Far from the Madding Crowd

Gabriel Oak (Alan Bates) heads to the Everdene's farm carrying a lamb as a gift for Bathsheba.

Clive Rideout seems to have lost his lamb......."when I was younger....." (RL)

Bathsheba Everdene (Julie Christie) hides from Gabriel as he asks her Mother if he can marry her daughter. IMDB advises that the farmhouse is near Encombe, Dorset.

And Clive Rideout found the very same farmhouse evidencing a sad picture of life moving on. BUT! Reel Streets, thanks to three years work from Clive, can give the correct location - 1 mile SE of Hardy's Monument. Thanks' Clive! (RL)

Gabriel Oak arrives in Casterbridge looking for work after Bathsheba moves away to Weatherbury and he loses his flock of sheep. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury in Dorset. The wall of Shaftesbury Abbey stands to the left.

Now. SD

Sergeant Troy leads his Dragoons down the hill as Gabriel nears the summit. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury. The street was seen in a 1973 television advertisement for Hovis bread. It was directed by Ridley Scott, and featured the main theme from Antonín Dvorák's Symphony No 9. The advert was re-enacted to comic effect in a 'Two Ronnies' television show in 1978 when Ronnie Barker appeared at the location.

The iconic view now. SD

At the hiring fair, a landowner looks over a prospective shepherd. St. John Street, Devizes.

Clive Rideout provides an accurate now shot of the very cottage. (RL)

William Boldwood (Peter Finch) looks for a bailiff as Gabriel appears dressed as a shepherd. St. John Street in Devizes.

Clive Rideout found no crooks around during his visit...possibly! (RL)

After a fire at Bathsheba's inherited farm, Boldwood tells the hands that he will help if needed. The South Central Media website locates the farm's outbuildings in Friar Waddon, Dorset.

Prosperous William Boldwood, a confirmed bachelor, arrives back home. Waddon House, Friar Waddon, Weymouth, Dorset.

Pity about the roof. Pic by Clive Rideout.

Fanny Robin (Prunella Ransome) runs through Casterbridge on her wedding day.

Tim Henly identifies this as The Market Place, Devizes, Wilt., with the black bear above the portico of, yes, The Bear Hotel as the "giveaway". Clive Rideout couldn't resist a visit to The Bear but like poor Fanny, found no taxis outside. (RL)

The luckless maid has been at the wrong church for her marriage to Sergeant Frank Troy. St John's Street, Devizes with the Town Hall to the left.

St John's Court, High Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, sent in By Russell Groves. Perfick perspectiff.

As the Vicar leaves, Fanny runs to Troy and pleads for them to wed the following day. St John's Church, Devizes, Wiltshire.

Parish Church of St John The Baptist, Devizes. Russell Groves strikes again.

Overcome with humiliation, Sergeant Frank Troy (Terence Stamp) walks away from Fanny as his best man (Derek Ware) looks on. St John's Churchyard, Devizes.

Parish Church of St John The Baptist, Devizes. Russell again.

Troy and his Corporal walk toward St John's Street from St John's Church in Devizes.

St John's Court from Parish Church of St John The Baptist, Devizes, by Russell

Bathsheba goes to buy corn seed much to the consternation of the local 'gentleman' farmers. Detail above the door of the Corn Exchange in Market Square, Devizes.

Front of the Corn Exchange, Market Place, Devizes, Russell's work.

When Bathsheba's feelings towards the Sergeant become apparent, she rides to find him. Bloxworth House, Bere Regis, Dorset.

The closest Clive Rideout could get from the footpath and he may return in December when the garden is a little less "designer". (RL)

At the coast, Bathsheba looks for Frank Troy. Looking out to sea from The Esplanade, Weymouth, Dorset.

Opposite The Royal Hotel. SD

Bathsheba spots Troy watching a side show on the beach. In front of The Royal Hotel on The Esplanade in Weymouth.

Now. SD

Sergeant Troy returns to Weatherbury where Boldwood tries to dissuade him from courting Bathsheba. Outside the Ilchester Arms on Market Street in Abbotsbury, Dorset.

Clive Rideout believes that Sgt. Troy is unlikely to have opted for the Butter Poached Lemon Sole with Chervil Mousse........maybe Clive would have! (RL)

A farm hand is first to appear from the barn on the morning after the double celebration of Troy and Bathsheba's marriage and harvest home. The Tithe Barn, Abbotsbury, Dorset.

It is now a 'Childrens Farm' so Clive arrived early to avoid a Health and Safety nightmare........and probably children too.(RL)

Sergeant Troy makes his way from the barn to find his Wife. Unidentified location.

After saving Bathsheba's harvest during the previous night's storm, Gabriel visits Boldwood and his devastated crop. Waddon House, Friar Waddon near Weymouth, Dorset.

Now with added dogs. Photo Clive Rideout.

Troy, who is gambling away most of Bathsheba's money, rides from a cock fight. Horton Tower, Horton, Dorset.

Not a single horse. Clive Rideout.

After Fanny Robin dies in childbirth, Joseph Poorgrass (John Barrett) drives the wagon carrying her coffin from the workhouse. The Bear Hotel, Market Square in Devizes, Wiltshire.

Market Place, Devizes, sorted by Russell Groves.

Sergeant Troy watches the coffin pass through Casterbridge. The Market Square, Devizes with the Corn Exchange in the right background.

The Corn Exchange & Market Cross, Market Place, Devizes, Russell once more.

Poorgrass approaches the inn where he is tempted to join his friends for a drink. This is the former Abbotsbury Mill, now the Mill House, on Grove Lane in Abbotsbury, Dorset found by James Huddy.

Filled with remorse at the death of Fanny and his child, Troy walks out on Bathsheba and makes his way to the beach. The cliffs above the coast near Durdle Door, Lulworth in Dorset. The area was also seen in 'Nuts in May' as well as ‘The Black Rider’, ‘The Boys in Blue’, 'Five on Treasure Island', 'World War Z', 'The Flaw' and ‘Out of Season’.

Clive Rideout could have got the angle a bit better . . . but at least he did it, risking life and limb!

Sergeant Troy disappears into the ocean. Durdle Door Beach near Lulworth.

The original camera position is around 100ft away - straight down. Clive Rideout.

Gabriel visits Weatherbury church where Bathsheba tends Fanny Robin's grave. St Nicholas Church, Sydling St Nicholas, Dorset.

Churchyard is tidier but now has a cheap lean-to for the tools, with thanks to Clive Rideout. (RL)

A shot of the church's gargoyles as Gabriel tells Mrs Troy that he is leaving. St Nicholas Church, Sydling St Nicholas.

Thanks Clive, your patience for getting the wind in the right direction is well rewarded. (RL)

Bathsheba Troy reflects before going to find Gabriel and agreeing to marry him. Bloxworth House, Bere Regis in Dorset