TRAIL INSIDE

GUIDED TOURS AVAILABLE THAME MIDSOMER MURDERS TRAIL Follow flming locations in and around the historic market town of Thame

www.visitmidsomer.com www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk THAME AND ITS MIDSOMER MURDERS FILMING LOCATIONS

MIDSOMER WALKING TRAIL There have now been well over 100 episodes. John Nettles played Barnaby for the frst 81 episodes, stepping down in OF THAME TOWN CENTRE 2011 at the end of series 13. Neil Dudgeon has played DCI Midsomer Murders is based on the novels of Caroline Graham. Barnaby ever since. Thame has been featured in 15 episodes, The original pilot programme, The Killings at Badgers Drift, was in some only briefy but in others, such as Picture of Innocence aired on 23rd March 1997 and the four episodes of the frst full and Vixen’s Run, it features heavily. A recent episode features series in 1998, Written in Blood, Death of a Hollow Man, Faithful Thame’s Prebendal House and nearby cricket ground. Unto Death and Death in Disguise, were based on her books. Elizabeth Spriggs was a leading actor in the frst episode and The walking trail lasts an hour and a quarter and features all the she is buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Thame. locations used around the town centre. It is suggested you start the tour at Thame Museum, 79 High Street, Thame, OX9 9AE. .

THAME MUSEUM THAME TOWN HALL BUTTERMARKET THE COFFEE HOUSE MARKET HOUSE RUMSEY’S CHOCOLATERIE THE SWAN HOTEL

1 THAME MUSEUM 4 TIM RUSS & COMPANY 7 PRETTY LIKE PICTURES Thame Museum was used for the interior scenes of Causton In The House in the Woods Tim Russ & Company, Estate Agents, At the top of Buttermarket, Pretty Like Pictures appears in Museum in Secrets and Spies. An object, an animal’s skull, is became Harriet Davis’ Estate Agency. Harriet Davis is involved Picture of Innocence as Quikpix, the digital photography shop suspected as the murder weapon (not one of the museum’s in a plot to acquire a derelict building in the woods. However, and major rival to Madrigal’s camera shop. Jones talks to the exhibits!). Causton Museum is broken into and is investigated it doesn’t end well for Harriet. owner about photographs of a glamour model. by DC Jones who firts with the Curator, Amanda Watson. The partly pedestrian street to the left of the Town Hall is Cross the road by the zebra crossing and go left along Thame Museum was originally built in 1864 as the County Court Buttermarket ... North Street to Kew Bookbinding House. It was converted into a magistrate’s court in 1984 and fnally became the town’s museum in 2005. 5 BUTTERMARKET 8 KEW BOOKBINDING Leave the Museum, turn left, cross Bell Lane and walk along the Like the Town Hall, Buttermarket appears in many episodes. Kew Bookbinding’s premises feature as a printing shop in Blood High Street In the opening sequences of Vixen’s Run, the whole length Wedding. Barnaby has forgotten to pick up the order of service of Buttermarket is dressed for the 1953 Coronation. A woman cards for his daughter’s wedding. The shop is closed and Jones 2 WILLS & TRUSTS, 91-92 HIGH STREET is seen riding a horse along the road. She is on her way to tries to force entry with a credit card. The offces of Wills & Trusts (next to the Book House) were used meet a lover. In Picture of Innocence Buttermarket is turned Now walk back to Montesson Square and Market House as a solicitor’s offces in The Oblong Murders. into a street market where Barnaby is kissed by a woman – a complete stranger – an incident which is photographed, in 9 MONTESSON SQUARE a picture which forms a plot line. In Midsomer Life, a tipsy 3 THAME TOWN HALL barmaid from the Morecroft Hotel (the Spread Eagle) is seen Montesson Square features in a panoramic shot during the title As you walk along the High Street, you will see a large red brick staggering along Buttermarket. In Dead in the Water, Jones sequence at the beginning of Picture of Innocence, ending building facing you - this is Thame Town Hall. In Days of Misrule and Barnaby are seen taking coffee with Hattie Trent at the outside Madrigal’s camera shop – now Rumsey’s Chocolaterie. it appears in the Christmas scene, with Joyce Barnaby singing end of Pump Lane. carols round the Christmas tree outside Causton Town Hall. The 10 MARKET HOUSE, MONTESSON SQUARE Town Hall was again used as Causton Town Hall in Shot at Dawn 6 THE COFFEE HOUSE Market House became the offces of the local newspaper, and became Causton Arts Centre in The Maid in Splendour. In Picture of Innocence, Barnaby is sitting in the Coffee House Midsomer Life, in the episode of the same name. When the Across from the Town Hall, Connells Estate Agents appears as murderer (a lady) was arrested, she was actually led from the Causton Bookies, in a sub-plot of the same episode. looking at the picture of him kissing a woman. He notices faintly in the background the sign on the health food shop building via the public toilets. Market House was also Causton There has been a building on the site of the Town Hall since called Now and Zen – actually the side entranceWELLINGTON to what STREET is Library in Vixen’s Run. 1509. The current building was built in 1887, using local brick, now the White Stuff. Market House was built in the eighteenth century and, over to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria. the years, has been a baker’s shop, an inn, and a Methodist Looking to the left you will see... chapel. Market House today houses a Citizens’ Advice Bureau N

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T In Picture of Innocence, Madrigal’s camera shop was what is E now Rumsey’s Chocolaterie. At the time of flming, the shop 15 15 UPPER HIGH STREET 19 THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL was empty as it was changing from having been Jordan’s Delicatessen to become Rumsey’s Chocolaterie. Madrigal’s This is Lionel Bell’s house in Picture of Innocence. Lionel is The Spread Eagle became the Morecroft Hotel in Midsomer was a traditional photographic shop in the village of Luxton murdered and Barnaby is seen in conversation with the Life. It also featured in Vixen’s Run, where it was used for the Deeping, and the owners were bitter rivals of Quikpix, a digital postman outside the front door of this house. Later, Lionel’s interior shots of the Swan Hotel, where Lucinda and Simon camera shop in a neighbouring village. daughter, Philomena, who now owns the house and which were staying. she has put up for sale, is seen leaving the house whilst in The Grade 2 listed Spread Eagle dates to the Georgian period. 12 JORDAN’S YARD conversation with Barnaby and his wife, Joyce. Between 1922 and 1932, John Fothergill, legendary innkeeper, In Vixen’s Run, Barnaby is seen turning into Jordan’s Yard Walk to the end of the car park and look across the road into chef and wine connoisseur, made it the place to stay and dine to visit a solicitor’s offce. The woman who was riding along the courtyard of 34 Upper High Street on the opposite side of in the UK. Outside, the hotel is instantly recognisable by the 30ft Buttermarket goes to see the solicitor regarding her late the road original sign depicting the Spread Eagle crest. husband’s estate. There is a break-in at these offces and, 16 COURTYARD, 34 UPPER HIGH STREET later still, the solicitor dies in a fre at his cottage. 20 OXFAM SHOP This courtyard (belonging to the offces of CarmichaelUK) has The Oxfam Shop appeared as another charity shop in 13 THE SWAN HOTEL featured twice as an undertakers. In Things That Go Bump in They Seek Him Here, which revolves around a remake of the Night it was Pennyman’s. In Vixen’s Run it was Cook’s. In Vixen’s Run, Lucinda and Simon are staying at the Swan The Scarlet Pimpernel. In this episode the charity shop was Hotel. They are trying to fnd clues regarding Lucinda’s father’s Now walk back towards the Town Hall raising funds for a hospice. estate and later go into Causton Library (Market House) for 17 THE BLACK HORSE information. They follow clues found in an edition of Rupert 21 PARKERS ESTATE AGENTS Brooke’s Collected Poems. This and hotel featured in Death in the Slow Lane. It was Parkers Estate Agents was used as the offces of Causton The Swan Hotel dates from the ffteenth century. The frontage Neil Dudgeon’s frst episode as DCI Barnaby and he decides Gazette in Last Year’s Model. was later altered to become the present Georgian façade. to visit a local Causton pub. He is seen approaching the pub Inside this Grade 2 listed building there is a sixteenth-century and standing at the bar chatting with the barman and one of painted ceiling. the locals. Cross the road into Cornmarket 14 THE AGA SHOP 18 OXFAM BOOKSHOP Featuring as Causton Chemists in Vixen’s Run, Barnaby is seen leaving this shop after going in to get some tablets for his This was the Cover to Cover Bookshop in Vixen’s Run. It was indigestion problems. managed by Jenny, who was the love child of Sir Freddy Butler (deceased). Before he passed away, he had set her up in Cover to Cover. THE SPREAD EAGLE THE BLACK HORSE THAME - A MARKET TOWN

THAME - A MIDSOMER MARKET TOWN MIDSOMER LOCATIONS NEAR THAME Village houses - Picture of Innocence, Nether Winchendon, The Silent Land, Days of Misrule, Thame is one of the most flmed locations in the fctional Soak up the atmosphere of the English rural villages that make up Hidden Depths, Midsomer Rhapsody St Nicholas Church - Things That Go Midsomer County for the popular ITV series Midsomer Murders. As ‘Midsomer County’, by taking a guided tour or following Midsomer Bump in the Night driving trails. These are some of the delightful and historic villages that , Oxfordshire a thriving Oxfordshire market town set at the foot of the Chiltern The Bull Pub - the Blacksmith Arms, A nearby house - Death in Disguise have featured in episodes of Midsomer Murders. For more information Hills, Thame has much to attract visitors who come to see places The Old Stores, The Christmas Nether Winchendon House - featured in the TV series. go to www.visitmidsomer.com, www.visitchilterns.co.uk, Haunting The Lodge of the Golden Windhorse, www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk, www.experienceoxfordshire.org Death in Disguise; Lynton Pargetter’s Haddenham, Buckinghamshire home, Talking to the Dead Thame is an award-winning town. In the 2016 Great British High , Oxfordshire Crowell, Oxfordshire St Mary’s Church and pond - Birds Street Competition it was Small Market Town runner-up and it St Mary’s Church - Midsomer Parva The Shepherd’s Crook pub - the of Prey, Judgement Day, A Talent Shabbington, Buckinghamshire also won a Rising Star Award in the 2015 Competition. The town Church, The Sword of Guillaume, Apple Tree pub, The Night of for Life The Old Fisherman pub - A Talent also took second place in the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Death and the Divas the Stag Village properties - Vixen’s Run, for Life Orchis Fatalis, Midsomer Life ’s Greatest Places Competition of 2015. , Oxfordshire Cuddington, Buckinghamshire Stanton St John, Oxfordshire Village houses - The House in the Cuddington Village Stores - Henton, Oxfordshire Village store - Electric Vendetta, Until recently, Thame was thought to be Anglo-Saxon in origin, Woods; A Sacred Trust (the Virtue Death of a Stranger, Not in My A village house - Ford’s house in A Worm in the Bud but in 2015 archaeologists made a major discovery of an early Arms, a village store) Backyard, Talking to the Dead A Rare Bird Local cottages - A Worm in the Bud Neolithic enclosure in the town, dating from nearly six thousand (Paradorma shop) Beckley, Oxfordshire years ago. There is also evidence from the Iron Age and the The Crown pub - Death in Disguise , Oxfordshire , Oxfordshire The main street – Electric Vendetta Lewknor Primary School - A Tale of St Mary Magdalen Church - Roman period. Bernard Hall (Village Hall) - incident Two Hamlets, The House in the Woods funeral scenes in Orchis Fatalis Bledlow, Buckinghamshire unit, Death of a Stranger; band’s (Joyce and Tom are seen walking in The Lions of Bledlow pub, Holy Trinity headquarters, Death and Dreams; Thame has developed an individual character whilst preserving Little Haseley, Oxfordshire the churchyard) Church, houses (all in Church End) its rich history. Ancient medieval buildings stand alongside Spanish evening, Bad Tidings; Cyrus’s Village properties - Dark Autumn, talk, Talking to the Dead Hidden Depths, Midsomer Rhapsody Sydenham, Oxfordshire Georgian and Victorian architecture and the iconic boat- The Killings at Badgers Drift, Death’s St Nicholas Church - graves of St Bartholomew’s Church - Midsomer shaped High Street stands as testimony to the marketplace for Shadow, Dead Man’s 11, Blue Little Haseley Manor House - Tom Hicks, Douglas Hammond, Shot Abbas church which it was originally designed. Today, Thame hosts a popular Herrings, Dark Autumn, A Worm in Melvyn Stockard’s house, at Dawn Who Killed Cock Robin? The Crown pub - the Stag Inn, weekly market, which in 2015 celebrated 800 years of continuous the Bud, Birds of Prey, King’s Crystal, A Rare Bird Village houses - Birds of Prey, The Night of the Stag trading, as well as regular farmers’ markets. Bad Tidings, Death and Dreams, Little Milton, Oxfordshire Brill, Buckinghamshire Talking to the Dead (the vicarage) Morgan & Associates Estate Agents - Thame Park, Thame, Oxfordshire Visitors can follow Thame’s own All Saints Church - Four Funerals and Hidden Depths Thame Park House - Tye House in Midsomer Walking Trail, and a Wedding Dinton, Buckinghamshire Death’s Shadow The village green - Midsomer Barton’s Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire the town is also an ideal base The Pointer pub - the John Knox pub, Thame Park grounds - hunt scenes in Oak Apple Day, Dead Letters; Who Long Crendon Manor - Garden of Four Funerals and a Wedding Death of a Stranger for enjoyable excursions to Killed Cock Robin? (a well) Death, Things That Go Bump in the the many picturesque villages In village - incident room, Night, The Axeman Cometh NB Private house, not open to the public The Seven Stars pub - Heart of Oaks Four Funerals and a Wedding The road outside the Manor - A Tale in the local area featured in pub exterior, Dead Letters , Oxfordshire episodes of Midsomer Murders. Brill Windmill - A Tale of Two Hamlets of Two Hamlets, Second Sight Church of SS Peter and Paul - the Village houses - Adam Keyne’s The High Street - Tainted Fruit, The house, Tainted Fruit; Connor Chearsley, Buckinghamshire wedding, Who Killed Cock Robin? House in the Woods, Blood Wedding, Simpson’s house, Death in Chorus Thame is perfectly situated The Bell Inn - the Woodman pub, to enjoy the beauty and , Oxfordshire Blood on the Saddle Country Matters Wainhill, Buckinghamshire tranquillity of the Chilterns Area St Peter’s Church - wedding scenes, The Eight Bells pub - A Tale of Chearsley Post Offce & Stores - Midsomer Rhapsody; postman’s Wainhill Railway Crossing - Death in of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Two Hamlets, Blood on the Elverton village store, Country Matters funeral, Dark Autumn Saddle (as the Florey Arms), a Chocolate Box with many public footpaths, Great Haseley Village Hall - an The Oblong Murders including the Chiltern , Oxfordshire Worminghall, Buckinghamshire antique shop, Dark Autumn; The Library, St Mary’s Church - Blood Chinnor & Princes Risborough Railway Worminghall Village Hall - Midsomer Hills, Ridgeway Path and Midsomer Parva village hall, Wedding, Dead Letters (church only) Station - Holm Lane Junction, Death Mere School, Second Sight , where superb in a Chocolate Box Blood Wedding; recital location, views of the surrounding area The Silent Land; photographic Monks Risborough, Former Oakley Airfeld - A Talent Village houses - Trevor Minchin’s can be enjoyed. exhibition, Picture of Innocence; Buckinghamshire for Life house, Woodley & Woodley tailors, book-signing session, The Fisher King; Local houses and the bells of the The Made to Measure Murders Not in My Backyard church – Ring Out Your Dead Thame has an active calendar of events hosted by local The Plough pub - Barnaby and Troy organisations through the year, including Thame Food Festival, Christmas Common, Moreton, Thame, Oxfordshire play Aunt Sally, Dark Autumn; March Buckinghamshire Chestnut Farm - the home of a Thame Arts & Literature Festival, Music in the Park, and Thame Magna library, The Silent Land Gated house – The Killings at Badgers victim, Death and Dreams Town Music Festival. Drift and Ring Out Your Dead GUIDED TOURS OF MIDSOMER FILMING LOCATIONS IN THAME

Why not join a tour led by one of our knowledgeable Midsomer tour guides? Tours for groups of up to 15, lasting up to 1¼ hours, run at 11am every Wednesday between April and October. The tours start from inside Thame Museum, 79 High Street, Thame, OX9 3AE.

Tickets cost £7.50 each and may be purchased online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/thamemidsomer. Tickets may also be purchased in person at Thame Museum (open Tue, Wed, Sat, 10am - 4pm and Sun 12pm - 4pm), or online on the Thame Museum website www.thamemuseum.org.

Alternatively, simply turn up on the day and pay the guide.

For more information visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk or www.visitmidsomer.com.

Part of the proceeds from Midsomer tours goes to charitable causes.

Grateful Thanks We are grateful for the support of our sponsors and partners in producing this leafet.

The Swan Hotel

We are also grateful to Bentley Productions, producers of Midsomer Murders, for their kind assistance.

Design by Printed by Studio OX9 Design MP Printers Thame is 14 miles east of Oxford, 10 miles south-west of Aylesbury and 47 miles from . It is well connected to Birmingham and London by the M40 motorway and just an hour from Heathrow.

NORTH BRILL NETHER WINCHENDON M40 TO CUDDINGTON AYLESBURY B4011 DINTON CHEARSLEY A418 B4027 STANTON ST. JOHN

LONG CRENDON WORMINGHALL TO A418 HADDENHAM OXFORD

A40 THAME A4129

J8 A418 TOWERSEY THAME PARK GREAT MILTON J7 B4012 B4009

A40 GREAT HASELEY SYDENHAM B4445 CHINNOR J6 A329 LITTLE HASELEY M40

LEWKNOR J5 SOUTH ACCOMMODATION In the town centre, both the Spread Eagle Hotel and the Swan Hotel have been used as Midsomer flming locations. Near Thame there is a wide choice of hotels, inns, B&Bs and guest houses to choose from, including Midsomer locations such as Long Crendon Manor and The Pointer in Brill. For further information on where to stay, visit www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk, www.visitchilterns.co.uk, www.visitbuckinghamshire.org.

EATING & DRINKING There are many excellent choices for eating and drinking in Thame. Why not try Midsomer locations such as Rumsey’s Chocolaterie - where you can sample delicious Barnaby Buns served with jam and cream, the newly refurbished Black Horse Pub & Brasserie, or the Coffee House on Buttermarket? The visitor will also fnd traditional English and restaurants serving contemporary English, Italian, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Atalay’s Kebabs (Upper High Street) has been voted Best Kebab Van in Britain for the second year running.

There are also many great pubs and gastro-pubs near Thame, including Midsomer locations such as The Plough at Great Haseley, The Old Fisherman in Shabbington, and the Eight Bells in Long Crendon.

SHOPPING The town centre boasts a fantastic range of unique shops and delicatessens as well as high street names. Goods on offer range from beautiful handmade jewellery to local produce such as artisan breads and oils. More information on shopping in Thame can be found at www.thametowncouncil.gov.uk.