On 3rd May 1999, Upper Church Street was transformed into the Barnet High Street of the 1830s for the filming of a television production of the Dickens novel.
Several dozen villagers were recruited as extras for the shoot and were fitted out with full Victorian costume for the day – including the customary top hats or bonnets!
Angela Sanderson wrote this report of her day as an extra:
“The early May Bank Holiday dawned fine and warm – a wonderful day for relaxing, taking things easy, sitting around in the garden perhaps, but for Charles, Angela and Katie Sanderson this was to be an unusual day. We were about to be transported back to the 1830s, to the days of horses and carts, breeches for the men and long dresses for the women, and hats for all: and to Barnet High Street in particular. Yes, we had been chosen to play 'extras' in the latest film production of Oliver Twist (William, at 6ft 4ins had deemed himself too tall for those days and thought the cricket pitch might be a better bet!).
“As we left Spurt Street to head towards Nether Winchendon, where costumes and make-up were to be donned, what a transformation met our eyes. In a few short hours the top of Upper Church Street had become a village of the 19th century – a dusty dirty road, wooden railings around the Hall, market stalls with fruit, pies, poultry and bread, and sheep and cattle penned and ready for sale. Old lanterns were in place, and there was a wonderful signpost on the green directing people to such places as Hampstead, Richmond and of course to Barnet. It all looked so realistic until, on our return from Nether Winchendon, we saw the group of directors, producers and cameramen together with a large gathering of interested onlookers in very modern dress and many with cameras themselves.
“We extras waited in a group while the director decided who he wanted to play which role and where he wanted us to be. To me it was rather like being picked for a school team – ‘Please don't let me be the last!'. Charles disappeared early with Myles Saker - two smart gentlemen whose job it was to walk slowly up and down Church Street: they set off with a bit of a swagger, but after the 14th or 15th take perhaps that swagger had just the hint of a limp! Katie didn't take very long to find herself a good-looking husband and two children, and spent a happy afternoon in their company - ensuring at all times that they were as near to Oliver as possible – watch out for a pale green dress in some of the close-ups.
“As for myself, it was hardly a role swap – a typical country wife with rosy cheeks, a floral dress and a mob cap. But oh, the stays underneath the dress: definitely shades of Vivian Leigh in 'Gone with the Wind' here (remember the bedpost and the maid pulling tighter and tighter?). However, it wasn't all bad news: I liked the new waistline and the support for a tired back was wonderful, but I'm not sure I'd want to wear them every day!
“I suppose we rehearsed and filmed for about three hours all told, which did become just a little monotonous, but we had to admire the quiet professionalism of the film crew. They were meticulous in their demands, and we had to try to remember exactly where we had been and what we had done in each take so that any re-take would be more or less identical. To liven up my afternoon a bit I managed to conceal a camera underneath my apron so as soon as I heard the word "Cut!" out it would come. I have some good pictures: John Alien makes an excellent squire, Myles and Charles appear to be not altogether trustworthy, and Upper Church Street looks for all the world as if it really was 160 years ago.
“The afternoon was long and tiring, but an experience we were all glad to have: it was a great opportunity to do something none of us had ever done before. A pint at The Crown soon restored out spirits, and now we are wondering when the next film crew will be arriving in Cuddington.”
(Reproduced by kind permission of Village Voice)
Thanks to Peggy Cattell for the photos on the left.