The Thames Estuary is home to a fast-growing network of screen-sector businesses, from gaming, animation and post-production, groundbreaking immersive and virtual technology, through to feature film studios. 

Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust’s Director of Commercial and Operations, Olivia Horner, shared insights with Creative Estuary about The Historic Dockyard Chatham’s role as a popular filming location in the Estuary. 

Could you tell us about The Historic Dockyard Chatham? 

The Historic Dockyard Chatham has been a popular filming location for over 40 years, which is managed by Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust, an independent charity focused on preservation and learning. The site boasts over 100 historic buildings, including listed structures and unique architectural features, making it an ideal backdrop for period dramas and versatile filming needs. Our site’s adaptability allows it to represent locations from Amsterdam to Delhi and London and has been used in major productions such as Marvel films, Mission Impossible, Call the Midwife, and Downton Abbey, as well as music videos and TV appearances.  

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is well-equipped for large crews, offering production offices, spaces for hair, makeup, and crowd holding, plus extensive parking and 24-hour security. Its combination of space, stunning settings, and flexibility makes it an accommodating and secure choice for filmmakers. We have the space, the location and the backdrop and we are really flexible, easy to work with and very accommodating. 

Why do you think being located in the Estuary is beneficial to you? 

Being located in the Estuary offers the advantage of being close to London while providing more space, accessibility, and privacy than major studios in the city. The site can easily double as London, as seen in Call the Midwife, where it was chosen as the official location for its authentic resemblance to historic Poplar. Its proximity to surrounding studios makes it a convenient filming location while maintaining a unique and historically accurate setting that is valuable for productions.  

What are the current challenges or trends in the film industry? 

Trends in the film sector fluctuate, with certain locations becoming more desirable at different times. Currently, the north is preferred over the south due to its green open spaces, which align with the look and feel that location managers are looking for at the moment. However, demand shifts based on specific production needs. While the southeast is less in demand at the moment, the accessibility of the Estuary location has remained a key advantage despite these changing trends. 

What is it like working in Medway? 

Medway Council is incredibly supportive of what we do at the Dockyard. Medway as a whole, really supports one another. For example, when The Crown were filming in Medway, the Dockyard served as the holding area, when they were actually filming in Rochester. We are all very open and very supportive in terms of working together and supporting one another.  

What is next for The Historic Dockyard Chatham? 

We are continuing to operate our highly popular and successful Call the Midwife location tours, resuming in March with fully booked tours already in place. Additionally, we are very keen to launch a new, more general film location tour, showcasing the site’s history in film and television. This will highlight how the Dockyard has been used as a filming location over the years, sharing behind-the-scenes stories and industry insights with visitors.