Used in episodes:
- Alan-a-Dale
- Children of Israel
- Seven Poor Knights from Acre
- Time of the Wolf
- The Kings Fool
A magnificent castle perched on the side of a hill overlooking the valley, Farleigh Hungerford played host to several Robin of Sherwood episodes.
Before you even get out of your car, you've driven through the first location. The way in leads you through the wonderful gatehouse, the location for the first scene in Alan-a-Dale. Marion and Much, in a cart with the others concealed in the back? This was the gate they're seen driving through.
"Before you even get out of your car, you've driven through the first location."
Next you head over to the chapel entrance. This was the scene they used for Halstead Priory in The Time of the Wolf and Jason Connery came knocking on that very door. When visiting, this door was locked so we couldn't go through ... don't worry fans, there's another way around.Following the path around to the left, we reached the next location: the main street for Nottingham Castle. This small stretch of courtyard was dressed numerous times with people bustling here and there, market stalls set up either side and Norman guards on patrol. You'll remember it from episodes such as Seven Poor Knights with Siward on the run, Children of Israel where the riots against the Jews took place and from The Kings Fool when Gisbourne 'ambushed' the Merries on their way to the castle to meet the King.
We stuck with the Children of Israel and stepped through into the very room off the main street they used for the De Talmont household. Standing back, you can let your imagination fill in the blanks. Not only was it used for the Children of Israel but it was also the potters house in Seven Poor Knights when Robin, Marion and Will met up with him to discuss Siward. AND it was used at the end of
The Time of the Wolf where Robin came looking for Marion at Halstead for a brief shot.
"The next scene to reveal itself is inside the chapel itself"
Leaving by the very door we came in, we carried on around and past the steps at the end of the 'main street', the very steps that Siward descended in mid rush after picking a pocket in Seven Poor Knights. The other side of the chapel door comes around quickly. Go into the chapel. Apart from being a well maintained place, with a real medieval image preserved image of a knight on the far wall, this was used as one of the final scenes in Robin of Sherwood. Marion had revealed to Robin (Jason Connery) in the final episode of The Time of the Wolf that she was leaving the crew .. in this very room. Cleverly, the production crew for the show built a false wall the other side of the signature font to give it that "12c Century" feel but the distinct wall recesses are still there which give it away.
We've still got one more place to look at. Head back out of the chapel and walk around to the right in the direction of the crypt entrance. Recognise this one? Yes, it's the place where they shot the De Talmont donkey! How they got a donkey around here was interesting to find out.
On our printed list, we had the Kings chamber in the The Kings Fool but try as we might we couldn't find it. Even asking at the shop proved fruitless. It seems that it has either changed greatly over the years and no-one recognises the chamber room or it was never filmed here in the first place. We also left questioning the supposed ale house in Lord of the Trees. Unless this was built on the grounds somewhere else, we couldn't see anywhere they could have set it up so this entry is also rather suspicious.
We left Farleigh Hungerford with a smile, knowing we'd seen some great locations.
On the reel
