Dymchurch

Homes By The Sea (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Homes by the Sea presenter Charlie Luxton with sea and houses in the background

Homes By The Sea presenter Charlie Luxton © Channel 4

Production Company: True North

Kent locations: Dymchurch, Dungeness

More 4 series, Homes By The Sea, follows architect and designer Charlie Luxton as he seeks out the finest, quirkiest, most spectacular and unusual homes that can be found on Britain’s beautiful coastline.

In episode 4, the Homes By The Sea team visits a home made from a railway carriage in Dungeness and a converted Martello Tower in Dymchurch.

Dymchurch is a village on the east Kent coast and boasts a sandy beach and sea wall, amusements, cafes and ice cream parlours.

Just along the coast is Dungeness which is a vast and unique nature reserve, featuring a shingle beach, two lighthouses and power station. The area has featured in a variety of productions such as The Honourable Woman (2014), The Poison Tree (2012) and Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1964).

The Kent episode of Homes By The Sea will be shown on More 4 on Thursday 13th November 2014 at 21:00.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

British Art at War: Paul Nash – The Ghosts of War (2014)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Artists of War presenter Andrew Graham-Dixon in front of a Paul Nash painting

Artists of War presenter Andrew Graham-Dixon © BBC/DNA Arts

Production Company: DNA Arts Productions Ltd

Kent locations: Dymchurch

This new BBC Four series with art historian and broadcaster Andrew Graham-Dixon explores how three British artists responded to the cataclysm of World War One.

The show focuses on the works David Bomberg, Walter Sickert and Paul Nash. The first episode explores the life and art created by Paul Nash – one of Britain’s great landscape artists, whose work was influenced by his time serving in both World Wars.

Paul Nash and his wife lived in Dymchurch from 1921 -1925 and produced a series of paintings of the seawall and surrounding landscape of Romney Marsh therefore the production visited the area to discover the landscapes which inspired him.

Dymchurch is a village on the south east Kent coast and is a popular summer beach resort due to its delightful sandy beach, sea wall and amusements as well as many cafes and ice cream parlours. The area has been featured on screen before in productions such as The Honourable Woman (2014), Parade’s End (2012) and Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1964).

British Art at War starts on Sunday 14th September 2014 at 21:00 on BBC Four. 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Dr Syn movie poster- a painting of a man standing next to a scarecrow, underneath are men riding horses, Walt Disney Dr Syn written underneath

Dr Syn © Walt Disney

Directed by: James Neilson
Starring: Patrick McGoohan, George Cole, Michael Hordern, Tony Britton, Sean Scully, Alan Dobie
Production Company: Walt Disney Productions
Kent Locations Used: Romney Marsh, St Clement’s Church Old Romney

In 18th Century England, the Vicar of Dymchurch (Patrick McGoohan) takes on the alias of The Scarecrow. Alongside his gang of smugglers, they turn against the King and his high taxes, by smuggling goods across the Romney Marshes. The Scarecrow comes under threat from the Kings army after they learn of his rebel gang, and he becomes a wanted man. Aided by the locals, the Scarecrow must come up with a plan to get rid of the Kings army whilst maintaining his successful smuggling operations that many locals have come to rely on.

St Clements Church and cemetery- horse are being walked along the path by cast in period costumes

St Clements Church © Walt Disney

The film was released as part of the Disney Treasures Collection in 1964. Walt Disney adapted the stories from the original DR Syn books written by Russell Thorndike, and the later book ‘Christopher Syn’ written by William Buchanan. Originally, the production was only intended to be aired in three parts on Disney’s weekly television show Wonderful World of Colour, but was later adapted for release on DVD.

The film stars Patrick McGoohan (Treasure Planet, Columbo), George Cole (Cleopatra, The Adventures of Quentin Durward),Michael Hordern (The Wind in the Willows, The Secret Garden), Tony Britton (The Day of the Jackal, The Way We Live Now), Sean Scully (Phoenix, Born to Sing) and Alan Dobie (Cribb, Kessler).

Romney Marshes were the background to the production and so featured throughout the film and consist of around 100 square miles of coastal marshlands located in South East Kent. It is a popular tourist destination due to its sandy beaches, historic buildings and diverse landscape which is perfect for walkers and cyclists. Romney Marsh has also featured in Parades End (2012), Great Expectations (2012) and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries – Natural Causes (2006).

St Clement’s Church in Old Romney doubled as Dr Syn’s Dymchurch parish church in the production. Walt Disney funded the repair of the building in order to use it as a filming location. The interior was painted pink by the crew and remains so to this day.

Dr Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (1963) first aired in 1963 and is available to watch on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.