clearly more inhabitants of these cute little villages who have yet to be slaughtered in innovative ways.

Ultimate Force is also gearing up for another series. This fun, testosterone fuelled series will no doubt see Red Troop blowing things up to save the day once more.

Thomas Hardy fans will be salivating in anticipation of a forthcoming adaptation of Under the Greenwood Tree. Expect lashings of typical Hardy happiness...

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Can’t see the wood for the trees?
Well here’s a little guide to just a few of our best open spaces . . .

Burnham Beeches. Most of you have probably heard of it, and are vaguely aware that it was used ages ago for some project or other, and that it is somewhere near somewhere else. Well all of that is true. But what you really need to know is exactly how versatile it is. Once the hunting grounds for royalty, it is now a heritage site of 540 acres of ancient woodland which is recorded in the doomsday book. The Corporation of London bought the woods in 1879 and have carefully preserved it to this day. They have a good network of roads criss crossing the woods which they are quite happy to let you take the speed bumps off, paint lines on, or generally make it what you want it to be (as long as it is returned to its original state).
Burnham Beeches has seen much filming, in part due to its close proximity to Pinewood Studios and the M25/M40. Everything from TV to big budget features such as The Princess Bride, Merlin (the fab TV series from Hallmark with Sam Neil as the eponymous wizard), Ivanhoe, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and King Arthur.
In Kevin Costners’s Robin Hood, it was Sherwood Forest, the home of the outlaws which was transformed in to a tree top village. In King Arthur, they made use of the track that runs along side an attractive hollow. It is a track that looks authentically period (in this case Roman), but beneath the surface, it is in fact gravel, and so is perfect for getting vehicles down it.
Burnham Beeches has so much to offer a filmmaker, that it’s hard to do it justice in the time allowed. We respectfully suggest you go and take a look at it, either to remind yourself of what is available, or to go and see for yourself.
Contact: Jeremy Young on 01753 647 358 ext 227.

Black Park Country Park

... is on Pinewood Studios back step. Quite literally, there is a gate from the studios in to the park. Fortunately the team at Black Park are very film friendly, and are not fazed by anything. They have been host to some of the Harry Potter films, Cody Banks, Thunderbirds, Tombraider 2, Alexander and Phantom of the Opera to name but a few. As a location it is well served by tracks from the unit base to location, and has to our certain knowledge doubled for: 19th Century France, 19th Century upstate New York, the Balkans, an American summer camp, Wales, and tons of other places. In fact as a location, Black Park brings a whole new meaning to the word versatile. If by some chance Black Park doesn’t have what you are looking for, then there is also Langley Park, virtually across the road, and managed by the same fantastic team. Everything from lo-budget through to blockbuster film and television can be accommodated at Black Park.
For more details, call Tim Williams on 01753 511 060.

Painshill Park in Cobham is one of the most important 18th century parks in Europe. It is the artistic vision of one English gentleman, the Hon. Charles Hamilton, who created a series of subtle and surprising vistas in the newly fashionable naturalistic style between 1738 and 1773.

Within Painshill Park’s 160 acres, The Hamilton Landscapes – which include the Gothic Temple, Chinese Bridge, Crystal Grotto, Turkish Tent, giant Waterwheel fed by a 14 acre serpentine lake and Gothic Tower - are a work of art that in the 18th century influenced the future of England’s countryside and culture. Painshill Park was created as a romantic landscape to stimulate the senses and emotions of the visitor. Hamilton was in the vanguard of the picturesque movement. The park was divided into two parts: the ornamental pleasure grounds to the south, with the lake as the central feature, and an adjoining crescent of open parkland to the north in a free and natural style, with ‘clumps’ of trees in the manner to be used later by Lancelot ‘Capability Brown.’
After 1948, Painshill Park fell into dereliction and it wasn’t until 1981 when the Painshill Park Trust was formed that the restoration began. The park has been painstakingly restored to its original pre-eminence, winning the Europa Nostra Medal for “exemplary restoration from a state of extreme neglect, of a most important 18th century landscape park and its extraordinary garden buildings.”
For more info, contact Jane Bodenham on 01932 868113. www.painshill.co.uk

Stowe Landscape
Gardens are breathtaking in their beauty. It dates from the late 18th Century and comes with all the trappings and trimmings one would expect from such a place; designed by Capability Brown the garden boasts more than thirty temples, bridges, lakes and rivers. At the heart of the gardens, lies the world famous Stowe school, which is administered separately to the 560 acres of undulating landscaped gardens. Featured in films like The World is Not Enough, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Sense and Sensibility, its serene elegance is virtually timeless, and it could double for many different places.
For images, and more info,
call Harvey Edginton on 020 7447 6759.

Leonardslee Gardens, Near Horsham, Surrey, is a fantastic mix of styles. It has 240 acres of garden including a Bonsai garden, seven lakes, over 10 miles of garden and woodland walks, and wallabies. Yep, that’s right. Wallabies. They were introduced as an environmentally friendly way of keeping the grass down. Privately owned, Leonardslee is renowned for being for being one the most beautiful gardens in Europe in the month of May, when the many rhododendrons are in flower.
For more details call Robin Loder on 01403 891 212. www.leonardslee.com

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The Watercress Line

The Watercress Line, (so called because at one point it transported up to fourteen tonnes of watercress a day) runs between the towns of Arlesford and Alton in Hampshire. The ten mile stretch of railway also passes through Ropley and Medstead & Four Marks with their picture perfect stations.



The Watercress Line was once part of the British main-line network but is now independently owned and operated as a heritage steam railway. The steeply-graded route means that large and powerful locomotives are the hallmark of the line. The railway is available as a self-contained location and has been used in a variety of productions from advertising photography to television and feature films. Consequently they understand the needs and requirements of production companies and agencies. The majority of the staff are volunteers - highly committed and enthusiastic. Technical and historical expert advice with regard to both past and present railway scenes is all part of their service

Credits for the Watercress Line include High Heels and Low Lifes, Back to the Secret Garden, The Canterville Ghost, The Cazelets, Midsommer Murders and In the Name of Love.
For more information on the Watercress Line, check out their comprehensive website at www.watercressline.co.uk they have a film and TV page and many more images, or contact Chris Cornell at Chriscornell@watercressline.co.uk Thanks to the website for use of their images.

The Bluebell Railway
The volunteer run Bluebell Line was the UK's first preserved standard gauge passenger railway, re-opening part of the Lewes to East Grinstead line of the old London Brighton & South Coast Railway in 1960. Since then it has developed into one of the largest tourist attractions in Sussex, yet it still remains true to its objectives of the preservation for posterity of a country branch line, its steam locomotives, coaches and goods stock, signalling systems, stations and operating practices.

With many different locos and stock of varying sizes and liveries, there is bound to be something to match even the most demanding brief. The 10 miles of track is soon to become 11 miles, when a project to extend the railway into East Grinstead is completed. The railway goes over and under six bridges, and has a tunnel half a mile long, the longest tunnel on any heritage railway in the UK. The unspoilt countryside it crosses makes it ideal for a period project. With it’s perfectly preserved period stations, any date from 1880 onwards is possible.


Credits for the Bluebell Railway include the feature films Charlotte Grey, Black Beauty, Head in the Clouds, The Importance of Being Earnest. TV Credits include The Railway Children, Station Jim, Sherlock Holmes and Foyles War.

The Bluebell Railway team are always happy to try and accommodate filmmakers, with their expertise in the workings of the railway, and previous experiences with units of different sizes.
For more details on filming at the Bluebell Railway, check out the website at www.bluebell-railway.co.uk or call Chris Knibbs, Operations Manager on 01825 723 777

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Oh I do like to be beside the seaside . . . .

When you think of Britain’s South coast, what do you think of? Run down towns with litter blowing around in a bitter wind? OAP’s sitting on benches discussing how different it was in their day? What you won’t be thinking of is the huge stretches of vastly differing coast on offer in the Screen South region. Soaring chalk cliffs; stark, sweeping sand dunes and gently sloping shingles. Our coastline can be pretty much anything you want it to be.

West Wittering for example, was the location for some breath taking scenes in Granada’s Henry VIII. Located just 85 Miles from central London, the area is owned by a conservation trust, and is classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. A magnificent stretch of sandy beach and undeveloped grassland is bordered by areas of salt marsh and reeds, with unspoilt views of the South Downs to the North and the Solent to the South. To the West the land adjoins National Trust land with it’s sand dunes and marram grass. The natural beauty of the area has been maintained for over 50 years.


Old wooden groynes hold the banks of shingle at the top of the beach. At low tide, when a quarter of a mile of sand is exposed, a shallow lagoon of calm water forms across the beach. Sandbanks and tidal pools are a feature, as are the multi-coloured beach huts which stand against the tamarisk hedges.

This area is well known for it’s soft light and it is equally spectacular during a peaceful sunset or with rough seas during a storm.

A small village lies just inland of the beach, which with it’s many period dwellings, as well as a Norman church, pub, cricket green and pavilion creates a typically English scene.

It has been used many times as a location, including for Granada, who had Henry VIII galloping along the wide sands. It has a certain anonymity making it easy to double for other parts of the country or world.

The Estate company are able to offer support in several ways. There is ample parking and toilet facilities, in addition to overnight storage and security can be supplied. Suitable vehicles for moving equipment to and from the beach are available and staff are very willing to discuss other ways in which they might help, especially with finding other locations in the area as good relationships exist with the village and neighbouring landowners.

West Wittering Beach. Contact: 01243 514143


Meanwhile, further down the coast, one of the most recognisable landmarks in the UK can be found in the Screen South region: the pristine white chalk of the Seven Sisters.
Just 67 miles from central London, the Seven Sisters Country Park has a huge amount to offer filmmakers. As well as the magnificent cliffs, it is made up of nearly 280 hectares of land on the beautiful South Downs, It is a landscape with a proper sense of drama.

Staff at Seven Sisters Country Park are very film friendly, and are able to provide guides and vehicles for site visits, and are extremely knowledgeable about their park. Regularly seen in documentaries and drama series, Seven Sisters Country Park is also a favoured location for commercials, seen recently in campaigns for O2 and Phones 4 U. They also appeared famously in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, when the extremely American Robin confidently asserts that they can be in Nottingham by nightfall. Yeah, right.

Hollywood geographical inaccuracies aside (Hadrian’s Wall really isn’t on the way to Nottingham), this is an absolutely stunning location with a lot to offer a production in terms of both seascapes, beaches and cliffs as well as the fabulous rolling farmland of the South Downs.

Seven Sisters Country Park.
Contact: Simon McHugh 01323 871 095.

For more than thirty years Rye Harbour Nature Reserve has been a great place to discover coastal and wetland wildlife. On great ridges of shingle pushed up by the sea over hundreds of years, you will see many seaside plants and animals that you will not find in other parts of East Sussex.

A derelict castle stands sentinel, watching the shipping as it passes along the English Channel. Built by Henry VIII, a typical Tudor Rose design, it looks perfect amidst the unspoilt landscape.It also reaches the historic and picturesque Cinque Port towns of Rye and Winchelsea.



For details on filming at the Rye Bay Nature Reserve, contact the Screen South commission office on
01753 656 412


Beachy Head is the most famous part of the Eastbourne Downland. Beachy Head rises 162 metres (530 feet) above the sea below and is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.

The main reason for Beachy Head's popularity is the wonderful panoramic view which can be seen from the cliff top. If you look east you see the beaches and town of Eastbourne, the Pier and the Harbour, and then on to Pevensey Bay and Hastings and, on an exceptionally clear day, Dungeness in Kent, nearly 40 miles away
Looking west, you can see even further, up to 70 miles, past Seaford Head to Newhaven and Brighton and then on to Selsey Bill near Chichester in West Sussex. On a very clear day the outline of the Isle of Wight can be seen.

The South Downs
The South Downs encompasses a sweep of chalk downland approximately 160km in extent running from Eastbourne in East Sussex to Winchester in Hampshire. The total area covered by the South Downs is 983 sq km and the whole area was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) by the Countryside Commission on June 22 1965.
Heritage Coastline
The Countryside Commission also designated the white chalk cliffs between Beachy Head and the Seven Sisters and Seaford Head as the first ever stretch of Heritage Coastline - a stretch of coastline which is of particular natural beauty or importance and is managed to preserve this largely undeveloped beauty.

Open Downland
In 1929 Eastbourne Borough Council purchased 4000 acres of the South Downs for a total of £91,291 - 1s - 7d. Part of the deal was that the Council, or Corporation as it was then known, would 'secure the public the free and open use of the Downs in perpetuity.' The Council remains committed to that promise and more than 1,200 acres are designated 'Open Downland' - free, open access land for the public to enjoy, whilst the rest is let to tenant farms.

Eastbourne Boundaries
The 4000 acres of land purchased by the Council - the Eastbourne Downland - is a triangular shaped landholding at the easternmost end of the South Downs. Its boundaries are marked by the Eastern Escarpment, the end of the Downs where the chalk hills meet Eastbourne, the Northern Escarpment, facing the Weald of Sussex, Willingdon Hill and East Dean in the West and the Southern Escarpment, which has been eroded by the seas to forms the famous white cliffs.

Contact Neil Gallini, Eastbourne Council Film Liaison Unit.
tel: 01323 415433

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What do a Georgian Mansion, a Pirelli factory, a jet engine testing site and a Victorian Gothic hospital have in common? Absolutely nothing, except that they are available for filming in the Screen South Region!


for more information click here

Our locations range from dramatic stretches of coastline with beaches, cliffs, lighthouses, turn of the century docks and high-tech industrial ports, to the famous gently rolling Cotswold hills: from historic houses and castles and the University spires of Oxford, to Kent's glorious "Garden of England".

The South East is also home to the UK's largest media community, providing a wealth of producers and suppliers for the film and television industry.

Screen South Film Commission
Pinewood Studios
Room 33, Administration Building
Pinewood Road
Iver Heath
Buckinghamshire
SL0 0NH
Tel: 01753 656 412
Fax: 01753 657 029
Email: film.commission@screensouth.org