Above is a map of the beautiful Burnham Beeches. I have marked in red the areas that were used by Walt Disney’s film crew during the making of the Story of Robin Hood in 1951. Outlined is Mendelssohn’s Slope, where many scenes were filmed, including the death of Robin’s father. Also Middle Pond, where Robin (Richard Todd) and Marian (Joan Rice) took their romantic evening stroll, accompanied by Friar Tuck (James Hayter) and Allan a Dale (Elton Hayes) singing ‘Whistle My Love.’Burnham Beeches was the location chosen to be ‘Sherwood Forest,’ not only because of its close proximity to Denham Studios (12 miles approx.), where two of the huge sound stages were used, but also because of its amazing ancient woodland that was ideal as a backdrop to this classic tale. I have noticed a number of film web sites state that Disney’s live-action movie was the only Robin Hood tale to be filmed in Sherwood Forest. This in incorrect, but shows what a good choice Burnham Beeches was.
My wife and I visited Burnham in April and were stunned by the breathtaking scenery, it is no wonder film and television crews have been queuing up to shoot scenes in various areas of the forest since 1946. I thoroughly recommend a visit, particularly to our band of Whistling Arrows. So if you do make the trip, please send in some photos from your visit and I will be pleased to post them on this site.
Burnham Beeches - Disney's Sherwood Forest
ReplyDeleteWalt Disney's Story of Robin Hood (1952)
Thanks a lot clement for this map. its a great guide to seeing these locations, when i visited Burnham Beeches around 8 years ago i did find the location for Robin Hood Price of Thieves , you could still make out the marks high in the trees where the tree houses were built , to walk in the footsteps of Richard Todd and Joan Rice will really mean a lot, well done my liege .
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure Hern's Son!
ReplyDeleteDid you see the wood they used to make Kevin Costner?
LOL!
Hello! Just to say Ive enjoyed looking at your website, im a set decorator working in the uk film/tv industry and I have a personal love for Walt disney, his legacy and the pioneering man that he was! Ive filmed/decorated sets around this area but not at burnham beeches; however I live nearby and walk around here regularly, so loved stubbling upon the photo of walt here! I also love the fact that I always feel im following in his footsteps - im from grantham (also would have loved to have met richard todd if Id known he lived there when he was alive!) and have therefore spent time looking around norton disney where walt visited with his family to search his ancestry and seen disney roots in lincoln too. Also when I first moved to this area and was drawn to the model village in beaconsfield,I really felt walt may have visited as I had read in a book that he had once visited a man with a large model railway up the road from denham studio, in beaconsfield.
ReplyDeleteOne day when watching disney archive videos they showed a few photos from walts personal camera, which I recognised instantly as bekonscot! Having worked at pinewood and been to wilton park where walt also visited film crew, it feels magical to connect with all elements of his story and the impact it continues to have on the world! Im soon to be moving to france to decorate at the theme park as an imagineer so my love for disney history and art/sets is coming full circle ha. Thanks again for the site! Best, Emma
Thanks Emma and good luck in France!
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