Wandsworth town hall transforms into court building for Mr Bates TV drama

The town hall’s marble hall and staircase – often used as a backdrop for people’s weddings -was chosen by the programme makers as the setting for the drama’s pivotal court case scenes in episode four.

Wandsworth has long been a favourite filming location with Battersea Park a particularly popular choice for filmmakers, appearing in numerous feature films, TV dramas, adverts and publicity shoots.

 

The park also plays host to a number of scenes in the soon-to-be released biopic ‘Bob Marley One Love’ in recognition of the fact that the legendary reggae singer used to regularly play football in the park with his band The Wailers and also go running there.

Later this year ‘Back to Black’ – the new Amy Winehouse biopic – will include scenes shot inside the Clapham Grand in St John's Hill, while series five of popular crime drama Unforgotten captured a number of scenes at the Town Hall, including the rear of the building which appeared as a police station. ‘Unforgotten’, will be returning to Wandsworth Town Hall in April 2024 to film several scenes for series six.

The borough has also been chosen as the location for a number of popular dramas including 24, New Tricks, Silent Witness, Above Suspicion, Killing Eve, The Bodyguard, Not Going Out and The Crown.

The income received from filming helps fund town hall services and keep council tax bills low – and for every pound received by the council, it is estimated that another two pounds is generated for the wider economy with local shops, restaurants and hospitality businesses the main beneficiaries.

Council leader Simon Hogg said: “All the money we generate from granting film licences is ploughed back into frontline services to help ease the burden on local taxpayers and provide a welcome boost to the wider local economy.”

Last year London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote a glowing letter of praise to the council’s film unit applauding its support in the production of a Hollywood blockbuster and the capital’s hugely important film industry.

The Mayor’s letter came after City Hall was contacted by executives at Warner Brothers, who had worked with the council team on location in Clapham Junction and Battersea Park.

The borough’s film office is based in Battersea Park and managed day-to-day by the council’s leisure and culture partner enable, working in close partnership with a range of council departments.    

To find out more please visit www.wandsworth.gov.uk/film or to see images from recent productions visit enable’s instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/wandsworthfilmoffice/