Last Alteration: Sunday 07 April 2013
Frensham Common
Frensham Common
Frensham, Surrey
Frensham Common is an area of 400 hectares between Camberley to the north and Hindhead to the south, and is owned by the National Trust. The common is known for its two, Great and Little Ponds and whose heathland has special protection under EU legislation.
Great Pond car park (fee at weekend/Bank Holidays)
Little Pond car park (free)
Access: publicStatus: recognisableHeath at Little Pond
The Myth Makers
Filmed: 27,30,31 Aug, 1,2 Sep 1965
The plains.
Additional Notes:
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This is one of the few stories where no visual representation of the story exist, with the exception of one filming photo. As the heath has changed a bit in 45+ years only generic photos are possible.
Access: publicStatus: recognisableGreat Pond
Photograph taken: 2nd August 2011 by Chuck Foster
"Based on guesswork really, this gives as close a look as in the screenshots as anywhere around the pond!"
The Highlanders (1)
Filmed: 15 Nov 1966
The injured Laird is carried from battle.
The Highlanders (1)
Filmed: 14 Nov 1966
Polly and Kirsty see the soldiers.
Additional locations as the crow flies:
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Hankley Common (The Silurians): 2.56 miles. 
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Sheephatch Farm (The Silurians): 2.65 miles.
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Beacon Hill (The Ambassadors of Death): 5.61 miles. 
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Beacon Hill Road (The Ambassadors of Death): 5.80 miles.
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Claycart Bottom (The Ambassadors of Death): 6.67 miles.
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Eelmoor Training Circuit (The Ambassadors of Death): 6.99 miles.
Production Notes:
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John Woods (designer) on filming : "We did a glass matte shot - something virtually unheard of in the BBC at that time. It was a high-angle establishing shot of the interior of the Troy, with people moving about within the walls. I got a scenic artist to paint a suitable picture of Troy based on visuals from the British Museum on a big sheet of glass and took it up to the main location at Frensham Ponds. This was an area with very alien-looking sands and there had been some burning going on up there, clearing of land and so on, so it looked terrific. We erected this sheet of glass in front of the camera, which we locked off in the usual way, and put the finishing touches to the painting, blending it in with the rough terrain. Then the actors were positioned so that they could be seen through the unpainted parts of the glass, off in the distance, moving about as required. It wasn't 100% effective, but considering the time and the facilities and the money we had, and the fact that people weren't generally au-fait with such things like glass shots, it worked quite well enough. It was just a quick shot, sufficient to get the message across." (src :On Location, © Richard Bignell)
Related Stories
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The Myth Makers [27,30,31 Aug, 1,2 Sep 1965]
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The Highlanders [14,15,21 Nov 1966]
Information, downloads, photographs and other media are provided for reference and for personal use only (planning visits etc.) - they remain the copyright of their respective authors and may not be duplicated on any other website or media without prior permission.
All screen captures are the copyright of the BBC and appear here as reference to illustrate the location in comparison with how it looked at the time of filming and the present day; no attempt is made to supercede this or any other copyright.
