Chew Valley Gazette: "'Arthur of the Britons', filmed at Woollard in 1972"

In response to a letter from the creator of this archive, the Chew Valley Gazette kindly published this feature on "Arthur of the Britons" in their October edition.

Valley scenes, and possibly some extras drafted in from local villages, featured in the 1972 production of “Arthur of the Britons” (yes, that’s Brian Blessed in the top row)

The Gazette has received a letter, printed on page 2, asking for information regarding the filming of “Arthur of the Britons” in 1972.

This has the status of a legend among locals who accepted an invitation to participate as extras or who watched proceedings from nearby.

1972 was probably a good time to be looking for extras with long hair, but reputedly not a good time to be a blonde extra, as the local legend is that some applicants were rejected for not having dark enough hair!

Many of the scenes are still recognisable, although are on land which does not have public access.

If you have stories about your memories of the filming, please contact the writer of the letter, but don’t forget to tell the Gazette as well – they would probably make an entertaining future feature.

Chew Valley Gazette: Letter to the Editor

In 2013, the creator of this archive wrote to the Chew Valley Gazette, in the hope of contacting anyone involved in the filming of "Arthur of the Britons" who still lived in the area. The letter was published in the October edition.

In the latter part of 1972, a film crew arrived in the Chew Valley and built a village in a field at Woollard, to be inhabited by various denizens of the Dark Ages – Celts, Saxons and Jutes. They were filming the Harlech TV series “Arthur of the Britons”, starring Oliver Tobias, Michael Gothard and Jack Watson, with an array of guest stars including Brian Blessed, Tom Baker and Michael Gambon. Extras were hired from the local area to perform as villagers from the various tribes, and often to be thrown around and kicked in the pants by Brian Blessed in the guise of Arthur’s some-time ally, Mark of Cornwall.

“Arthur of the Britons” was a new take on the Arthurian legend, but stripped of its castles and shining armour, and set in an often muddy village where every day for Arthur (Oliver Tobias), his lieutenant and adopted brother Kai (Michael Gothard) and their mentor, Llud (Jack Watson) was a struggle for survival against their neighbours and the encroaching Saxons.

The series came out on DVD in 2008, and since that time, fans have been trying to find out more about its history. We know that filming took place both in Woollard and Compton Dando, but we would love to locate, and perhaps visit, the exact spots featured in the series. There were also scenes at what was called in the series “The Giant’s Dam”, though it was small by modern standards.

So if you lived in the area at the time, and were an extra or worked on the production, if filming took place on your land, or if you saw filming taking place or met any of the cast while they were based in the area, fans would love to hear your stories.

Please get in touch with: joya.ghose@gmail.com or write to Joya Ghose, “Tabula Rasa”, La Rue du Hocq, St Clement, Jersey, JE2 6LF.