“StarTrek to Mapledurham” read the notice board on the wall of the Medieval Church in the quaint English Village of Mapledurham a few miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city of Reading.This yellowing old press cutting on the church wall was giving a glimpse into the glamourous past that this sleepy hamlet indeed had that few may be aware of.In fact this classic olde worlde village with its alms houses ,village church,Mapledurham House and village watermill has had quite a blast so to speak and is quite a location in film mythology and well worth a visit.
One would be quite forgiven asking for the local pub known as the” Spyglass and kettle”, well known from its famous past, for it along with its row of shops in fact never existed, other than as part of a grand film set built in 1976 for that classic World War 2 film known as THE EAGLE HAS LANDED written by Jack Higgins.
A fan of the book and the film I set out with a newly aquired travel camera the Lumix LX7 with a 24mm f1.4 lens to take a look at what remains today.
A classic film from the golden age of all star cinema ,THE EAGLE HAS LANDED,starred Michael Caine as the leader of a renegade German Paratrooper special forces team tasked with kidnapping Winston Churchill in a Norfolk village known as Studley Constable disguised as Polish soldiers on a training exercise.Based on the many myths that arose after the war it derives its legend from the famous military unit that rescued Mussolini from his mountain top prison after a glider assault by the newly developed Fallschirmjager paratrooper unit that blazed a trail during the war.
The all star cast included Donald Sutherland,Larry Hagman,Robert Duvall,Jenny Agutter,Donald Pleasence and Anthony Quail among many others.
During the film the locals discover the real identity of the disguised paratroopers after one of them meets a gory end when trying to save a young child after it falls into the water near the waterwheel and culminates in a huge shootout when American Rangers led by Larry Hagman roll into town. During the firefight a Jeep ends up crashing into the river near the water wheel and a rolling firefight spreads through the town to its ultimate climax at the local church.
Its a film full of intrigue and action and in my opinion one of the best from the 70’s.
Today the village has returned to its quaint former self and you are more likely to have a pleasant cream tea at the nearby Mapledurham House than dodge bullets and hand grenades.
The” Spyglass and Kettle” was in a position just in front of the church along with a row of shops in the position of the car park opposite the church.A false front was built on the front of the water mill and in fact blown up during the filming.
All in it makes a great afternoon out especially if you watch the film first and let your imagination run wild.
I’m still trying to find the secret passage way in the church.
There are film stills here as well:http://www.reelstreets.com/index.php?option=com_films&task=view&id=270&film_ref=eagle_has_landed&limitstart=10
enjoy.
Wabisabipix 