BS: UK TV Series Jericho

Subject: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 03:23 AM

It started on ITV1 last night and runs for 8 weeks I believe. I rather enjoyed it and it caught my eye because it is set in the shanty town of Jericho, one of the temporary communities created during the building of the Ribblehead viaduct, a place I know very well on the Settle to Carlisle railway. In fact, we will be there for the weekend in about 6 weeks. I discovered that the series was filmed mainly in Huddersfield but a lot of the background scenery was definitely in the 3 Peaks area as the outline of Pen-y-Ghent (I think!) could be seen quite clearly at some point.

Anyway. Well filmed and well acted with some stunning backdrops. It has been described as a 'Western' set in the Yorkshire Dales, complete with saloon, brothel, sex and violence. Mrs G has read the book it was based on and says that was very good too.

One point I did notice, knowing a bit about folk music, is that at one point the Navvies were singing 'Step it out Mary'. As the show is set in the 1870s and said song was written by Sean McCarthy who was not born until 50 years later it was a bit incongruous. Bit of lazy research? I suspect some of the train and track scenes may give train buffs something to talk about too! Still, I suppose we can forgive them as long as the rest of the series is a good as the opener. :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,Brewgyrl
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 05:05 AM

May be also worth pointing out that the singing was led by John Tams, and that next week's episode includes both Tams & Sandra Kerr.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,Geoff the Duck
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 05:08 AM

John Tams listed on creits as Songbird. I couldn't decide if we saw his face, but definitely heard him singing.
Also expect to see Chris Parkinson playing melodeo in some other scene (someone posted a behind the scenes picture on facebook).
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 05:21 AM

I knew I recognised that voice! :-)

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,ced2
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 07:48 AM

The three hills & mountains outlined but not reproduced accurately on the left hand side of a number of shots are Park Fell (Hill), Simon Fell and Ingleborough (both mountains). On the right hand side of at least one shot was the ridge route from Whernside down to Ingleton.
It was clearly not shot in the Ribblehead area as the rock there at that level is carboniferous limestone and Ribblehead viaduct is built of what was locally called "Dent Marble" which is also a limestone. Another give away was walling in a couple of shots which was either sand or gritstone and not as, around Ribblehead, limestone. A nice walk is to take the Horton Road from Ribblehead, turn right past the railway cottages and then follow the path up over those three hills and come down from Ingleborough via the 3 peaks track to Chapel le dale, cross the valley to examine St Leonards Church at Chapel le Dale where many of the navvies and their families were buried, particularly after one terrible cholera outbreak. Then walk back to Ribblehead along either the footpath on the Whernside side of the Valley (or go via Whernside itself on the 3 peaks track.

Much information about the railway at Ribblehead is available at the visitor centre at the station if it is open, it is run by volunteers and although it is open on a daily basis(volunteers being available) in summer winter openings may be more problematical. They have displays about a number of aspects as well as selling books, other memorabilia and doing cups of tea. Much information about Ribblehead, the building of the viaduct and the railway can be got from Peter Baughn's "North of Leeds" the history of the Midland Railway from Leeds to Carlisle,(bit heavy going). The late Bill Mitchell, once editor of the Dalesman, has written an excellent book "Thunder in the Mountains". He also wrote (& produced) a number of earlier books on navvy shanty towns and Settle & Carlisle Railway.

The contractor's locomotive was Sir Berkeley Manning Wardle, works no 1210, built in 1981 in Leeds (25 years after the S&C opened to the public). Thatloco is owned by the Vintage Carriages Trust based at Ingrow near Keighley, but I believe it is currently on loan to the Middleton Railway in Leeds. Clearly there as been a lot of work done on the computer to miss-match railway and shanty scenes with the location at Ribblehead. And that bit could have done without a sight of a standard BR brakevan complete with number in Bauxite red. I think the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway may also have be used for the shots of the carriages, looked like part of their vintage train.

However to be fair to the programme they only give strong hint of Ribblehead. The scenario of the"midland" needing to link up with the London line is totally fictitious. The problem the Midland had was getting to Carlisle & Scotland as the LNWR messed them about at Low Gill, the Settle Carlisle being built to avoid that difficulty... full story in Mr Baughn's book.

Thought I recognised the singer's voice not changed much since the "Sharpe" series.

However I enjoyed last night's first episode despite the awful ham fisted attempts it make it look like Ribblehead. Looking forward to the next 7 episodes. Maybe they will do a sequel based on the other nearby major piece of S&C engineering... Blea Moor Tunnel....now that could be a dark series!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 08:47 AM

Brilliant info, ced2 - I mistook Ingleborough for Pen-y-Ghent. From some angles they are certainly similar. So, if we are looking at Park Fell, Simon Fell and Ingleborough on the left we must be near Ribblehead station. I was wonderining if any filming was done around there and was going to ask the landlord or staff of the Station Inn, when we next go.

You are quite right about most of it not being at Ribblehead - It is, in the main filmed around Huddersfield and Jericho itself was built in an old quary in the same area.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 09:09 AM

Did we see the family being evicted from Norah Batty's house at the start?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 09:35 AM

How ya doing ced2 ?

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 10:48 AM

There are quite a lot of them, Manitas, and they seem pretty widespread across Yorkshire. I didn't realise until we moved here ourselves. Our daughters now live in 4 story back to back that used to be an over and under dwelling! That is good way from Holmfirth :-)

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: ced2
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 11:51 AM

I thought the opening sequence was filmed in Heptonstall. Maybe Dave Hanson might recognise the place. The powers that be discourage driving through the village, the car park is at the bottom of that main street.

It seems to have been shot trying to use the perspective from the northern end of Ribblehead viaduct. If you were to follow the gravel track towards the viaduct and then keep straight on where it swings under the viaduct, ie follow the 3peaks track, you will, I think, be able to vizualise the viewpoint that they had tried to create. Far from being a deserted place in the summer there are usually over 30 cars parked around the place during the day and there is often a tea van parked there. Often on a summer Saturday there will be over 100 walkers doing the Yorkshire 3 peaks.

If the series creates interest in the labours of those who worked on the S & C, particularly during its building, that would be good. They were hard people who's lives were shortened by accidents, diseases and the harshness of the life they had to follow. I take my hast off to them.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 01:37 PM

Heptonstall is a very interesting place with the old ruined church in the grounds of the new one. The churchyard also houses Sylvia Plath's grave which usually has a host of Goth or Emo girls searching for it! Not surprised they want to keep traffic off the main street - It is very narrow and bumpy.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 08 Jan 16 - 05:49 PM

I was trying to work out what locos they could have used that date from the right period and the list is really small.
Using Sir Berkley as a contractor's loco is about as close as you will get without a major restoration exercise!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 02:28 AM

I watched it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it, a lot of the location looked familiar, the opening scenes definately looked like Heptonstall.

Dave H

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 03:54 PM

What is the running time without commercials I wonder - 40 minutes??

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 05:59 PM

Try to work it out, Bozo. 90 minutes allowed and you reckon over half of it was adverts? Did you actually see it or have you just seen your own arse? It started at 9pm and finished around 10:25. Had, what, 5 or so ad breaks totalling 20 minutes or so. 65 minutes of pretty good entertainment. Why would you make up an unfounded criticism?

Some people...

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 06:36 PM

60 minutes was it not you nice pleasant man?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,wombat
Date: 09 Jan 16 - 09:13 PM

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/tv-crews-descend-golcar-film-9333073

Most of the opening scenes were in Giolcar, specifically at the Cvolne valley museum and the syrreet scene was Cliffe Ashe. I recognised it from when we lived nearby and then checked article from Huddersfield Examiner, see link above

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 12:26 AM

I need a new western series to watch now that my current favourite "Hell on Wheels" is starting season 5
which is most probably the last ever... 😢

TV Sci Fi is sort of ok.. but mostly done to death these days...
Dr Who is overstaying it's welcome and needs to be cancelled for another 20 years...

"Strike Back" was proper job bloke's telly.. but that's gone now..

I will soon be desperate for a seriously mean and nasty western series...

That's what I want.. I don't even care if they talk in Yorkshire accents..

Is Jericho what I'm looking for... ???

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST,Theleveller
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 03:11 AM

BONZ, running time without commercials would have been zero because it wouldn't have been made in the first place.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 04:12 AM

Absolutely!!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 05:11 AM

Just checked the ITV player on my tablet and it says running time 65 minutes! Good guess :-)

But whether it was 65 or 60 is pretty irrelevant compared to the initial 40 minute estimate. Why would anyone make things liken that up?

Anyhow. All academic. It seems to be a good show. If you the adverts annoy you so much the answer is simple. Watch it on catch up.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 05:49 AM

I assumed that each episode would be around 60 minutes, so I was not far out on my estimate of commercials time really.

We never watch off air, always record to Freesat hard disc so we can ignore the adverts!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Jan 16 - 06:13 AM

Even by your 60 minute estimate you were 20 minutes out. That is 50% over your initial estimate or 30% below your revised one which was low anyway. Glad you do not do my budgeting :-) So, adverts do not matter to you. Why even bother criticising the series for them then?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: ced2
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 07:42 AM

I have more info on the railway scenes. They were all shot on the Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway. A black loocomotive was specified and as there were no suitable black locos there and the owners of any that were there that might have been made suitable were not prepared to have them repainted, the E&BAR hired Sir Berekely from the Middleton.
The carriages used were some of those restored by Stephen Middleton at the railway. A considerable amount of work was done by the filming company to remove modern fencing and replace it with period materials as well as building 2 or 3 new wooden crossings of a beck. I was told how much some of the "dressing" work cost so I am not surprised that advertising seemed to be maximised!
There is one locomotive, currently in running order and operational, that was built before the dates of the story. It is Furness Railway no 20 an 0-4-0 tender loco, built by Sharp, Stewart & Co in Manchester in 1863 (works no 1448) . However that would have been completely wrong, design had moved on greatly and most contractors used tank locos. The outline shape of Sir Berkeley is right, the Manning Wardle design keeping many traceable aspects.
Other locos that could have been used are few, Belerophon, also owned by VCT is slightly older than Sir Berkely and currently operational. One that would have been operational near the time of building the Ribblehead viaduct is Hodbarrow (HE299) built by Hunslet in 1882 at the next door works to Manning Wardle on Jack Lane in Leeds. It worked at the Hodbarrow Mining Co in Millom. A preserved loco that would have been around towards the end of at the time of the building of the Ribblehead viaduct that is of the sort of size etc that most contractors had, is Black Hawthorn no 6 built in 1874 that is in the National Railway Museum in York but is not operational and is in conserved condition.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 09:01 AM

You, ced2, are a mine of useful information :-) Many thanks for finding out and posting the details here.

I live within 10 miles of Embsay but do not visit half as often as I would like. Last time was September just gone when there was a 1940's weekend. I did notice some changes but did not particularly twig what they were about. Next fine weekend - I'll be there!

The other thing I found interesting was the mention of Hodbarrow. It figured very largely in my life when the kids were little as we used to holiday nearly every year at Haverigg, just outside Millom. The walk from Haverigg to Hodbarrow was a favourite. The beach at Hodbarrow Point was great for the kids with lots of sand, rock pools and even a very safe 'cave' which was, I think, part of the old mineworkings. Which loco was it that was based there so I can astound the Mrs with my knowledge? :-)

Thanks again for the info and for the memories!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: ced2
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 09:27 AM

The loco works number HE 299 (HE being for Hunslet Engine Co.) was given the name Hodbarrow. Many industrial locos were named (and possibly numbered) after the name of the workplace where they worked. This small 0-4-0 tank engine was built by the Hunslet Engine Co at their works in Jack Lane in the Hunslet Area of Leeds and it seems to be the oldest one of theirs that has survived. It worked all its active life at Hodbarrow and was sold back to Hunslet when the mines were closed in 1968. It has been cosmetically restored by the Statfold Barn owner who also now owns the Hunslet name and has produced a number of new narrow gauge locos operating on various nominal 2ft gauge lines.
This into is from Statfold and the Heritage Railway Association. Knowledge and use of it may render the user liable to the title of anorak! I'm just off to hang mine on the peg!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: greg stephens
Date: 11 Jan 16 - 11:30 AM

Hodbarrow was where my family worked when the mines were open in Millom. Great place. I used to play on the old unused beam engine there after the mines closed. It's been moved now, alas.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 10:48 AM

Impressed by the costumes - so far, they seem pretty authentic, with no zips or velcro to be seen.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Les in Chorlton
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 10:55 AM

Brilliant series. A bit like "The Village" - light/lite. IMHO - but then I think The Village is one of the best pieces of drama ever to appear on TV.

I think John Tams was at the back in the burial scene

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 11:20 AM

I thought it was him... bloody TV station shrinks the credits to advertise the next programme, just when you want to read them. Why can't they do it when they're telling you the name of the producer and his dog...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 12 Jan 16 - 05:49 PM

Yes it was John Tams!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 16 Jan 16 - 10:41 AM

Less than 20 seconds of Nancy Kerr in episode 3, but good to see her never the less!

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 Jan 16 - 06:08 AM

Enjoyed episode 2 as well. I spotted John Tams but didn't realise the singer at the Whitsun do was Nancy Kerr until later. Forgot to mention earlier that Clarke Peters (Ralph Coates) was interviewed on the Radio the other day. Sounds a really interesting and knowledgeable bloke.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 11:11 AM

I was at Ribblehead yesterday afternoon attempting to get some video of a steam train, it was over 1 hr late and darkness beat the attempt. However as I stood on the Southbound platform and looked at Ingleborough, Simon Fell and Park fell I realised that this was shot of the background used in the scenes showing the building of the viaduct. As that work was the northern end of Ribblehead viaduct and the station is after an embankment at the southern end some half mile south, the perspective is all wrong. I think the same is true for the occasional view of the Whernside ridge. Bet they never got any muck on their boots. Still its a good watch.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: fat B****rd
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 02:47 PM

Thank you DTG for reminding me that Mr. Peters is an interesting and knowledgeable bloke. Indeed he is!. Well worth checking out. I loved him in The Wire and Treme. He's also been a backing vocalist ,writer and performer.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 31 Jan 16 - 04:37 PM

Guest, was the steam engine in question 46233 Duchess of Sutherland by any chance?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: ced2
Date: 01 Feb 16 - 06:28 AM

I mucked up my login when I posted yesterday so I appeared as guest, (but been called worse things). Yes, bonzo3legs, it was 46322. Real time train info showed it as being 80 min late at one stage. though by the time it got back to London it was only about 15min late thanks mainly to electric traction on the run from Preston.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 16 - 05:22 PM

Just watched the last of the series and spotted 3 more folky things. Geoff Higginbottom shook hands with Clarke Peters (Ralph Coates - Railway agent) just outside the mine (Yea, OK, mining for stone in the Yorkshire Dales? Hmmmm) The singer at the wedding sounded very familiar although I did not see her - Maybe Nancy Kerr again? And, during the wedding song, what looked suspiciously like my concertina! As i had it up at Ribblehead last weekend I wonder if it escaped while I wasn't looking...

Enjoyable series. Looking forward to the next.

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 16 - 05:35 PM

BTW - Thought I saw John Tams in the credits as musical director or some such but cannot see that on IMDB. Maybe I dreamt it. Anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 25 Feb 16 - 05:35 PM

BTW - Thought I saw John Tams in the credits as musical director or some such but cannot see that on IMDB. Maybe I dreamt it. Anyone know?

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Feb 16 - 02:48 AM

Whoops! I appear to have hiccups!

:-D

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: ced2
Date: 26 Feb 16 - 06:17 AM

Yes Looks like it is set up for series 2, good!
Know of many metal mines (lead & whatever else the could get) in the dales, been in bits of some, but know of no stone mines, think you are right there DTG. I have been in a stone mine near Bingley, W Yorks. Very scary, roof looked decidedly bad.. did not stop long. Always felt safe potholing but very unsafe in that place.
Are you sure your squeeze box did not sneak off for a quick trip down the little known "Concertina Pot" that requires the intrepid to cross the Wheatstone Bridge (spanning a deep chasm) to get to the sump???

Subject: RE: BS: UK TV Series Jericho
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 Feb 16 - 08:01 AM

It may well have, ced :-) Good pun and on the button. Maybe that pot goes bellow ground as well?

:D tG