Maidstone

Big Barn Farm (2008)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Labrador puppy in a field of long grass.

Digger the Puppy © Rdf Media Group

Production Company:  The Foundation

Kent Filming Locations: Stede Court Estate near Maidstone

New to CBeebies, Big Barn Farm tells the adventures of a group of farmyard animals living together and was filmed at Stede Court Estate near Maidstone.

Created and produced by Kent’s  The Foundation, which is part of the RDF media group, the programme combines footage of real animals with animation to create the charming, magical world of Gobo the baby goat, Petal the pig, a puppy called Digger and Dash the donkey.

Children will love the stories around the day-to day adventures of these animal characters and their many other farmyard friends – and the mischief they get into! Big Barn Farm is told from the animal’s point of view and provides a unique inside into their world.

Stede Court Estate is classic looking farm complete with two beautiful cottages, a coachhouse and a wooden barn; it was these classic features that made it perfect for the programme.

Maidstone lies on the River Medway and is the county town of Kent offering shopping areas, bars and restaurants and parks. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as Kent Life and Leeds Castle and is also home to The Maidstone Studios . Take Me Out (2010-2019), Later… with Jools Holland (2015) and Couples Come Dine With Me (2014) have all filmed in the Maidstone area.

Big Barn Farm was shown on Cbeebies weekdays at 4pm from February 2008.

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

Cape Wrath (2007)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Cape Wrath Cast at Leybourne Lakes with houses behind

Cape Wrath Cast at Leybourne Lakes © Channel 4

Director: Duane Clark, Andrew Gunn

Writer: Robert Murphy

Starring: David Morrissey, Lucy Cohu, Ralph Brown, Tom Hardy

Production Company: Ecosse Films

Kent Filming Locations: Leybourne Lakes, Mote Park Leisure Centre, Whatman warehouse Maidstone, Kings Hill, Imperial College-Wye Campus

Cape Wrath is a 7-part thriller which is known in the US as Meadowlands. This sinister series followed the lives of the Brogan family, headed by David Morrissey, as they relocate to the seemingly safe suburban town of Meadowlands as part of a witness protection programme. The Brogan family begin to doubt just how safe the village of Meadowlands truly is when it turns out that they’re not the only ones with secrets to hide.

Starring David Morrissey (The Walking Dead, The Reaping, The Other Boleyn Girl) as Danny Brogan and Lucy Cohu (Becoming Jane, Broadchurch, The Queen’s Sister) as his ever-patient wife Evelyn, Cape Wrath also showcases a number of well-known talents including Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything, Like Crazy, The Diary of Anne Frank), Tom Hardy (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Mad Max: Fury Road), Ralph Brown (Withnail and I, Star Wars: Episode 1 -The Phantom Menace, Wayne’s World 2) and Nina Sosanya (Love Actually, Last Tango in Halifax, Code 46).

The series based and filmed in Kent, utilising an empty warehouse in Rusthall to create a number of central sets which were used for most of the interiors. The main characters homes were filmed at housing development next to Leybourne Lakes Country Park which double as “Meadowlands”. Liberty Square at Kings Hill features as the local town centre and The Kings Hill Golf Course is also used for a number of scenic exterior shots. Wye College also features as Samantha’s Father’s place of work in London. The Gym, the sports hall and the exterior of Maidstone Leisure Centre also feature frequently throughout the series.

Leybourne Lakes and Kings Hill are new developments in the Tonbridge and Malling district. The areas have great transport links, local amenities, a network of cycle paths and a number of sports facilities including The Kings Hill Golf Course. The area has previously has been seen on Great British Railway Journeys (2014), Couples Come Dine with Me (2014) and Missing Series Two (2010).

Maidstone is the county town of Kent which lies on the River Medway and boasts lovely parks and gardens such as Mote Park where Mote Park Leisure Centre, is situated. The town also has many shops, bars and restaurants and is home to The Maidstone Studios an independent TV studio complex on an 11 acre site offering 5 television studios, dubbing facilities, edits suites, office space and parking. Productions which have previously filmed in the area include Later… with Jools Holland (2013-2018) and Missing (2009).

Cape Wrath was originally shown on Channel 4 in July 2007 and is available to buy on DVD.

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

Birds of a Feather (1989-1998)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Birds of a Feather cast members stood in front of a door having a conversation at a desk

Birds of a Feather – Dorien Green (Lesley Joseph), Sharon Theodopolopodos (Pauline Quirke) and Tracey Stubbs (Linda Robson) © BBC

Director: Nick Wood

Starring: Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson, Leslie Joseph, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou

Production Company: Alomo Productions, SelecTV

Kent Locations used: Maidstone Prison

Birds of a Feather is a comedy series about two sisters, Sharon and Tracey Stubbs who move in together after both their husbands end up in jail following an armed robbery attempt.

Sharon has been struggling and her husband’s crime isn’t a surprise whereas Tracey has been living her dream life in Chigwell and is shell-shocked to find her beloved husband is a criminal.

The sisters must get used to their enforced new circumstances and deal with their husbands being in jail as well as their sex-mad neighbour Dorien Green.

Birds of a Feather was created by Laurence Marks (Goodnight Sweetheart, The Last Laugh), and stars Pauline Quirke (Broadchurch, Emmerdale), Linda Robson (Casualty, Crossroads), Leslie Joseph (Night & Day, Rumble), Alun Lewis (Emmerdale, Lexx), and Peter Polycarpou (Evita, EastEnders).

The long running BBC franchise finished after nine series in 1998. However, in 2013 it was revived with a tenth series for ITV, and an eleventh series has been commissioned.

HM Maidstone Prison was used to film the exterior prison scenes throughout the original series.

Maidstone lies on the River Medway and is the county town of Kent offering shopping areas and parks. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as Kent Life and Leeds Castle.   The Maidstone Studios has hosted filming for TV productions such as  Take Me Out (2010-2019). 

Birds of A Feather was shown on the BBC between 1989-1998 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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

They Came from Somewhere Else (1984)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
A green humanoid alien wearing a space suit stands in front of a blue screen, on which is super-imposed an image of a man fighting a giant prawn. Above the image is the 1980’s Channel 4 logo and the text ‘They Came from Somewhere Else’ in a white font.

They Came from Somewhere Else (1984) © The VHS Archive / Channel 4

Director: Jim Hill
Starring: Robin Driscoll, Tony Haase, Pete McCarthy, Rebecca Stevens
Production Company: Channel 4 Television Corporation, TVS Films
Kent Locations Used: Allington, Maidstone

They Came from Somewhere Else (1984) was a British sitcom which aired on Channel 4 in 1984. The series takes place in the fictional town of Middleford and follows friends Wendy, Colin and Martin as their dull lives are interrupted by the arrival of an American stranger, whose presence in the town seems to coincide with bizarre phenomena including raining liver, zombies and giant prawns in the sewers.

The six-part series was directed by Jim Hill (Boon, Playing for Real) and stars Robin Driscoll (Bean, Mr. Bean’s Holiday) as the Stranger, Tony Haase (Colin’s Sandwich, Mornin’ Sarge) as Martin, Pete McCarthy (Smith & Jones) as Colin and Rebecca Stevens (Postman Pat, Saturday Live) as Wendy.

Allington in Maidstone features throughout the series, doubling as the fictional town of Middleford. Various roads and green spaces were used for filming, as well as the Mid Kent Shopping Centre. The former Granada Cinema in Maidstone, now the Gala Bingo hall, appears in the final episode of the series in its former glory.

As the county town of Kent and seat of local governance, Maidstone plays an important part in Kent’s history. The River Medway runs through the town’s centre, linking it with other towns such as Rochester and Chatham. The town has many shops, restaurants, bars, churches and a museum. Other productions to have filmed there include Missing (2009-2010), Rustom (2016) and Season 2 of This Time with Alan Partridge (2021).

They Came from Somewhere Else (1984) aired on Channel 4 from Saturday 14th July to Saturday 18th August 1984. It was never released on DVD or on-demand due to copyright issues.

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

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Kind Hearts and Coronets poster- two ladies wearing extravagant hats, with a man behind bars behind them. Kind Hearts and Coronets is written on a poster behind them

Kind Hearts and Coronets © Eagle-Lion Films

Director / Writer: Robert Hamer
Starring: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith
Production Company: Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions
Kent Locations: Leeds Castle, Harrietsham, Boughton Monchelsea

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) is based on the novel ‘Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal’ by Roy Horniman which tells the story of Louis Mazzini, an aristocrat descendent  who sets out to murder eight D’Ascoynes family heirs in order to become the Duke.

The film has become a timeless classic, being regarded as one of best British films of all time. It has been included in both Time magazine and the BFI top 100 British films of all time.

Eight of the D’Ascoynes are played by the legendary Alec Guiness (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Star Wars) who are one by one murdered in a variety of ways from poisoning to drowning and even exploding.

Leeds Castle doubled as Chalfont Castle, the D’Ascoynes family home. Located on the outskirts of Maidstone, Leeds Castle was built as a Norman stronghold and became the home of royalty, including Henry VIII when he visited Kent. Surrounded by a mote and 500 acres of gardens, the Castle became a monument to the Tudor era and a popular tourist destination. It has also been used for productions such as Lady Jane (1987).

The film also shot outside The Cock Inn pub in Boughton Monchelsea village for the scene where Louis (Dennis Price (The Earth Dies Screaming, The Rebel) takes photos and meets Henry (Alec Guinness). The village is on the outskirts of Maidstone and contains an array of urban and rural land and historic features including a church built in 1100 and a 16th century manor house.

Harrietsham village was also used for the scene where Louis (Dennis Price) rides around the village. Harrietsham is a  rural village to the east of Maidstone and  has many Grade I listed buildings including The Old House and Saxon Church of St John the Baptist.  

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) was released on Monday 13th June 1949 and is now available on DVD.

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