Made in Heaven

"Painted in Gold ye Flitch behold, Of famed Dunmow ye Boaste, Then here should call Fond couples all, And Pledge it in a Toaste" is the legend over the door of the Flitch of Bacon public house in Little Dunmow, Essex . . . but this is outside the Green Man on Village Road in Denham.

The real sign attached to the wall. SJ

A Postman cycles through the village. Looking towards The Pyghtle on Village Road, Denham in Buckinghamshire.

Off angle. SJ

Echoes of a lost era . . . a Postman wearing a smart uniform and bottles of milk standing on doorsteps. Star Lane looking out to the High Street, Great Dunmow, Essex with the Tudor Town Hall center stage says Paul Atkinson. (RL)

True to his word Paul provides a shot that shows little has changed, except perhaps, no milk bottles by the doors. (RL)

The Postman continues his round. Back to Village Road in Denham, this time near St. Mary's church.

Out of season for the wisteria. Hills House, owned by Alexander Korda and Merle Oberon, and later John Mills from 1975 to 2003. SJ

Facing north on West Common in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. The location also features in 'Stop Press Girl', 'Wombling Free' and 'One Good Turn'.

Antony Blair suffered a rainy day on West Common.

The camera follows the Postman as he delivers mail to the Tophams. Latchmoor House on West Common, Gerrard's Cross.

Latchmoor House now from Antony Blair.

After a less than satisfying breakfast cooked by Grandpa Topham, Basil (David Tomlinson) and Julie Topham (Petula Clark) set off to work.

The couple discuss buying their own home and moving out from the Topham family home.

While her husband talks with a builder, Julie makes her way to the main street and begins to chat with a neighbour. Village Road, Denham.

Further north-west of Hills House (004) along Willage Road. The postbox is unmoved. SJ

As a distant train whistle sounds, Basil runs past his wife on his way to the station. Facing south-east on Village Road. Denham has been seen in many films including 'Ghost of a Chance', 'Down Among the Z Men', 'Captain Clegg', 'Oh, Daddy', 'The Square Peg', 1933's 'Three Men in a Boat', 'The Child and the Killer', 'Jumping for Joy', 'Poet's Pub', 'Third Party Risk' and 'Kadoyng' from the Children's Film Foundation.

Antony Blair took this shot from a similar position.

Basil reaches the station and runs towards the footbridge. What a journey, this is Datchet station in Berkshire.

Not a lot has changed apart from the addition of modern signalling cabinets. (PW)

The London train arrives as Basil crosses the bridge. More of Datchet station with 2-BIL unit number 2054 coming to a stand.

No train due for a while. (PW)

Passengers get ready to board the train as Basil hurries down onto the platform. Datchet station with High Street level crossing beyond the bridge. The location was also seen in 'Stolen Assignment' and 'The Firefighters'.

Spruced up a little but otherwise not much has changed at this end of the station. (PW)

Anticipating the end of the meeting that he's attending, Sergeant Marne watches the pub door open through the village hall window. The Green Man on Village Road, Denham.

Best shot, given the proliferation of automobiles. SJ

Meanwhile, in the Capital Basil waits for the new Maid to arrive from Hungary. This is a studio set based on Victoria station.

Taking Marta (Sonja Ziemann) the maid along, Julie, Basil and his father Aubrey (Charles Victor) make their way to the drama group. Looking north-west along Wooburn Common Road at Dropmore in Buckinghamshire located by Steve Randall.

On Wooburn Common Road Steve remarks that the signpost has been replaced with a traffic sign on the main road.

The hall where the Hayworth Honeycroft, the Vicar, is waiting. Steve Randall identifies this as Dropmore Infant School at the corner of Wooburn Common Road and Littleworth Road at Dropmore in Buckinghamshire. The school can also be seen during 'The Man in the Road'.

Dropmore Infant School is now protected by bushes, chevrons and crash barrier in Steve's shot.

The Station Porter (Stuart Latham) and his colleague Bert Jenkins (Alfie Bass) help Basil load his car with packages, including the famous flitch of bacon. Looking from the station's southbound platform onto Manor House Lane in Datchet.

Looking from the station's southbound platform onto the wall of a building. (PW)

As he drives through the village to deliver the 'Flitch' to the Vicar, Basil spots Marta at the bus atop and offers her a lift. Village Road, Denham.

A favourite angle for the many films shot here. SJ

Having lost the flitch, Basil runs from the station with Marta after enquiring if the staff there have seen it. Datchet station with the High Street Baptist Chapel visible to the left. The chapel has been converted into shops.

No view of anything on the High Street now. (PW)

Basil sprints across a farmyard with a pig under his arm.

As Marta waits in the car, Sergeant Marne (Michael Brennan) cycles along, catching Basil with the pig.

The ancient Flitch Trials go ahead. A suitably dressed garden at Pinewood studios, Iver Heath in Buckinghamshire. Also seen in 'No Sex Please,We're British' and 'Carry On Henry'.