TV locations for the Famous Five series

Discuss the television and film adaptations of Enid Blyton's stories.
ness
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TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by ness »

Readers may already know these but I thought it might be useful to list the locations used for the 1970's and 1990's television series. There is also a list of known and speculative places that may have inspired Enid Blyton. Enjoy!

1970’s Series

Blackwater House, Warren Lane, Beaulieu, SO42 7XH
Kirrin Cottage.
N.B. Warren Lane is a private lane and the house is also privately owned, but a photo can be found here.

Exbury House & Gardens
Owls Dene in Five Get Into Trouble;
Camp site in Trouble, Secret Trail (pond where they bathed) & Billycock Hill.

Roof of Exbury House
Where Five climbed on Wreckers Tower in FGDTS.

Exbury House Glasshouse (to left of house)
Billycock Hill (butterfly farm)

Exbury Village (turn right out of Exbury House entrance and drive to village.)
Building on corner: Pub used in Five on Kirrin Island
Tree opposite: Where 4 of the 5 had ice-cream in Five Go Off in a Caravan
Wooden paned window opp. pub: Where George ran with Tim in FOKI.
House next to above: Home of Timmy in FOKI.
On road leading to Lepe from Exbury: Where Mr. Luffy and police cars rushed to Five’s rescue in FGOTC.

Gatewood Farm on Exbury estate. Entrance opposite Exbury Gardens entrance. Used as Kirrin Cottage interior and garden in FFIA – Jo threw stone thru window and hit Dick.
Possibly barn in FGDTS.
Also, apparently used as circus site in FATA.
Also used as accommodation for child actors during filming of second series.

Lepe
Above carpark: Where Gypsy girl Jo ran to dad’s caravan in FFIA.
Coastguard’s hut: Mr. Curton’s abode in FOKI.
Lepe beach: Where Julian, Dick and Anne played in FOKI.
Further along beach: Where George tied boat up in FOKI.
House (overlooking beach): Where George was kept prisoner in FFIA – boys rescued her and Timmy.
Lepe House: Farm in FGOTC – privately owned.

Highcliffe Castle
Wreckers Tower in FGDTS.

Highcliffe Castle Gardens – overlooking sea.
Possible picnic site on Kirrin Island in FOKI and possible site where Dick & Julian are caught by Markoff in FFIA.

Christchurch – trees on steep slope by beach.
Where Jo led Dick & Julian to Red Tower’s home FFIA.

Christchurch beach
Kirrin Island in FRAT.
Where Dick is attacked in FGDTS.

Christchurch beach sandcliffs
Distant view of red Tower’s home FFIA.
Possible wreckers cave in FGTDR.

Burley
Castaway village in FGTST.

Rhinefield Hotel & surrounding land
Kidnapped scientist’s tower prison in FHWT.
Fair people’s camp site.

Lyndhurst Flats near ParkHill Hotel
End titles.

ParkHill Hotel, on B3056 near Lyndhurst
Where actors stayed for a period during filming.

Jolly Woodman pub near Beaulieu
Where Ben Woodgate (trainer) and Timmy stayed during filming.

Hurst Castle
Lighthouse in FGTDR.

Mudeford
Demons Rocks village and quay where Jeremiah Boogle sat.

Gatebridge nr. Blackfield
Five’s caravan (near bridge across river) & circus campsite (top of hill across road) in FGOIC.

Marchwood Station
FGOTC – they asked porter for help.
FGDTS – set off for Cornwall.
FATA – arrive home from school.

Branch line off Marchwood Station line (MOD land)
Spook trains yard in FGOTC.

Lymington
Where Richard Kent fled from Perton in FGIT.

Bucklers Hard
Finniston Farm.
Sowley Pond near South Baddesley on a road called The Solent Way
FOHK and series start titles showing Dick falling off raft into lake.

1990’s Series

Lower House, Bossington, Somerset
Kirrin Cottage and garden (using front and back of property and lane leading to beach). Nearby countryside where they tried to pen treasure box in FOTI.

Bossington, Somerset
Tea shop where villaIns plotted to steal the treasure map in FOTI (outside and inside used).

Bossington, Somerset (next to car park).
Footbridge and stream where gypsy girl Jo skips, then gets kidnapped in FFIA!

Dunstanburgh Castle in Craster, Alnwick
Kirrin Castle – FOTI and KOKIA.

Coombe Martin. (Five miles east of Ilfracombe, north Devon.
Seaweedy bay used in FRAT by Stick family.

Coombe Martin
(Watermouth Bay)
Kirrin Island. (Peninsular outcrop of rock.)
Private beach opposite-George leads children down to beach in FOTI, and they meet Tim on rocks. In FRAT they share an awful picnic! and Julian runs in the sea.In FHPF share picnic with Berta and Sally and possibly shouting for George in FHPF
Hiring of boats by Billy in FHMTS.
Possibly Mr.Penruthlan's view of sea in FGDS.

Coastal path above Watermouth Bay
Looking down on Whispering island.



Watermouth camping site
Boat landing place for Kirrin island in FOTI, Georges rowing of boat to Kirrin, arrest of crooks in FOTI, conversation about 'bad soup' in FOKIA.

Golden Cove near Sandybay hotel (Accessed from old coast road behind hotel).
Whispering island.
Whispering island beach and woods.
Boat leaving place on Kirrin island in FOTI
Possible rocks where Julian ran away from crooks in FOTI.

Tanfield Railway nr. Stanley
Ollie’s Yard in FGOTC.
Station where tutor is met in FGAA.

Beamish Open Air Museum
Fairground in FHPF.
Town where Richard Kent is chased by Perton in FGIT.

Bothal Castle(private)
Possibly FRAT.

Bothal village nr. Morpeth – public footpath to river.
FGIT – campsite and meeting with Richard

Nr. To Bothal village
Entrance to large house used as entrance to Owls’ Dene.

Haughton Castle nr. Humshaugh (not open to public but public footpath next to it.)
Distant view of Smugglers Top.
Possible turrets of ‘Tall Tower’ in FOHT.

Low Newton nr. Netwon-by-the-sea
FOKIA – coastguard’s cottage and meeting with Martin.
FGTDR – village and meeting place of Jeremiah Boogle.

St. Mary’s Lighthouse and island nr. Whitley Bay
FGTDR.
FFIA – Rocks where Jo and Timmy evade/attack crooks.
FOKIA - Night visit via boat by George to Kirrin Island.

Whitburn Coastal Park
Marsden Tilcon quarry opposite coastal park (not open to public.):
Possible outdoor scenes in FOKIA.
Quarry in FOKIA.

Hulne Park on Alnwick Estate – priory ruins.
FOTI – castle ruins.

Matfen village and lanes off main street
FOFF – Finniston village and 2 bike routes taken by Julian and Dick.

Matfen Hall & farm
Possibly Finniston Farm.

Woods surrounding Matfen village
Possibly where Richard Kent hid from Rooky.

Druridge Bay Country Park
FGTST – sand dunes.
FFIA – meeting Jo.

Whitworrth Hall nr. Sunderland (now a hotel.)
FGIT Owls’ Dene.

Brancepeth Castle (private but owner allows access around outside.)
FFIA – haunt of Red Tower.

Bamburgh Castle
FFIA – Red Tower’s castle (distance shot.)

East Shaftoe Hall, Middleton in Morpeth
FGOTC – farm.
To left of farm:
FGOTC – camp site.
FGTMM – railway tracks on mystery moor.
End titles to episodes.

Caldicott Castle and grounds in Monmouthshire
FHWT – Fair folk campsite and tower where Terry Kane imprisoned.

Cheeseburn Grange nr. Stamfordham
Possibly Smugglers’ Top.

Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucester
Farm used in FGDTS.
Woods where Mr. Penruthlan attacked Dick.

Locations that inspired Enid for FF Books

Corfe Castle in Purbeck, 5 miles southeast of Wareham in Dorset
Kirrin castle and island.
Inspiration for castle in FHWT.

Golf course at Studland, on B3351
Golf course in FHMTS.
Wilfred’s cottage?
Down the road, Sally’s (the hired help) thatched cottage.

Brownsea Island in Poole harbour
Whispering Island in FHMTS.

Studland Bay
Possibly Kirrin beach – nearby cottage possibly Kirrin Cottage.

Knoll beach
Visited by Enid – possibly Kirrin beach.

Manor Farm, Stourton Chaundle in Dorset
Finniston Farm.

Hartland Moor and “the Great Knoll” (complete with swirling mist)
Possibly Mystery Moor.

Hartland Moor disused railway, nr. Village of Ridge
Puffing Billy railway in FGMM leading from village of Milling Green to the Moor.

Hartland Stud
Possible inspiration for Captain Johnson’s riding stables.

Green pond on Hartland Moor
Possible green pool in FGOTC.

Village of Steeple
Name used in FGHT.

The Blue Pool, in Furzebrook, near Wareham, Dorset
Gloomy water in FGHT.

Durlston Lighthouse, tunnels and cave.
Possible inspiration for FGDR.
Name used for Henning’s advisor in FGFF.

Dancing Ledge
Possible inspiration for Malory Towers swimming pool.

Worth Matravers
Possibly Tinkers Green in FHWT.

Agglestone Rock
Pivoting rock in the Secret Mountain.

Knoll House Hotel
Where Enid used to stay.
Last edited by ness on 19 Aug 2018, 16:38, edited 9 times in total.
"He [Julian] could not see George, but he felt quite certain she was glaring at him."
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Welcome, Ness. It's useful to have such a comprehensive listing - thanks!

Just one small point - the Famous Five series that you've called "1980s" was actually filmed in the late 1970s.

Anita
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
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Tony Summerfield
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Tony Summerfield »

I agree with Anita, Ness, a very useful list. One day I hope to have all this sort of information on the main site with a TV and Film section that has pictures, locations, cast lists etc., but that is still very much in the future.

I must take slight issue with one thing you say though. As you know the 90s series was filmed over two years, and in the first year it was a joint production between HTV and Tyne Tees, so half was filmed in the West Country and half in the North East. In the second series however, Tyne Tees backed out and the whole series was filmed in the West Country. So overall, only about 25% of the locations were up in the North East. I do have some fairly precise locations for the second series and hopefully I will eventually manage to put all this information on the website. The cast were actually based in the Marriott Hotel in Bristol.
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Gary Russell »

And one day I promise to sit down and give you precise locations for as much as the 77/78 show as I have paperwork for. Which seems to be all of Series II but only a third of Series I annoyingly...
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Lucky Star »

Excellent work Ness. And Gary that would be wonderful, when you have time of course. I'd love to take one of those old VW camper vans one day and go and tour all the Blytonian locations, a sort of Blyton odyssey. :D
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Great list Ness, thanks for the posting. It would be lovely to see it all set up on the site Tony. A lot of work though :D

8)
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ness
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by ness »

As you know the 90s series was filmed over two years, and in the first year it was a joint production between HTV and Tyne Tees, so half was filmed in the West Country and half in the North East. In the second series however, Tyne Tees backed out and the whole series was filmed in the West Country. So overall, only about 25% of the locations were up in the North East.
Thanks for that, Tony. I actually did not know that so much of the 1990's series was filmed in the West Country, and was always slightly puzzled as to why they ended each episode with, "Filmed entirely in the West Country." It would be lovely to know these locations, perhaps when you're not quite so overrun with the Society (will that ever happen?!)
Just one small point - the Famous Five series that you've called "1980s" was actually filmed in the late 1970s.
Of course it is! I was 8 and 9 years old when I watched it and as I was born in 1969, this would make perfect sense. I can only put this error down to having a teething two year old daughter keeping me up all night. Either that, or I've left my brain in the New Forest!

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"He [Julian] could not see George, but he felt quite certain she was glaring at him."
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by pinkmoon »

Very interesting list . Had a lovely walk about Exbury myself this evening ( as did the Queen oddly enough... she was visiting the Rothchilds today) I often think about the famous five when I pass the tv locations on my wanderings and sometimes imagine I can hear the voices of the children echoing back from the 70`s.
Incidentally I only recently realised that you can see the side view of 'kirrin cottage' in the distance accross the mudflats from the Lepe road, though to actually get to it by road you have to go miles away in the opposite direction toward Beaulieu.
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

ness wrote: Of course it is! I was 8 and 9 years old when I watched it and as I was born in 1969, this would make perfect sense. I can only put this error down to having a teething two year old daughter keeping me up all night. Either that, or I've left my brain in the New Forest!
:lol:

I was born in 1970 so we're much of an age. The Famous Five TV series was very popular when I was about nine and my sister and I and our friends used to play at being the Famous Five. We had a shed in our garden which became (in our imaginations at least!) a cottage, cave, hut or caravan depending on the story.

Anita
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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ness
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by ness »

I was born in 1970 so we're much of an age. The Famous Five TV series was very popular when I was about nine and my sister and I and our friends used to play at being the Famous Five. We had a shed in our garden which became (in our imaginations at least!) a cottage, cave, hut or caravan depending on the story.
Me too! Oddly, I always opted to be Timmy the dog! Or George. Never Anne. How about you? Ness
"He [Julian] could not see George, but he felt quite certain she was glaring at him."
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Usually there were four of us playing, all girls, and since all of us wanted to be George we used to take it in turns to play the different characters as well as doubling up as Joan/Joanna, Jo, Edgar, "baddies," etc. Our Timmy was imaginary, I'm afraid! Space-hoppers made good horses in stories that needed them (eg. Caravan, Mystery Moor or other stories we made up.)

Anita
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Petermax »

Acting scenes from various TV shows and films was certainly a great childhood pastime. A quick glance at my old school playground in the mid 1970s would reveal all kinds of activities in addition to football, British Bulldog and Kingy. There would be at least half a dozen slow motion runners doing the Six Million Dollar Man, fast motion runners doing Benny Hill and any number of out-stretched arm runners forming squadrons of Spitfires or Lancaster Bombers. A favourite show to imitate was The Goodies, but this did cause no end of arguments as everyone wanted to be Bill Oddie. Failing that, Graeme Garden would suffice but no-one wanted to be poor Tim Brook-Taylor!

I appear to have gone totally off topic, a freedom granted on no other forum that I know of! :lol:
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Ed Fulcrum »

Hi,

Has anyone explored the area around Exbury using the 'Bird's Eye' view in Microsoft maps.
Great fun - I managed to find most of the places listed on this post although the 'Bird's Eye' view runs out when you move too far to the west.

If you click on the compass at the top left you can look at each view from North , South, East or West.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&F ... &encType=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by Petermax »

Ed Fulcrum wrote:Has anyone explored the area around Exbury using the 'Bird's Eye' view in Microsoft maps. Great fun

I see what you mean, I never knew that the Exbury estate was so extensive, and what beautiful grounds. I imagine that many of the Famous Five episodes would have been shot there without having to go off site.
ness
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Re: TV locations for the Famous Five series

Post by ness »

I have updated the TV locations list for Coombe Martin.

Ness
"He [Julian] could not see George, but he felt quite certain she was glaring at him."
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