The Gathering (2003)

The Barons Hall large room with a meeting table in. Church officials are sat around the edge.

Church Officials meeting in The Barons Hall, Penshurst Place © Granada Films

Written by: Anthony Horowitz

Directed by: Brian Gilbert

Starring: Christina Ricci, Harry Forrester, Stephen Dillane, Peter McNamara, Robert Hardy, Ioan Gruffudd, Simon Russell Beale

Production Company: Granada Film Productions, Isle of Man Film Commission, Samuelson Productions, Isle of Man Film

Kent Locations: Penshurst Place

The Gathering is a supernatural thriller about Cassie, a young woman who forgets her identity after a car accident. As a mysterious, buried First Century church is uncovered, a dark history regarding some of the townspeople is revealed. Cassie begins to have premonitions of people whose lives are in danger and as events unfold, she realises who she really is.

The film stars Christina Ricci (The Ice Storm, Sleepy Hollow), Stephen Dillane (Spy Game, King Arthur), Robert Hardy (Frankenstein, Sense and Sensibility), Ioan Gruffudd (Black Hawk Down, Fantastic 4 Franchise), Harry Forrester (The Bill) and Kerry Fox (Shallow Grave, Bright Stair).

The Barons Hall at Penshurst Place provided the location for the scenes where the Bishop held meetings with the clergy.

Penshurst Place is a beautiful medieval estate with a history spanning nearly 700 years. It is popular with the visiting public due to the dedicated conservation of the rooms and its beautifully maintained gardens. The vast home and grounds have previously welcomed productions such as Henry V (2012), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and BBC’s Merlin (2008).

The Gathering was released in January 2003 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

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


Foyle’s War – The German Woman (2002)

Foyles War DVD © ITV

Directed by: Jeremy Silberston

Starring: Michael Kitchen, Honeysuckle Weeks, James McAvoy, Julien Ovenden, Anthony Howell, Robert Hardy, David Horovitch,  Joanna Kanska

Production Company: Greenlit Productions, Paddock Productions

Kent locations used: Squerryes Court

Joanna Kanska, Dominic Mafham and Micheal Kitchen on living room set at Squerryes Court

Joanna Kanska, Dominic Mafham and Micheal Kitchen on set at Squerryes Court © ITV

Foyle’s War is a World War Two detective drama set in the 1940’s and follows Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle (Michael Kitchen) and Sergeant Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) on various criminal investigations, assisted by his new driver, Samantha Stewart (Honeysuckle Weeks).

In the first episode of the first series, ‘The German Woman’, Foyle is working on a trail of corruption regarding the conscription process and the Enemy Alien  Act. It isn’t long before Greta Beaumont (Joanna Kanska), the German wife of wealthy estate owner Henry Beaumont (Robert Hardy), is murdered with a Nazi Swastika engraved at the scene. However, Detective Chief Superintendent Foyle soon realises that traditional motives, such as money and power might be involved.

This series stars regulars Michael Kitchen (Goldeneye, The World Is Not Enough), Honeysuckle Weeks (My Brother Tom, The Wicker Tree), Julien Ovenden (The Allies, The Royal) and Anthony Howell (Wives and Daughters) as well as guest appearances in The German Women episode from James MaCavoy (Shameless,  The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe), Rosamund Pike (Die Another Day, Pride and Prejudice) and Robert Hardy (Frankenstein, Sense and Sensibility).

Squerryes Court was the perfect setting to double up as the grand home of estate owner of Henry Beaumont (Robert Hardy). Squerryes Court has previously been used for productions such as The Hollow Crown: Henry V (2012) and The Boat That Rocked (2009) and Emma (2009).

The first series was aired on ITV in October 2002, and all seven series are now available to buy on DVD.

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


The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984)

Robin Hood (George Segal) standing on a tree with a bow and arrow

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (1984) Poster © Charles Fries Productions

Director: Ray Austin

Writer: Robert Kaufman

Starring: George Segal, Morgan Fairchild, Roddy McDowall, Robert Hardy

Production Company: Charles Fries Productions

Kent Locations: Penshurst Place, Allington Castle

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood is a made-for-TV spoof of the classic story of forest rogue Robin (George Segal) who, along with his merry men, foils Prince John’s (Roddy McDowall) plot to oust King Richard (Robert Hardy).

The film was written by Robert Kaufman (Love at First Bite, Divorce American Style, Ski Party),directed by Ray Austin (Zorro, The Champions, Curse of the Dead) and stars George Segal (Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Cable Guy, Look Who’s Talking), Morgan Fairchild (The Seduction, Flamingo Road, Holy Man), Roddy McDowall (Planet of the Apes, A Bug’s Life, Fright Night) and Robert Hardy (All Creatures Great and Small, Harry, Sense and Sensibility).

Largely filmed in Kent, the production used The Barron’s Hall at Penshurst Place to double as King John’s (Roddy McDowall) Hall and the Cathedral. Allington Castle exterior doubles as King John’s castle and the hall as the Bank of Normandy.

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor style manor house set in gorgeous parkland in West Kent with formal Elizabethan gardens, state rooms and Gardens, adventure playground and maze. Penshurst Place  previously featured in productions such as Wolf Hall (2015), The Gathering (2003) and Young Sherlock Holmes (1986).

Set in 42 acres near the town of Maidstone, Allington Castle boasts a moat, lakes and extensive gardens. The castle is a private residence which has been used for filming by projects such as Covington Cross (1992) and Bernard Matthews and Mars commercials.

The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood aired in 1984.

 

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


Elizabeth R (1971)

Elizabeth R in costume and make up looking away from the camera

Elizabeth R © BBC

Starring: Glenda Jackson, Ronald Hines, Stephen Murray, Rachel Kempson, Robert Hardy, John Shrapnel
Production Company: BBC, Masterpiece
Kent Locations Used: Penshurst Place, Chiddingstone, St. John The Baptist Church, Penshurst

Elizabeth R (1971) is a six part BBC drama is about the life and tumultuous reign of Elizabeth I, including her rise to the throne, quest for a suitor and the challenges she faces with the threat of the Spanish Armada.

Starring in the lead role of Queen Elizabeth is Glenda Jackson (Sunday Bloody Sunday, Women in Love) supported by Ronald Hines (Young Winston, Not in Front of the Children), Stephen Murray (The Nun’s Story, The Magnet), Rachel Kempson (Out of Africa, Tom Jones), Robert Hardy (Sense and Sensibility, Little Dorrit) and John Shrapnel (Gladiator, Troy).

The series won five Emmy Awards, including Drama Series, New Series, Achievement in Costume Design and Glenda Jackson scooped the Continued Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role prize, as well as Outstanding Single Performance for the episode “The Shadow In The Sun”.

The production filmed at Penshurst Place which doubled as the Queen’s castle grounds and featured in a variety of

Elizabeth R at Penshurst Place walking towards the stone building, two other women in costume follow behind

Screenshot of Elizabeth R ladies walking through the grounds of Penshurst Place

scenes in episode one and two. St. John The Baptist church in Penshurst also featured in episode 2 for the scenes where Lord Robert Dudley  waits at the church for Queen Elizabeth.

Nearby Chiddingstone village also features in the first two episodes of the series, for the scenes where Queen Elizabeth celebrates her rise to the throne.

Penshurst Place is set in 2,500 acres and boasts limestone exteriors as well as the 14th century house with medieval interiors, beautiful gardens and parkland. Penshurst Place is a popular film location, having been used for productions such as The Hollow Crown – Henry V (2012), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and The Princess Bride (1987).

Chiddingstone is a one-street Tudor village with its properties boasting half-timbered sides, gables and stone-hung red-tiled roofs. The village is owned by the National Trust to ensure its preservation and has previously been used for productions such as A Room With A View (1986).

Elizabeth R also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Elizabeth R (1971) was first broadcast on BBC2 from Wednesday 17th February to Wednesday 24th March 1971 and is now available to buy on DVD.

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