Filming Locations

I feel a great affinity with Romsey because it was the first place in England that gave me a sense of belonging. The town took us to its collective heart and, though I now live elsewhere, I’m made to feel immediately welcome as soon as I arrive —  George Baker

In the Ruth Rendell novels, Reg Wexford lives and works in the Mid-Sussex market town of Kingsmarkham. When Hampshire-based TVS (Television South) won the rights to film the Wexford series, they moved this location over the county border to the Test Valley, where Romsey - with its imposing Norman Abbey - became the setting for the fictional town. Romsey proved to be the perfect choice: the town’s layout is very similar to Rendell’s blueprint and landmarks like the Abbey, Corn Exchange and Palmerston’s statue have all became well known to a worldwide TV audience.

The town’s magistrate court was used as the Kingsmarkham police station. However, because it was a working court, filming could only take place at the weekends and TVS eventually decided to build an exact replica of the station inside a warehouse in Totton near Southampton.  Other Romsey locations include: The Dolphin pub and Abbey Hotel (the Olive and Dove); River Test (the Kingsbrook); Tudor Rose pub; William IV pub (The Best Man to Die); The Hundred; Memorial Park; Cobweb Tea Rooms; Mottisfont (A Guilty Thing Surprised); Netley.

Locations in Hampshire include: Avington Park (Anouk Khouri’s home in Simisola); Portchester Castle (Myland Castle in An Unwanted Woman); Winchester Cathedral and College (Put On by Cunning); Kuti’s Restaurant in Southampton; St John’s Church at Farley-Chamberlayne; Botley Park Hotel (hotel and restaurant interiors in The Speaker of Mandarin); Petersfield (Kingsmarkham in Road Rage); Isle of Wight (A New Lease of Death); Kings Theatre, Southsea (Old Vic in A Sleeping Life); The Fuzz and Firkin pub, Southsea; Bournemouth (The Best Man to Die); Southampton University (The Mouse in the Corner).

And slightly farther afield…

London: Reg and Mike’s investigations take them to the fictitious London borough of Kenbourne Vale (Murder Being Once Done). Locations used include Notting Hill and Highgate Cemetery.  Knebworth in Herfordshire was used as the setting for the Sundays concert in Some Lie and Some Die.  France: Honfleur (A Sleeping Life); Rouen (Put On by Cunning).  Corsica: Calvi - the harbour and Citadel; Le Maquis - Porticcio (Achilles Heel).  Southern California: Put On by Cunning.  Hong Kong: The Speaker of Mandarin.