| Norfolk (and Suffolk) Film Locations Most
of the external footage for the series was filmed in and
around Thetford. Each summer
the cast and crew would come up to Thetford and stay in
either the Bell or the Anchor Hotels in Bridge Street.
The actors usually stayed at the more 'up market' Bell
while the crew lodged at The Anchor.
Walmington-on-Sea Town Hall was actually Thetford Guildhall and it was from the
clock tower that the German pilot dangled in 'Time On My
Hands' (1972). The Guildhall was also used in 'The
Captain's Car' (1974).
The flint cottages of Nether Row were used in four
episodes and Thetford's Palace Cinema featured
in both 'The Big Parade' (1970) and 'A Soldier's
Farewell' (1972). The Palace was also the place were the cast
gathered at the end of each week's filming to watch the
'rushes'. Newtown, Old Bury Road and Mill Lane, in the
town, also make an appearance.
The Anchor Hotel was
used for the first scene of the first show called 'Man
of the Hour' in 1968. It made use of the 'Norvic Room'
which was then the restaurant. (The Anchor Hotel
is now boarded up and derelict.)
The end-credit sequence of the show, where we see the platoon members running across open
ground, was shot at the Stanford Battle Area. Many other
external scenes were shot in Norfolk or Suffolk. 'Sons
of the Sea' (1969) was shot on the Norfolk Broads and
'Don't Forget the Diver' (1970) at Drinkstone windmill
in Suffolk. Other locations used include: Honnington, Bardwell, Bressingham, Wacton,
Brandon, Santon Downham, Oxburgh Hall, West Tofts,
Weeting, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and Lynford Hall (Mundford).
Many of the extras for the series were drawn from the Thetford Music and Drama Society
or the Thetford Senior Citizen's Club.
Weybourne Railway Station in
North Norfolk was the location for 'The Royal train'
(1973) The Steam Museum at
nearby Bressingham provided authentic fire engines,
steam rollers and traction engines for a number of the
episodes. Today, Bressingham hosts an impressive recreation of Walmington-on-Sea
- as well as a collection of Dad's Army
memorabilia. A Dad's Army museum has recently
been created in Thetford Guildhall and town councillors
are considering erecting a Captain Mainwaring statue. |