Ashridge Volunteers

Last week the Thursday team visited Harding’s Rookery adjacent to the Mansion to clean up the wood, and then look for a long lost Wild Service tree. In the 1800’s all dead trees and fallen branches (brash) would have been cleared out, to enhance the look of the Park – labour was cheap and plentiful in those days.
The aristocratic visitors arriving in their horse-drawn carriages would have been delighted with the prospect of the new Mansion in the open parkland, having emerged from the wooded access routes. At first the main access points were from Thunderdell Lodge in the west, and Nettleden Lodge in the south coming through Golden Valley. The road from Berkhamsted was not cut until sometime after 1838 when the railways arrived.
The policy of the N. T. today is to leave all fallen timber to rot in the woods, but not in the parkland, so the brash was collected from the roadside area and moved back out of sight, improving the look for modern day travellers.
The larger beech trees in the wood have graffiti marks, which were branded on them some one hundred years ago and are still visible today. Apparently when the Estate was broken up and sold off around 1925, specimens of standing timber were marked with a number for sale and the ones which did not make the auction are still showing their mark. Part of one of the numbers has been lost in the fold of the bark!
The Wild Service tree proved to be as elusive as ever – no sign so far.

Barbara Matthewson

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Base Camp is on the site of the old Outwood Kiln – the brickworks on the Toms Hill Road in the parish of Aldbury. Originally it was open common land until enclosed at some time by the Bridgewaters. Although it probably started as a local brick kiln for Aldbury, it developed into a much larger operation when construction of the new Mansion took place from 1803- 1810.

The buildings are leftovers from the brickwork era which ceased production around 1938, and have been renovated and modernised by the Trust in recent times.

Base Camp provides overnight living accommodation for National Trust volunteer groups working at distant locations, like Cliveden or Waddesdon.

The accommodation requires an annual “deep clean”, so the volunteers were called in last Saturday to do the job.

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ITV have commissioned a major eight part drama series – The Halcyon from Left Bank Pictures.

An eight part sixty minute drama telling the story of a bustling and glamorous five star hotel at the centre of London society, with the world at war.

The drama set in 1940, shows London life through the prism of war and the impact it has on families, politics, relationships and work, across every social strata – set to a soundtrack of the music of the era.

Produced by award-winning independent production company Left Bank Pictures (Wallander, DCI Banks), The Halcyon reveals how war permeates everyone’s lives from the glamorous guests to its loyal, hard-working staff watched from within by American journalist Joe O’Hara.

Created by writer Charlotte Jones (Without You), who also writes the series, The Halcyon has been commissioned by ITV’s Director of Drama Steve November and Controller of Drama Victoria Fea.

“A hotel is the perfect place to show ambition in telling the story of World War II,” said Steve. “It was an extraordinary time in our country’s history, and London was a transforming city. The Halcyon takes us right to the heart of this as the hotel is busy, energetic, and vibrant which reflects how people carried on with their lives with defiance in the air,” added Steve.

The Halcyon will be executive produced by Sharon Hughff (Strike Back, Waterloo Road) and produced by Chris Croucher (Downton Abbey).

Left Bank Chief Executive Andy Harries said: “1940 is one of the most dramatic years in our islands history. Who could have imagined that London would survive the blitz and Luftwaffe’s attempted destruction of the city? What was it like to be in a five star hotel in the West End through this extraordinary period?

It’s such a compelling idea for a drama. The world of the Halcyon hotel has to carry on, through thick and thin and against all odds. The bedrooms have to be made safe, the bars have to stay open, and the band has to play on. People have to sleep, eat and survive.

Our opening line says it all: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’.”

The series began filming in London and surrounding areas in April and Ashridge plays host to the film crews late in July, when Monument Green will be recreated to represent Hyde Park in 1940.