Page 29 - ESL Ultimate Guide to The Wye Valley
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Stars of Stage and Screen
This area has long inspired creatives
and writers. Most famously CS Lewis used Arthur’s Stone, a Neolithic tomb
at Dorstone as inspiration for the stone table where Aslan was sacrificed in
The Chronicles of Narnia. Modern day author Phil Rickman based his trilogy of Merrily Watkins novels in the county and fans love exploring filming locations for the ITV series of his Midwinter of the Spirit book.
Eastnor Castle has been frequently
used a film location. 2020 Golden Globe Winners HBO drama series ‘SUCCESSION’ starring Brian Cox was filmed here, as was ‘W.E’. a British historical drama directed by Madonna and iconic 70’s band Slade’s ‘Run Runaway’ music video.
The Wye Valley is no stranger to screen tourism either with blockbuster films such as Star Wars, Harry Potter and King Arthur using prime locations. Netflix latest sensation ‘Sex Education’ starring X-Files icon Gillian Anderson is filmed
at Symonds Yat. The Scandinavian-style chalet overlooking the river wye featured in the series has become a magnet for
TV buffs, fans and selfie takers.
Look out for celebrity residents Gardener’s World presenter Monty Don, Only Fools and Horses ‘Boycie’ actor John Challis or Richard Hammond of The Grand Tour. Bargain Hunt and Flog It expert Kate Bliss is regularly seen out and about as is Escape to the Country’s
Jules Hudson. It’s not unusual to find Suggs from Madness or Bez from the Happy Mondays having a chinwag in the local pub or to see the legendary Robert Plant from Led Zeppelin fame at a local gig supping a pint of his favourite Herefordshire cider.
Legend and Folklore
Captivating tales, hauntings, murders and history are all part of the local fabric etched into every street and lane. From Black Vaughan and his scary bloodhound who was said to inspire Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to write The Hound of the Baskervilles to the Mermaid of Marden. Was the Dragon of Mordiford really Maud’s friend? How a butcher in Fownhope became England's Bare-knuckle prize fighting Champion and the last woman to be punished in the UK using a ducking stool was Jenny Pipes from Leominster. From King Arthur’s stone in the Golden Valley where he was said to have slain a giant, to the legend of King Herla roaming The Marches as an eternal wanderer after being tricked by a faerie King.
Herefordshire, where wassailing is a regular pastime and disappearing villages, tales of witchcraft and vampires are commonplace.
Discover more History and Folklore in our dedicated section under HEREFORDSHIRE.
 Photo: courtesy of Mark Pritchard
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