Day Out: Archive Films

Originally broadcast in 1982 was this charming half-hour television programme which took a look round the Golden Valley.

As part of the BBC's 'Day Out' series - which visited a different Gloucestershire and West Country locale every week - presenter Derek Jones is seen exploring various places in the valley - including Sapperton and Daneway.

Pinbury Park

Derek begins his journey at the source of the River Frome - the river that meanders through the Golden Valley. We see Pinbury Park mansion house which has been owned by the Bathurst family since 1788. We then explore the nearby hill fort probably used as a camp by the Anglo Saxons, and we hear of the warlike King Penda who camped there in 608 AD after "burning and pillaging" in nearby Cirencester.

We get a glimpse of the Nuns' Walk - a yew tree lined drive which once led to the Pinbury Nunnery, and we hear the ghostly story of a phantom nun who is said to roll a Double Gloucester cheese along the walk. Derek reads an extract from the poem 'Reynard the Fox' by John by Masefield who was Poet Laureate and who lived at Pinbury in the 1930s.

Sapperton Church

We learn of the Barnsley Brothers and Earnest Gimson who were followers of the Arts and Crafts Movement and who set up a furniture making workshop at Pinbury in the late 1800s. In the peaceful village of Sapperton we visit a private home which houses a collection of the hand made furniture made at the workshops in nearby Daneway. We see Beechanger, The Leasowes and Upper Dorvel House which were built by the Barnsleys and Earnest Gimson on the estate.

Further up the valley Derek visits Sapperton's Parish church, and inside we see the tomb of Sir Robert Atkyns - the famous member of parliament. Outside in the churchyard he shows us the grave of Eugene Rettig who died while riding to hounds in Sherborne Park.

Derek visits the disused Thames and Severn Canal and its massive tunnel. He tells of the Restoration Trust which has been set up with aim of reinstating the canal, and we see the disused tunnel which was the largest ever built when started 1784 at 3817 yards long, and "still the fifth largest canal tunnel in the world".

Daphne Neville with 'Bee' the otter

He then continues on to Daneway with its bridge, pub and abandoned canal basin. We meet Daphne Neville and her pet otter "Bee". Daphne explains how she came to own the creature and tells us of the otter's behaviour. Next stop on the tour is the Cotswold Gliding Club at Aston Down.

Derek then visits Chalford, known locally as "Little Switzerland", and its many weavers cottages. We see the busy Chalford Industrial Estate, and we see the distinctive Round House, once used by the old canal "lengthman" who was in charge of a particular length of water.

Check out the other fascinating films from the 'Day Out' series which were filmed in Gloucestershire by clicking on the links at the top right of this page.