London Weekend Television (LWT)

Dempsey and Makepeace ‘Cry God for Harry’ (1985)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Dempsey (Michael Brandon) and Makepeace (Glynis Barber) facing each other inside Chilham Castle

Dempsey (Michael Brandon) and Makepeace (Glynis Barber) inside Chilham Castle © ITV

Directed by: William Brayne

Written by: Neil Rudyard

Starring: Michael Brandon, Glynis Barber, Ray Smith, Ralph Michael, Keith Bonnard Ralph Arliss, Seretta Wilson, John Terry

Production Company: Golden Eagle Films, London Weekend Television (LWT)

Kent Filming Locations: Chilham Castle, Chilham Square

Dempsey and Makepeace is a British crime drama focusing on the relationship between American Lt. James Dempsey (Michael Brandon) and British Detective Sgt. Harriet Makepeace (Glynis Barber). Dempsey was sent to England after his career ran into trouble in New York, and has been partnered up with Makepeace, under the watchful eye of Chief Superintendent Spikings (Ray Smith).

In episode 9 of Series 1, Makepeace receives the news that her father’s house has been burgled. By Royal Intervention, the detective duo is ordered to investigate and restore the missing collection of priceless Jade artefacts.

Dempsey and Makepeace driving through Chilham village in a white classic car.

Dempsey and Makepeace driving through Chilham © ITV

The episode stars franchise regulars Michael Brandon (Captain America: The First Avenger) Glynis Barber (Hammer of the Gods) and Ray Smith (Struggle, We’ll Meet Again). Guest stars include Ralph Michael (The Quest, Kessler), Keith Bonnard (Noble House, Shanghai Surprise), Ralph Arliss (Grange Hill, Retrace), Seretta Wilson (The Da Vinci Code, London Bridge), and John Terry (Brothers and Sisters, Lost).

Chilham Castle becomes Winfield Hall, the grand English estate of Lord Winfield (Ralph Michael) in this episode. The Jacobean mansion was built in 1616 on the site of an ancient castle, and is now the private home of the Wheeler family. The castle has previously hosted productions such as Hercule Poirot’s Christmas (1995) and Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2006).

Chilham Square, which is considered to be one of the most perfectly preserved medieval settings in the South East of England, makes a brief appearance in this episode. Dempsey and Makepeace drive through the square as they approach the grand gates to Winfield Hall. Chilham has previously featured in Chickens (2011), Emma (2009), and The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders (1965).

The episode first aired in 1985 on ITV and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

Mapp & Lucia (1985–1986)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Mapp and Lucia DVD cover- three characters in a triangle on a purple patterned background. Mapp & Lucia written in pink on top

Mapp and Lucia DVD © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Director: Donald McWhinnie

Writer: E.F. Benson (novel) and Gerald Savory (screenplay)

Starring: Prunella Scales, Geraldine McEwan, Nigel Hawthorne, Denis Lill, James Greene

Production Company: London Weekend Television (LWT)

Kent Locations: Chilham including Cumberland Lodge, Hever Castle

Mapp and Lucia is a Channel 4 series, based on three 1930’s novels by E. F. Benson. Set in the fictional Sussex coastal town of Tilling-on-Sea, the show centres around social schemers Mapp (Prunella Scales) and Lucia (Geraldine McEwan) who will stop at nothing to bolster their position amongst their community’s elite.

Mapp and Lucia, aired in two series of five episodes and was directed by Donald McWhinnie (Moll Flanders, Churchill’s People, Much Ado About Nothing), with the screenplay adapted by Gerald Savory (Agatha Christie’s Partners in Crime, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Victorians).

The series stars Prunella Scales (Howards End, After Henry, Wolf), Geraldine McEwan (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, The Magdalene Sisters, Agatha Christie’s Marple), Nigel Hawthorne (Amistad, Demolition Man, Gandhi) Denis Lill (Batman, The Royal, Richard III) and James Greene (Sherlock Holmes, RocknRolla, Empire of the Sun).

Chilham village with lots of cast members walking around in front of a tudor style house

Mapp and Lucia screenshot at Chilham © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Hever Castle - a car outside the castle

Mapp and Lucia screenshot at Hever Castle London Weekend Television (LWT)

The production was largely filmed in Rye and Winchelsea with Kent also featuring – Chilham is seen in episodes 1, 2 and 10, doubling as Risholme, with Lucia’s home in the Cumberland Lodge on The Street, Olga Braceley’s Home in the Old Rectory and the Tudor Lodge in the square doubling as the Ambermere Arms.

In episode 10, Hever Castle features as the residence of Poppy (Irene Handl), Duchess of Sheffield.

Chilham is a delightfully preserved Tudor village in the Ashford borough of Kent. It is a popular film location due to its stunning fifteenth century square with black and white timbered buildings, Jacobean castle, church, pub and school. Chilham has been chosen as a film location by many filming projects including Emma (2009) and Miss Marple – The Moving Finger (2005).

The thirteenth century double moated Hever Castle boasts formal Italian Gardens, ornamental lake, adventure playground and maze. The castle was once the childhood home of Anne Boleyn and has featured in a variety of productions including The Apprentice (2014), Inkheart (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Mapp & Lucia aired in 1985–1986 and is now available on DVD.

 

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

 

Upstairs Downstairs – The Sudden Storm (1974)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
The cast of Upstairs, Downstairs standing behind a sign that reads Upstairs, Downstairs

Upstairs, Downstairs © London Weekend Television (LWT)

Creator: Eileen Atkins
Starring: Angela Baddeley, Jean Marsh, Meg Wynn Owen, Simon Williams, David Langton, Gordon Jackson
Production Company: London Weekend Television (LWT), Sagitta Productions Ltd.
Kent Locations: Herne Bay

Upstairs, Downstairs (1971-1975) was an ITV drama series set in a townhouse in Belgravia which charts the lives of the wealthy Bellamy family and their servants during the First World War and the interwar years.

The show which ran between 1971 and 1975, stars Jean Marsh (Willow, Frenzy), Angela Baddeley (Tom Jones, The Speckled Band), Meg Wynn Owen (Pride & Prejudice, Gosford Park), Simon Williams (Kinvig, Jabberwocky), David Langton (The Whistle Blower, Quintet) and Gordon Jackson (The Professionals, The Great Escape).

Herne Bay, including the beach by the former pier and Central Bandstand, features in series three, episode thirteen “The Sudden Storm”, when the staff take a day out to the seaside.

Located near to Canterbury, Herne Bay has a delightful beach with a bandstand and seafront gardens, as well as many shops and eateries, amusement arcades, and a windmill. The area has previously featured in filming projects such as Boomers (2014), Little Britain – Season 1 (2003) and The Medusa Touch (1978).

Upstairs, Downstairs “The Sudden Storm” (1974) was shown on Saturday 19th January 1974 and is available to watch on ITVX.

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