Robin Shuckburgh, chairman of the Bampton Community Archive, explains that many coaches a week are coming with tourists keen to see where the outside scenes of Downton Abbey are filmed.
Downton Abbey was being filmed in Bampton again in April 2014. Most of the actors are very obliging, willing talking with the younger generation and several Bampton people are extras.
2012 was very much the early days of Downton Abbey having an effect in Bampton. The prediction of coachloads of American tourists coming was absolutely correct. By 2018 approximately 30,000 visitors went into the Vesey room housed in the building used as the Cottage Hospital in the drama to see the exhibition and memorabilia on sale. The Archive committee to the decision to have quality products only for sale because it is not an exhibition that attracts young children, space is very limited and the people who were coming clearly wanted quality memorabilia.
Local residents and doctors at Bampton's surgery say we can't cope with another approximately 280 home. 160 proposed along New Road and 127 in the land between the Aston and Buckland Roads.
Robin Shuckburgh has been chairman of Bampton Community Archive for about 8 years (as at 2017) and over-seen the raising of £250,000 to repair the roof of the Old Grammar School in Church View and make the upstairs a usable space again. We are extremely fortunate in Bampton to have people with skills and energy which they are prepared to give freely for the benefit of the whole community.
Robin Shuckburgh and Jane Wallis, from Bampton Library’s support team, with parish councillor Joanna Downing at the library.DOWNTON Abbey has brought prestige, glamour and tourists to the village of Bampton
Prize winning bangers made by a village butchers have taken on a whole new level of fame after being endorsed by Downton Abbey stars. The Bampton Royal pork sausages, produced on site at Patrick Strainge Butchers, were feasted on by the cast
n November 2015 eight products, including Patrick Strainge's Bampton Royal sausages were nominated for the Q Guild Smithfield Awards. Only 200 butchers in England can hold a Q guild aware at any one time so it really is a feather in the cap of our local butchers shop. The Bampton Royal sausages were also a firm favourite with many members of the cast of Downton Abbey which was partly filmed in Bampton.
The makers of Downton Abbey invited local people to take part as extras. Doreen and Douglas Clare were delighted to be chosen each each from 2011 through 2015.
On a bitterly cold day on March 29th 2015 scenes were recorded for Downton Abbey. These are delightful casual shots of the actors both well known and supporting cast.