Non-Fiction Northamptonshire
Whilst Northamptonshire has had some incredible fictional movies and television shows recorded here, it's also had it's fair share of fantastic documentaries and programmes filmed in its borders too! From death-defying adrenaline records to ancient archaeological finds in backgardens, read on to learn more about Northamptonshire's filming locations!
Speed with Guy Martin:
Famous Roadracer and mechanic Guy Martin took a trip to Sywell Aerodrome in 2014 for his show Speed, where he attempted the seemingly impossible: fly using muscle power alone. He began to build the world's fastest human powered aircraft - a plane without an engine that used pedal power instead.
With his tremendous success, Guy achieved a Guinness World Record right here in Northamptonshire!
Diana: In Her Own Words:
Diana: In Her Own Words is a compelling documentary that offers an intimate glimpse into the life of Princess Diana through her own recorded words.
Notably, parts of the documentary were filmed in Northampton and Althorp, places closely associated with Diana's early life and family heritage. These locations add a poignant and authentic backdrop to the narrative, deepening the connection to her story.
Digging for Britain:
In 2024, The Chester House Estate near Irchester welcomed Professor Alice Roberts to their excavation site for the latest series of her archaeology show, Digging for Britain.
Roberts converses with the archaeologists who work on the buried Roman town and gets a look inside the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre with curator Ben Donnelly-Symes at some of the Roman artefacts and burials found on site.
Streets of Change:
Northampton was the backdrop for a powerful documentary film that highlighted the lived experiences of homelessness and recovery in Northampton.
Film makers One to One Development Trust worked closely with West Northamptonshire Council’s Outreach Team to create the film, documenting their work supporting people who are homeless, sleeping rough or struggling with addiction and shedding light on the individuals and partners who work tirelessly to bring about positive change.
The film has gained significant acclaim and will also be showcased at prestigious international film festivals, including the New York Workers Unite Film, while the VR experience will feature at Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF) in York.
Antiques Roadshow:
Kirby Hall near Corby was given the great honour of being chosen as a location for the iconic Antiques Roadshow series in 2015. Used for two of the episodes in the 37th season, presenters Fiona Bruce and Philip Mould delve into the history of the Northamptonshire site at the beginning of both episodes, before heading into the majestic gardens to begin the show.
Thousands of visitors flocked to Kirby Hall during the show to not only get their antiques assessed by the professionals, but also to gawk at the stunningly intricate Elizabethan architecture.
The Great Rock n Roll Swindle:
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle is a 1980 mockumentary directed by Julien Temple. It dives into the rise and fall of the legendary punk band, the Sex Pistols, all told from their manager Malcolm McLaren's point of view. Some scenes were shot at Northampton Railway Station.
The mix of different locations and the film's offbeat style really capture the chaotic energy of the Sex Pistols and their huge impact on music.
Time Team:
In 2003, Time Team investigated a garden in Marshall’s Road, Raunds where a skeleton had been found along with Anglo-Saxon grave goods. The burial fits in with a number of other Saxon and Norse sites situated around the town.
In the end, the archaeologists confirm the presence of an entire Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Raunds, with various pieces of grave goods at the site, probably placed in relation to older Bronze Age burial mounds.
Sixty Miles by Road or Rail:
Documenting Northampton's Eastern District, Sixty Miles by Road or Rail features work by photographer Christian Sinibaldi, who captured images of the town's residents for part of the project. Since the film has been released, a comic book which celebrates the heritage stories of six community groups across Northamptonshire has been created by 60Miles.
Learn more about their projects here: Home - 60 Miles by Road or Rail
Genius with Stephen Hawking:
Filmed for the international National Geographic and US broadcaster PBS broadcast Genius, a popular science series presented by the world-famous physicist Stephen Hawking utilised Santa Pod Raceway near Wellingborough as one of their filming locations.
The six-part series sets out to see if ordinary members of the public can think like a genius. In each episode notable scientific breakthroughs are revisited, and three ordinary people are challenged to make some of the same mental leaps as the scientists behind the initial landmark moment in science. The main theme of the series is to see if Professor Hawking was right in his belief that most of us are far smarter than we realise – which is almost a scientific thesis in itself.
Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot:
Gunpowder 5/11: The Greatest Terror Plot is a gripping documentary that delves into the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, where a group of English Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament.
Parts of the documentary were filmed at Ashby St Ledgers and Rushton Hall. Ashby St Ledgers is particularly significant as it was the family estate of Robert Catesby, one of the plot's masterminds, while Rushton Hall adds a historical backdrop to the narrative.
