'Tattenhall' – a popular filming location

Tattenhall is fast becoming a popular location as ITV has confirmed the filming of a second series of the World War II drama, 'Home Fires' – fingers crossed that they again choose to use some of our fantastic buildings within the village.

Based on the book 'Jambusters' by Julie Summers, the drama follows the lives of a group of inspirational women as members of the Women's Institute. Most of the filming took place in Bunbury but the Barbour Institute played its role too. The 'Green Room', for example, became the perfect location for the Recruitment Office, whilst the 'Hall' was used for various meetings of the Women's Institute as well as for a public meeting.

The attention to detail was remarkable. During the public meeting, the Hall was filled with smoke to re-create the atmosphere of a period during which most people smoked indoors. The panelling and recesses of the Green Room were also the perfect match for the period, albeit that the radiators were boxed in! Both rooms were obviousy 'dressed' for the period with many of the props being obtained from the nearby 'Applegates' Antiques Centre at Milton Green.

Tattenhall, of course, is no stranger to filming. As a quintissentially English Village and with the area in and around Church Bank remaining virtually unscathed from 21st century living, Tattenhall provides an idyllic backcloth to re-create the nostalgia of the 1940s and beyond.

In case any of you missed the interior shots of the Barbour Institute, we include a couple of images (together with a fantastic photograph taken by our very own Keith Titchener during the filming of Foyle's War). To view the image as 'full size', then just click on the image itself.

It you want to take a closer look at Applegates Antique Centre then CLICK HERE.