May 2024 Location Visit - Chepstow Castle

On the Monday following the 40th Anniversary Herne's Arrow event, Lucy and I, and four like minded fans stopped off at Chepstow Castle intending to check out the locations used in Robin of Sherwood. The construction of the castle was started in 1067 by Earl William fitz Osbern, who was close friend of William the Conqueror, making it one of the first Norman strongholds in Wales. The castle was the centre of power for a number of Earls before declining in importance after the Civil War. The photo below is looking from the car park.

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There is a carpark in front of the castle with reasonable parking rates £3 for 4 hours. There are also loos at the car park, should you be visiting the castle from some distance and needing a comfort break! Chepstow Castle is opposite, it is an impressive structure still and was used in the filming of three Robin of Sherwood episodes. 

Robin Hood and the Sorcerer - Belleme's 'Star' Chapel to Azael.

The Enchantment - For Castle Belleme

and in

The Inheritance - as Caerleon

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Looking out along the river.

For Robin Hood and the Sorcerer, the Wine Cellar/storeroom overlooking the river was used for his chapel to conduct his rituals. The distinctive wall structure and roof supports are quite clearly visible. This room gets also used in the later episodes as the same location in the Enchantment.

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Communing with the Lord Azael

For the episode the Enchantment, the middle and eastern section of the castle was mainly used.  The main location points are numbered as per the image below:

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1. West bank of river Gisburne and Ralph observe window and the 'eye'
2. Castle Store room/Wine Cellar - Room where Ralph descends to get the eye, also room where Belleme confronts the Sheriff and Gisburne.
3. Stair and adjoining corridor. Used by cast to access Belleme's chambers, also area where ceiling collapses on the merries and where Gisburne surrenders the jewels.
4. Point between wall and tower where the Sheriff and Gisburne enter the castle (looking towards main entrance). Reverse Angle - looking into the castle where Robin and Lilith enter the castle. The Merries also are filmed passing this point from various angles entering the castle and leaving.
5. Window where Belleme appears casts magic and launches the silver arrow at Loxley. Adjacent path next to great hall is where Sheriff and Gisburne ride into Castle Belleme.
6. Castle walls where much of the fighting occurs between the Merries and the Sheriff's men and Belleme and Loxley. (Both at top and in the bailey below)
7. Perimeter path, Robin and Lilith recount events relating to the sacking of Castle Belleme.

2. Exterior - Ivy has grown somewhat over the past 40 years!
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Ralph "Fell"

2. Interior - Distinctive window, where Gisburne and Ralph look out, towards the river and the eye.
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Ralph is a little too trusting!

3. Stair and Adjoining Corridor
Stair and corridor from the store/wine cellar was used by various characters accessing Belleme's chamber. Gisburne descends before meeting Belleme. Later with the Sheriff, Also Robin, Lilith and later the rest of the merries.

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Upper Stairwell

At the bottom is the corridor which uses a board to obscure a window, making it look more dingy. The same area is also used where the 'ceiling' collapses on the merries.

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Little John is a bit dusty.

Beyond this is a 2nd stair leading down to Belleme's chamber.
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Looks a lot brighter without the set dressing!

4. Entrance to inner bailey
This area with high walls either sides  was filmed at several angles. For Robin and Lilith entering the castle proper. The Sheriff, Gisburne and men arriving on horseback and the rest of the merries both entering and leaving Castle Belleme.

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Edward and the merries depart Castle Belleme

5. Large Window of Great Hall
This large window was where Belleme strikes Loxley with magic, unleashes the silver arrow. The window sill is quite high. The set people would have needed to build a platform and provide a ladder for Anthony Valentine to perform from this location!

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Windows get clean with Windolene!

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Entrance from doorway

6. Main Bailey and Southeastern curtain wall.
This long length of wall was used for the various fight scenes between the Merries and the Normans, close up shots of individual duelling and Robin being struck by dark magic from Belleme.

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Robin Contronts Belleme

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Scarlet and Nasir fighting in the main bailey

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The main bailey 2024 note the distinctive wall features!

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Sheriff, Gisburne and soldiers

7. Exterior path, outside castle SW corner.
Initial approach scene outside Castle Belleme with Robin and Lilith, before they reach the main gate.

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Robin and Marion approach castle Belleme
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Similar angle some 40 years later!

For the episode, the Inheritance, the western portion and secondary gate were mainly used. Although the Wine Cellar storeroom was used for King Arthur's feasting hall. (which was Belleme's chamber in the Enchantment - #2) Also the adjoining corridor and stair which Much traversed when investigating.

Locations for the Inheritance as marked as shown.
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1. Storeroom as Arthur's Hall
This is the same location used for Belleme's chapel and the room where Gisburne and Ralph locate the jewels.

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Where's the party?
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The bulk of the episode exteriors was filmed towards the western gate.

2. The approach path
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3. Rear gatehouse
The rear gate, where an impressive wooden ramp was constructed. About head height connected the ground level up to the gateway opening. This ramp no longer exists but its tallest extent was almost head height, the change in height is considerable!
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Today the gate is at head height from the ground
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At the time of filming an impressive access ramp was constructed.

This is also the same location where Robin is shot.
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Directly opposite the gateway, up a slope is where Robin meets the merries after being shot and asks for a sword.

4. Outer bailey and gatehouse
The bailey itself where the sword fight later occurs. Also the gate leading out to the ramp.

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Ruffians enter
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Checking the defenses!

5. Inner wall and wooden bridge
Inside the castle we have the inner bridge where the fires were light
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6. Ruined tower
Also the tower with the ruined wall, where Robin fights bandits and runs down stairs
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Take that!
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The curtain wall, above the bailey where Isadora, Robin and Much loose their arrows onto the cutthroats
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7. Curtain wall
The curtain wall where Scarlet scales the wall and enters the castle. This is clearly Chepstow and not Caldicot Castle. (Note the shape of the tower and wall elevation profile)

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Now
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Look a shooting star!

All in all Chepstow Castle is a great place to visit, with some lovely walking along the Wye Valley Trail. I'm not sure if if the far side of the river is available for public access. But I will do some investigation and if possible check it out on a future visit. Just remember your rain gear, it is Wales after all! Although the sun shone for us that day! In which case remember a hat especially if you're like me, lacking hair coverage!