rick

Hi David, yes I d forgotten about that, spooky the young lads name should be MARSHALL too don t you think. By the way I spelt it incorrectly, it s actually RushFORD. RICK

DAVID RAYNER

Yes, Rick. It would be even spookier if the boy's first name had been Richard.

David.

Colin P

There's a bit about the locations on the following link from the IMDB site, another excelent site I use: www.imdb.com/title/tt0063285/locations

It mentions Rushford church as mentioned here.

Steve Crook

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
It was added to the IMDb after it was mentioned here :)

Steve

Steve Crook

PaPAS

rick

Hi Colin, Hi Steve,

Thanks I d never noticed that before. Sorry for not replying sooner, I just havn t been on here for ages. I ve just visited Rushford and the rectory is actually called Rushford College and was founded as such in 1342. It s a beautiful building with original ruined walls and doorways at the back. There was some archealogicalwork done there in 2003. I must correct my previous statement though because they did indeed use Brandeton church also. They cut the film about as the view you see from the rectory doorway looking back at the church does not match Rushford church but does Brandeston. I assume they shot that scene from the doorway of what is now a public school behind Brandeston church. The layouts of both locations are quite similar.

[ 06. February 2005, 16:51: Message edited by: rick ]

rick

I ll add another note to the above. The scene where Vincent price and his followers are walking at dusk along the front of the church and into the driveway ready to point the accusing finger at the Rev. John Lowes are Rushford.

Holland

What's the deal with the white cliffs though?

They're galloping around Northants, Essex and Suffolk and suddenly there's white cliffs?

rick

Hi Holland,
Yes I know what you mean, let s call it artistic license eh ! I think that s the part where Richard Marshall is granted special duty to stop the king leaving by the coast after defeat at Naseby. Those scenes were filmed on the coast at Dunwich Suffolk

rick

HI,

My apologies to everyone interested in this topic. I have re examined the "Witchfinder General" on the DVD and every church scene WAS RUSHFORD, nothing done at Brandeston at all. The rear views of these churches are amazingly similar but Rushford I do declare IS the location !!!

Richard

DAVID RAYNER

Rick, without dedicated enthusiasts such as yourself, we'd probably be none the wiser about these locations, as there is nothing on the web about them. Many Thanks.

rick

Hi David, thanks for the vote of confidence. As you know, the real Witchfinder is local history for me so of special interest. How on earth they found Rushford is a mystery, talk about hidden. It really was great to be where a lot of this superb film was shot and to imagine the hive of activity behind camera. The rectory now appears to be a private residence and what a tranquil place to live. It didn t seem like anybody was at home so I had the cheek to invite myelf in to gardens for a quick look round and take some photos. By coincidence another couple arrived to look at the place unaware of its film history. When I told them they asked I worked for a film company seeking out locations would you believe. Was I tempted to go along with it ???? I d like to show you the pics as it is now if I could work out how to do it on here. Rick.

samkydd

Thetford was also the town where the Dad's Army TV series location filming was shot. The nearby Thetford Chase, a large part owned by the MOD, was also used by many period film production units for location shooting so it's possible that Witchfinder used the same army range.

"...the chairman of Littlewoods stores made a Keynote speech!"

4737carlin

was just reading this thred, now i can see its very old but i wonder if you worked out for total sure which church was used and if any of you might have some photographs of these locations, or any from the film and how they looked in recent years?

Allan Condie

The church used in the film is at Rushford in Norfolk, just over the border. Full details about the building can be found on the Norfolk Churches website. Norfolk Churches

It was the church attached to a College of Priests, what remained of the College was converted into the rectory in the 19th Century and was also used in the film.

The interior shots were obviously also filmed inside the church as the furnishings were as in the photos on the website and the layout was nothing like it would have been in the 17th century.

Allan Condie

The hall in the scene where John Lowe is ducked is Long Melford and the Castle in the final scenes is at Orford, both in Suffolk.