Penda’s Fen (BBC Play for Today)

Date: 1974
Director: Alan Clarke
Production Company: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Stars: Spencer Banks, Jennie Hesselwood, Ian Hogg, Georgine Atkinson
Location(s): Gloucestershire, West Midlands, Worcestershire

Region(s):

Storyline:

An evocation of conflicting forces within England past and present that comes together in the growing pains of an adolescent vicar’s son who encounters angels, Edward Elgar and King Penda himself.

Additional Information:

Screen captures uploaded by Phil Wilkinson

An episode from the 4th series of BBC TV’s ‘Play for Today’

Matthew Donald advises that the classrooms seen in the production were at what is now the Royal Grammar School Worcester which, back in 1974, was known as WRGS and was for boys only. Malcolm was just a first year pupil at the time and explains that the boys seen singing Jerusalem in the assembly hall are real pupils and that the school emblems on the boys’ blazers were hidden with stickers. Other scenes included the school gym and a locker room.

Buy this film on Amazon link

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Can you help:

If you have any information regarding this production, the locations or, even better, some comparison shots please contact us. Images submitted must be in Landscape orientation, as would be seen on the cinema screen, not Portrait.

We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 21 Oct 2016

After views of the Malvern Hills are shown during the titles, a rural church is seen.

Andy Baker advises that filming was supposedly set in Pinvin, Worcestershire. but in fact it was filmed elsewhere as witnessed by the captions. St John the Baptist, Chaceley, Gloucestershire. (RL)

  • Capture 2
  • 21 Oct 2016

The camera starts to pan across the local church.

Andy pans with a sharper image. (RL)

  • Capture 3
  • 21 Oct 2016

The shot continues.

Andy's shooting continues. (RL)

  • Capture 4
  • 'Now' required

The scene moves to the Rectory of the Reverend J. Franklin. The Old Vicarage, Box Street, Chaceley. (SR)

  • Capture 5
  • 'Now' required

Inside, 17 year old Stephen Franklin, son of the local vicar, sits in his room writing about Elgar's 'The Dream of Gerontius'. The Old Vicarage, Chaceley. (SR)

  • Capture 6
  • 'Now' required

Whilst out cycling, Stephen notices that a finger post has been covered over.

  • Capture 7
  • 'Now' required

Stephen Franklin (Spencer Banks) sees a Council Workman (Frank Veasey) painting a road sign, and getting the village's name wrong.

  • Capture 8
  • 'Now' required

Reverend J. Franklin (John Atkinson) speaks with Arne (Ian Hogg), a television playwright. Church Cottage, Box Street, Chaceley. (SR)

  • Capture 9
  • 'Now' required

The Reverend finishes his discussion with Arne as Stephen looks on. Church Cottage, Chaceley. (SR)

  • Capture 10
  • 21 Oct 2016

Stephen and his father discuss pre-Christian religion.

Andy captures another shot at St John the Baptist, Chaceley in Gloucestershire. (RL)

  • Capture 11
  • 21 Oct 2016

A house stands near the village of Pinvin in the Worcestershire countryside. Pinvin is where the film is set, that's not to say that this is where the house is.

Indeed says Andy Baker, this is Chaceley Hole, or maybe it is Chaseley Hall at Chaseley Hole, Gloucestershire. All rather confusing but there are interesting stories about it on the Internet. (RL)

  • Capture 12
  • 21 Oct 2016

The camera tilts down to reveal a milk float outside the house as Stephen cycles along the road.

Andy tilted down but no milk float. (RL)

  • Capture 13
  • 'Now' required

The schoolboy spots a chick in front of one of the float's wheels.

  • Capture 14
  • 11 Sep 2017

His mother drives Stephen into town. This is Longbridge Roundabout at the junction of Bristol Road South and Lickey Road in Birmingham, West Midlands. The covered bridge is part of the now demolished Longbridge car plant.

Andy Baker has provided this shot of how that location, the old entrance to British Leyland factory (latterly Rover), looks now. (RL)

  • Capture 15
  • 21 Oct 2016

Reverend Franklin leaves the house of a sick parishioner.

Andy Baker provides the "now" advising that the property is situated in nearby Forthampton, Gloucestershire. (RL)

  • Capture 16
  • 11 Sep 2017

Andy Baker provided this additional capture showing the factory entrance seen earlier, this time from a slightly different angle. (RL)

And this is Andy's modern shot. (RL)