Due to its beautiful woodland and close proximity to London (25 miles) and many film studios, (Shepperton, Bray and Pinewood) Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England, has been used for many movie and television projects down the years. It is characterised by a diverse mixture of ancient woodland, wood pasture, coppice, ponds and streams, grassland, mire and heath land. The sites most prominent features are the veteran Beech and Oak pollarded trees which provide a stable habitat for many rare and endangered deadwood species.
It covers an area of 220 hectares (540 acres) and is located close to Farnham Common, Burnham and Beaconsfield.
An ancient pollarded tree in 2009
Filming is tightly controlled due to recognition of the Beeches' international importance for wildlife, restricting filming to no more than 20 days per year and to certain times of year. Filming in environmentally sensitive areas has also been banned. The revenue from filming goes directly to fund the upkeep and management of the Beeches.
During my visit in April 2009 I was given a list of ‘all’ the filming that has taken place there since 1946 and too my horror one film in particular was omitted. Yes you guessed it, Walt Disney’s ‘Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men,’ which was filmed at a number of places in the area, including Mendelssohn’s Slope and Upper and Middle Pond in 1951.
So let’s try and put the record straight:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Film 2010: Daniel Radcliffe
The film crew and production team of Harry Potter at Burnham Beeches in 2009
Creation Film 2008: Paul Bettany, Jenifer Connelly
Made With Magic TV 2008: Jamie Oliver
Jonathan Creek Christmas Special TV 2008: Alan Davies
New Tricks Series 5 TV 2008: Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman
Merlin TV 2008: Colin Morgan, Bradley James
Midsomer Murders TV 2008: John Nettles
Eden Lake Film 2007: Kelly Reilly, Michael Fassbender
Sense & Sensibility TV 2007: Mark Williams, David Morrissey
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix Film 2006: Daniel Radcliffe, Evanna Lynch
Primeval TV 2006: Douglas Henshall, Hannah Spearitt
Waking the Dead TV 2006: Trevor Eve, Sue Johnson
New Tricks TV 2005: Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman
I Could Never Be Your Woman Film 2005: Michelle Pfeiffer
Driving Lessons FILM 2005: Rupert Grint, Julie Waters
Waking the Dead TV 2005: Trevor Eve, Sue Johnston
King Arthur Film 2004: Clive Owen, Keira Knightley
Winter Solstice TV 2003: Jan Niklas, Geraldine Chaplin
In Deep TV 2002: Nick Berry, Stephen Tompkinson
Born and Bred TV 2002: Naomi Radcliffe, Jenna Russell
The Hole Film 2000: Thora Birch, Keira Knightley
Midsomer Murders TV 2000 John Nettles
The Worst Witch TV Una Stubbs
Alice in Wonderland TV 1998 Whoopi Goldberg, Christopher Lloyd
Family Affairs TV 1998 Ebony Thomas, Kazia Pelka
Plunkett & Macleane Film 1998 Robert Carlyle, Liv Tyler
Merlin TV 1997/8 Sam Neil, Martin Short
Tess of the D’Urbervilles TV 1997 Justin Waddell
Bedroom 7 Hallways Film 1997 Kevin McKidd, Simon Callow
Kavanagh QC TV 1997 John Thaw
Spiceworld Film 1997 The Spice Girls, Richard E Grant
Bright Hair TV 1997 Emilia Fox, John Bowe
Bliss TV 1996 Simon Shepherd
Touching Evil TV 1997 Robson Green
Wilderness TV 1996 Amanda Ooms, Michael Kitchen
Ivanhoe TV 1996 Steve Waddington, Nick Brimble
The Wind in the Willows Film 1996 Steve Coogan, Eric Idle
The Hollow Reed Film 1995 Joely Richardson
Roald Dahl’s Red Riding Hood TV 1995 July Walters, Danny Devito
Guliver’s Travels TV 1995 Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen
Soldier Soldier TV1994/5 Robson Green, Jerome Flynn
Martin Chuzzlewit TV 1994 Julia Sawalha
First Knight Film 1994 Richard Gere, Julia Ormond
Circle of Friends Film 1994 Minnie Driver, Chris O’Donnell
Between The Lines TV 1993 Neil Pearson, Siobhan Redman
The Crying Game Film 1992 Stephen Rea, Jaye Davidson
King Ralph Film 1991 Peter O’ Toole, John Goodman
Kevin Costner in Robin Hood : Prince of Thieves
The movie was filmed all over Burnham Beeches
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Film 1990 Kevin Costner, Morgan Freeman
Minder-Xmas Special TV 1988 Denis Waterman, George Cole
The Princess Bride Film 1987 Cary Elwes, Robin Wright Penn
Slipstream Film 1987 Mark Hamill, Robin Coltrane
Lair of the White Worm Film 1987 Hugh Grant, Amanda Donohoe
Mr Corbett’s Ghost TV 1987 Burgess Meredith, Mel Smith
Company of Wolves Film 1982/3 Angela Lansbury
Who Dares Wins Film 1982 Lewis Collins
Hawk the Slayer Film 1981/2 Jack Palance
Time Bandits Film 1981 John Cleese, Bernard Bresslaw
John Cleese as Robin Hood in Time Bandits
Agatha Film 1979 Dustin Hoffman, Vanessa Redgrave
Dick Turpin TV 1978 Richard O’Sullivan
The Professionals TV 1977 Lewis Collins, Martin Shaw
Carry On England Film 1976 Sid James, Kenneth Williams
The New Avengers TV 1976 Patrick Macknee, Joanna Lumley
Carry On Behind Film 1975 Sid James, Kenneth Williams
Frankenstein: The True Story Film 1973 Ralph Richardson, Jane Seymour
Bless This House Film 1972 Sid James, Diana Coupland
The Benny Hill Show TV 1971 Benny Hill
The Persuaders TV 1971 Roger Moore, Tony Curtis
Carry On Camping Film 1969 Sid James Kenneth Williams
Randall & Hopkirk-Deceased TV 1969 Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope
Manhunt TV 1969 Cyd Hayman
The Siege of the Saxons Film 1963
Z Cars TV 1962 Colin Welland
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner Film 1962 Michael Redgrave, Tom Courtenay
The Avengers TV 1961 Patrick Macknee, Diana Rigg
Dangerman TV 1960 Patrick McGoohan
(VARIOUS) Hammer Horror films FILM 1960’s -70’s
Goldfinger Film 1960 Sean Connery
A Town Called Alice Film 1956 Peter Finch, Virginia Mc Kenna
Lost Film 1955 Thora Hird
Men of Sherwood Forest Film 1954 Don Taylor, Reginald Beckwith
Perce Pearce the producer of Walt Disney's Story of Robin Hood
with Art Director Carmen Dillon and 2nd Unit Direcor Alex Bryce at Burnham Beeches
Walt Disney’s Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men Film 1952 Richard Todd, Joan Rice
London Belongs To Me FILM 1948: Richard Attenborough
Great Expectations FILM 1946 John Mills
If you know of any other TV of film productions not listed that used Burnham Beeches as a location, please get in touch.
"Film & Television Production at Burnham Beeches"
ReplyDeleteBurnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, England.
Walt Disney's Story Of Robin Hood (1952)
You must have forgotten Elspeth Gill's correction of the photograph caption which shows Perce Pearce with Carmen Dillon and noy his wife.
ReplyDeleteElspeth certainly knew as she was probably there at the time her father directed the scenes at Burnham Beeches.
It is well woth a visit there to anyone not familiar with this wonderful part of the world.
Thanks Neil, I have corrected the error.
ReplyDeleteIt is astonishing that the reporter and magazine never noticed the mistake. Perhaps because it was unusual at that time to have a female art director on a movie?
Burnham Beeches is an area well worth a visit particularly for any lovers of this film. If you were on such a 'pilgrimage' what remains of Denham Film Studios is quite close also. When in the area I always like to drive past the old studios to look and try to imagine what it was like there even though it is 60 years ago that these enormous studios closed.
ReplyDeleteA wondeful place, always looks fantastic on film, i have been only once, come on clement, lets all get together there one summer.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good idea from Mike and what a good place to meet up.
ReplyDelete