The last film shoot of Downton Abbey in Bampton

Today marks the end of an era for the little town of Bampton! Today was truly the final day of Downton Abbey filming in this lovely Cotswold village.  The snow that was used yesterday on the set was gone, the sun was out, the village was sparkling, and it was the last day that the church square in Bampton will be the little village of Downton.  

This year's filming has been very different than previous seasons. There were many more screens up to protect the actors and scenes. There was more security about and a greater tension between security and the paparazzi. It was no longer possible to get photos of or with the main actors. There were also more people watching the filming and so there was a designated gawking area. In earlier seasons, things were more relaxed and low key and anyone could wander through the set and mingle, to some degree, with the actors. Those days are long gone.  

 

Even so, the crew seemed as professional and pleasant as ever.  The extras were friendly and very interesting to talk to.  I've met some delightful people in Bampton who I won't forget.  Most everyone I spoke with today and yesterday are both sad to see this end and so grateful they all had such an amazing ride! Even though I live 20 minutes away, I guess I feel the same way -- sad to see this end and so grateful that I got to see a bit of the magic in the making.

That's a wrap!

Filming a snow scene in Bampton for Downton Abbey

Today was a lovely summer day and the usually sleepy little village of Bampton was transformed once again into Downton, the village of Downton Abbey.  They are filming for the last time in Bampton, finishing up the final season of this phenomenally successful series.  Today they were filming a winter scene complete with snow flurries. The usual quiet little church square was full, not just with film crew and extras, but with quite a crowd of tourists and gawkers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKeJXHy05ZM

  Snow was added to create a winter scene in front of the library which is used for the Downton Hospital.  A big snow blower created snow flurries for the scene. Just ignore the lovely green trees in the background.   

They were filming a big scene in the church yard that used hundreds of extras.  We arrived close to lunch time and the extras where standing in line to get a lovely curry from the lunch truck.  Many of the extras are local towns people from Bampton and surrounding villages.

Lunch is over and it's time to get back to the church yard.  Before the actors can make it through the gate back to the filming, they each have to have a make-up and hair check.  

I'm sad this is the last time Bampton will turn into the village of Downton.  I'm sad to see the end of such a fun ride.  And I'm very grateful for the ride and for seeing a bit of all the hard work that goes into the making of a production such as Downton Abbey.  

That's a Wrap -- Last day of filming Downton Abbey in Bampton

The Bampton church square that has served as the location for the fictional town of Downton was all wrapped up yesterday for the last filming of town scenes for season six of Downton Abbey.  The production company screened off the church yard, Mrs. Crawley's home, and the square so they could film unimpeded by onlookers, dog walkers, and paparazzi .   

There was a big scene going on in the church yard that seemed to contain most of the cast plus a large number of extras.   Spoiler alert: it looked like a happy occasion.   Could it be another wedding?  Mrs. Crawley's?  Edith's? Mary's?  It was kept well under wraps. And I'm glad for it. Part of the fun of following  a story is enjoying the surprises. 

I'll miss seeing Bampton turn into Downton each summer.  It's been a fun run. Watching these film shoots has given me a much greater appreciation for all that goes into the making of what might be just a few seconds of a scene.   What we see on the screen is just the tiniest tip of the iceberg.  There are thousands and thousands of hours that went into the making of the final product.  I've now become a fan of the credits at the end of a production.  All the production teams like costuming; sound; lighting; makeup; set design; logistics; editing; props; catering; etc.  -- that is the rest of the iceberg and what made the tip all possible.  

They are back in Bampton filming Downton Abbey Season Six.

Late last night I had an email from a friend in Bampton telling me the film crew was in town and would be filming today.  While I didn't have much time Bampton is only 25 minutes away from our home so I drove  out to watch for about an hour.  It is sad to think that this is the last season of Downton Abbey and, after this, the little town of Bampton will no longer turn into Downton each summer.  Here is what it looked like today.  

A very short scene: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVDUHARoyyM

A rehearsal for a scene:  https://youtu.be/wytqFQNLqUo

Gathering in front of Mrs. Crawley's house

Extras, gawkers, and crew

Mr. Mosely  (Kevin Doyle)

Most of the extras are townspeople of Bampton

There is a lot of hurry-up-and-wait on the set

It doesn't take much to create the Downton Post Office

Dr. Clarkson (David Robb) and Denker (Sue Johnston)

Normally they film two days in a row.  Not this time.  I hope this means they will be back for one more shoot and that I'll find out about it in time.  Hopefully, more to come....

Setting up a scene for Downton Abbey's 5th Season Christmas special

I still haven't figured out how to download two video clips on one blog post.  Here's the cast getting ready for the scene I posted earlier.  

Filming a scene for Downton Abbey's 5th Season (Last episode)

They were filming today in Bampton -- it will be the Christmas day episode of season 5 of Downton Abbey (that would be the last episode in the U.S.).  It was one of those days where we had brilliant sunshine, rain, wind, and grey skies -- all several times an hour, so it seemed.  That made filming challenging.  And because it is school holidays and tourist season, there were many more on-lookers than in past shoots.  Security kept us further away than usual.

Here they are setting up the scene:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCzrjtkzbmo

It was a fun scene to watch since  most of the cast was there.  However, it wasn't so easy to see everyone -- security used umbrellas to block shots of important cast members.  I don't blame them.  A bus load of tourists showed up in the middle of a take and totally interrupted the filming.  Even so, it was fun to see the creative process of this beloved series and to see Bampton turned back into Downton.  

 The cast moving into place.  They hang out in Mrs. Crawley's home in between scenes and takes.

 Here is Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) and behind him the lovely Cora Crawley, the Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern)

Dear Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan)

Finishing touches on Lord Grantham

Making Mr. Carson perfect (I think he is already!)

Thomas (Rob James-Collier) --  How did he get those medals of honor?

The townspeople of Downton

Cora, Lady Mary (Michelle Dockery) and Mrs. Crawley 

Such style and grace!

Sneaky Mr. Bates (Brendan Coyle)

Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) and Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville)

More takes of the same scene:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8iEdzNTC44&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kicuiBIW8_s