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Midsomer Murders Trail

Midsomer Murders Trail

is 14 miles east of , 10 miles south-west GUIDED TOURS OF MIDSOMER of and 47 miles from . It is well connected FILMING LOCATIONS IN THAME to Birmingham and London by the 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 THAME PARK J7 B4012 B4009

A40 SYDENHAM B4445 J6 A329 LITTLE Why not join a tour led by one of our knowledgeable Midsomer HASELEY tour guides? Tours for groups of up to 15, lasting up to 1¼ hours, M40 run at 2pm every Wednesday between April and October. J5 SOUTH The tours start from outside Thame Town Hall, High Street, ACCOMMODATION Thame, OX9 3DP. In the town centre, the Spread Eagle Hotel has been used as a Midsomer filming location. Tickets cost £10.00 each and may be purchased online at Near Thame there is a wide choice of hotels, ticketsource.co.uk/thamemidsomer. Tickets may also be inns, B&Bs and guest houses to choose from, purchased online on the Thame Town Council website or on including Midsomer locations such as Long the Thame Museum website. Crendon Manor and the Pointer in Brill. For further information on where to stay go to - For more information visit thametowncouncil.gov.uk/ THAME thametowncouncil.gov.uk visit-thame/midsomer-murders, thamemuseum.org or TRAIL INSIDE visitmidsomer.info visitmidsomer.info visitchilterns.co.uk visitbuckinghamshire.org Two thirds of the proceeds from Midsomer tours goes to charitable causes. GUIDED TOURS EATING & DRINKING AVAILABLE There are many excellent choices for eating and drinking in Thame, Grateful Thanks including a varied selection of and restaurants and Atalays, twice voted the best kebab van in Britain. Why not try Midsomer locations such We are grateful for the support of all the Midsomer filming locations mentioned in this leaflet as well as THAME as Rumsey’s Chocolaterie, where you can sample delicious Barnaby Buns the support of these organisations served with jam and cream, the Black Horse & Brasserie, the Spread Eagle Hotel, or the Coffee House on Buttermarket? TRAIL There are also plenty of great pubs, gastro-pubs and restaurants in nearby Follow filming locations in and around villages, including Midsomer locations the historic market town of Thame such as the Plough at Great Haseley, the Old Fisherman in Shabbington, and the Angel and the Eight Bells, both in Long Crendon.

SHOPPING The town centre boasts a fantastic range of independent shops, boutiques and artisan food specialists, as well as high street names. We are also grateful to Bentley Productions, producers of Goods on offer range from beautiful handmade jewellery and ceramics Midsomer Murders, for their kind assistance. to local produce such as award-winning cheeses and traditional pies and quiches. More information on shopping in Thame can be found at Design by visitmidsomer.info thametowncouncil.gov.uk thametowncouncil.gov.uk THAME AND ITS MIDSOMER MURDERS FILMING LOCATIONS

MIDSOMER WALKING TRAIL There have now been well over 120 episodes. John Nettles played DCI Barnaby for the first 81 episodes, stepping down in 2011 at the OF THAME TOWN CENTRE end of series 13. Neil Dudgeon has played Barnaby ever since. Midsomer Murders is based on the novels of . Thame has featured in 16 episodes, in some briefly but in others, The original pilot programme, The Killings at Badgers Drift, was such as Picture of Innocence, Midsomer Life and Vixen’s Run, it aired on 23rd March 1997 and the four episodes of the first full features heavily. Episode 1, series 20, screened in 2019, features series in 1998, , Death of a Hollow Man, Faithful the gatehouse of Thame’s Prebendal and nearby cricket ground. Unto Death and Death in Disguise, were based on her books. Elizabeth Spriggs was a leading actor in the first episode and is The walking trail takes just over an hour and features all the buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Thame. locations used in the town centre. The suggested starting point is Thame Town Hall.

1 THAME TOWN HALL 8 MARKET HOUSE - MONTESSON SQUARE 15 THE BLACK HORSE As you walk along the High Street, you will see a large red Market House became the offices of the local magazine, This pub and brasserie featured in Death brick building facing you - Thame Town Hall. In Days of Misrule Midsomer Life, in the episode of that name. When the in the Slow Lane. It was Neil Dudgeon’s it appears in the Christmas scene, with Joyce Barnaby singing murderer was arrested, she was led from the building via first episode as DCI Barnaby and he carols round the Christmas tree outside Causton Town Hall. what are in real life the public toilets. In Vixen’s Run, Market decides to visit a local Causton pub. He is The Town Hall was again used as Causton Town Hall in Shot at House was Causton Library. seen approaching it and standing at the Dawn and Not in My Back Yard and as Causton Arts Centre Built in the eighteenth century, Market House has, over the bar chatting with the barman and one of in The Maid in Splendour. Across from the Town Hall, Connells years, been a baker’s shop, an inn, and a Methodist chapel. the locals. Estate Agents appears as Causton Bookies in a sub-plot of Market House today houses Citizens’ Advice as well as the Cross the road into Cornmarket Days of Misrule public toilets. There has been a building on the site of the Town Hall since 16 OXFAM BOOKSHOP 9 1509. The current building was built in 1887, using local brick, to RUMSEY’S CHOCOLATERIE This was the Cover to Cover Bookshop in Vixen’s Run. It was celebrate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. In Picture of Innocence, Madrigal’s camera shop was what is managed by Jenny, thought erroneously to be the love child Looking to the left you will see – now Rumsey’s Chocolaterie. At the time of filming, the shop was of Sir Freddy Butler who dies early in the episode. Before he passed away, he set her up in Cover to Cover, now the Oxfam 2 TIM RUSS & COMPANY empty: having been Jordan’s Delicatessen it was to become Rumsey’s. Madrigal’s was a traditional photographic shop in the Bookshop. In The House in the Woods Tim Russ & Company Estate Agents village of Luxton Deeping, and the owners were bitter rivals of became Harriet Davis’ Estate Agency. Harriet Davis is involved Quikpix, a digital camera shop in a neighbouring village. 17 THE SPREAD EAGLE HOTEL in a plot to acquire a derelict building in the woods. However, it The Spread Eagle became the Morecroft doesn’t end well for Harriet. 10 JORDAN’S YARD Hotel in Midsomer Life. It also featured The pedestrian street to the left of the Town Hall is Buttermarket – In Vixen’s Run, Barnaby is seen turning into Jordan’s Yard in Vixen’s Run, being used for the interior to visit a solicitor’s office. The woman who was riding along shots of the Swan Hotel, where Lucinda 3 BUTTERMARKET Buttermarket goes to see the solicitor regarding her late and Simon were staying. This pedestrian street appears in many episodes. In the opening husband’s estate. There is a break-in at these offices and, later The Grade 2 listed hotel dates to of Vixen’s Run, it is dressed for the 1953 Coronation. A woman still, the solicitor dies in a fire at his cottage. the Georgian period. Between 1922 is seen riding a horse along the road. She is on her way to meet and 1932, John Fothergill, legendary a lover. In Picture of Innocence Buttermarket becomes a street 11 THE SWAN HOTEL innkeeper, chef and wine connoisseur, made it the place to market where Barnaby is kissed by a complete stranger – this stay and dine in the UK. Outside, it is instantly recognisable by In Vixen’s Run, Lucinda and Simon are staying at the Swan. ft incident is photographed, and the picture develops as a plot the 30 original sign depicting the Spread Eagle crest. They are trying to find clues regarding Lucinda’s father’s line. In Midsomer Life, a tipsy barmaid from the Morecroft Hotel estate and later go into Causton Library (Market House) (the Spread Eagle) is seen staggering along Buttermarket. In 18 OXFAM SHOP for information. The clues are found in an edition of Rupert Dead in the Water, Jones and Barnaby take coffee with Hattie Brooke’s Collected Poems. The Oxfam Shop appeared as another charity shop in They Trent at the end of Pump Lane. The Swan Hotel (currently closed) dates from the fifteenth Seek Him Here, which revolves around a remake of The Scarlet Pimpernel. In this episode the shop was raising funds 4 THE COFFEE HOUSE century. The frontage was later altered to become the present Georgian façade. Inside this Grade 2 listed building for a hospice. In Picture of Innocence, Barnaby is sitting in the Coffee House there is a sixteenth-century painted ceiling. looking at the picture of him kissing a woman. He notices 19 CHANCELLORS ESTATE AGENTS faintly in the background the sign on the health food shop 12 THE AGA SHOP Chancellors Estate Agents was used as the offices of The called Now and Zen – actually the side entrance to what is Causton Advertiser in Last Year’s Model. now the White Stuff clothes shop. Featuring as Causton Chemists in Vixen’s Run, Barnaby is seen leaving this shop after going in to get some tablets for his Walk on past the Town Hall and beyond the car park 5 PRETTY LIKE PICTURES indigestion. Outside the shop, he has a conversation with the pathologist, George Bullard, about whether Sir Freddy Butler 20 WILLS & TRUSTS, 91-92 HIGH STREET At the top of Buttermarket, Pretty Like Pictures appears in really died of natural causes. The offices of Wills & Trusts (next to the Book House) were used as Picture of Innocence as Quikpix, the digital photography shop a solicitor’s offices in The Oblong Murders. and major rival to Madrigal’s camera shop. Jones talks to the 13 15 UPPER HIGH STREET owner about photographs of a glamour model. Continue walking along the High Street and cross Bell Lane until This is Lionel Bell’s house in Picture of Innocence. Lionel is you come to Thame Museum Cross the road by the zebra crossing and go left for a few yards murdered and Barnaby is seen in conversation with the postman until you reach the double-gated entrance to 61a North Street outside the front door. Later, Lionel’s daughter, Philomena, the 21 THAME MUSEUM (privately owned) new owner who has put it up for sale, is seen leaving the house Thame Museum was used for the interior scenes at Causton 6 61a NORTH STREET whilst in conversation with Barnaby and his wife, Joyce. (Privately Museum in Secrets and Spies. An object, an animal’s skull, is owned property) suspected as the murder weapon (not one of the museum’s The interior of these gated premises features as a printing shop Walk to the end of the car park and look across the road into exhibits!). Causton Museum is broken into and is investigated by in Blood Wedding. Barnaby has forgotten to pick up the order of the courtyard of 34 Upper High Street on the opposite side of DC Jones who flirts with the Curator, Amanda Watson. service cards for his daughter’s wedding. The shop is closed and the road Jones tries to force entry with a credit card. Thame Museum was originally built in 1864 as the County Court House. It was converted into a magistrate’s court in 1984 and Now walk back to Montesson Square and Market House 14 COURTYARD, 34 UPPER HIGH STREET finally became the town’s museum in 2005. ET RTH STRE 7 MONTESSON SQUARE NO This courtyard (belonging to the offices of CarmichaelUK) has Turn right from the Museum and walk until you come to the featured twice as an undertakers. In Things That Go Bump in the T-junction. Turn right into Priest End Montesson Square features in a panoramic shot during the title Night it was Pennyman’s. In Vixen’s Run it was Cook’s. sequence at the start of Picture of Innocence, ending outside 22 Now walk back towards the Town Hall, staying on the car park THE PREBENDAL Madrigal’s camera shop – now Rumsey’s Chocolaterie. side of the road The gatehouse entrance appears in The Ghost of Causton WELLINGTON STREET Abbey. Barnaby and Jones are investigating a murder at a 23 brewery, formerly Causton Abbey.

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

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

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