Amersham Museum has added a new walk to their programme. Museum Director, Briony Hudson said ‘proximity to Pinewood Studios and the charm of Amersham and surrounding villages made it a popular location for the British Film Industry from the earliest days to the present.’
In 1919, Wilfred Noy directed As He was Born, a silent comedy lasting 56minutes. The film has not survived but photographs taken by George Ward show a temporary statue of Anthony Mapletoft JP, Mayor of the fictitious town of Umberminster next to our Market Hall.
In 1959 the area around the Market Hall served as a French town, site of a spooky chase in Circus of Horrors and a Miss Marple film, Murder at the Gallop starring Margaret Rutherford was filmed here in 1960. Both the Crown Hotel and the King’s Arms featured in Oscar nominated Four Weddings and Funeral (1994). The first episode of Midsomer Murders, The Killings at Badger’s Drift, used Amersham’s historic High Street in 1997, and film crews have returned regularly. The 100th episode, The Killings of Copenhagen was filmed in The Maltings – as well as in Denmark! A recent episode, Last Man Out, was filmed in High and Over, the first Modernist house built in England. That building featured in Pathé News shortly after it was built in 1931. It is perfect for setting a thirties scene in Poirot and conveying luxury. In 2017 it was used as a location in The Time of their Lives. Amersham was the ideal town for bringing up families in The Midwich Cuckoos (2022).
Midsomer Murders and More takes visitors to all these locations and more, in a circular five-mile walk which includes a short detour in the meadow alongside the River Misbourne before returning to the station via High and Over.
Dates and times are Saturdays 15 July, 19 August and 21 October starting from Amersham station at 10.00am. Pre-booking is advisable, by clicking on this link.