The Flaxton Boys
Encyclopedia
The Flaxton Boys is a British
historical children's television series
set in the West Riding of Yorkshire
and covering a timespan of almost a century. The series was made by Yorkshire Television
and was broadcast on ITV
between 1969 and 1973, running for 4 series and 52 episodes, each of 30 minutes duration. The Flaxton Boys had a number of different scriptwriters, was produced by Jess Yates
and Robert D. Cardona
, and directed mainly by Cardona (45 episodes). Each of the series was set in a different era, spanning the years 1854 to 1945.
portrays Barnaby Sweet in series 2 and Sweet's son Benjamin in series 3 and 4, while Richard Gale plays Sir Peregrine Stilgoe in series 1, Stilgoe's ward Sir Tarquin in series 2, and Miles Osborne in series 3. A constant element through all four series is narration
by Gerry Cowan, who appears as Jacklin Flaxton in series 2.
. His wife Lucy and son Jonathan inherit the dilapidated Flaxton Hall, an imposing crenellated
and ivy-covered property in the Yorkshire countryside. Jonathan befriends a local boy, Archie Weekes, and the pair spend their free time exploring. Local legend maintains that a great treasure is concealed somewhere within Flaxton Hall or its grounds, and this spikes the interest and attention of the area's avaricious, ruthless and unprincipled villain Sir Peregrine Stilgoe, who hires three convicts to assist him in locating the treasure. Jonathan and Archie find themselves in constant danger, but manage to keep one step ahead of Sir Peregrine in his machinations. A side-plot involves a strange ghostly female figure, reputed to haunt the local churchyard. The series ends with the safe return from the Crimea of Andrew Flaxton, who puts a swift end to Sir Peregrine's villainy and himself finds the treasure, which promises the family a secure and stable future.
Cast
Episodes
, and the escape of an unhappy and lovelorn young servant girl, assisted by the two boys.
Cast
Episodes
, and his widow Jane now lives at the Hall. Their son Jonathan returns home from boarding school for the summer holidays, accompanied by his friend William Pickford. The boys befriend a local character, the feckless but well-meaning Benjamin Sweet. The Stilgoes have vanished from the scene and their former home, Stilgoe Lodge, is now in a state of advanced neglect and decay. The Lodge is to be renovated and turned into an orphanage, and Jonathan and William volunteer their holiday services in assisting with the reconstruction. However things do not go to plan, as a steady stream of workmen are frightened away from the Lodge after claiming to have witnessed hauntings and other supernatural phenomena. Jonathan and William, with the help of Benjamin, eventually discover that the supposed hauntings are fake, having been masterminded by a Stilgoe family connection, Miles Osborne, to prevent the Lodge from being redeveloped. The series ends with the boys returning to school as the summer holiday ends.
Cast
Episodes
comes to an end. During the war Flaxton Hall has been requisitioned for use as an army facility. Matthew Flaxton befriends Terry Nichols, an evacuee
from London
who has no home to return to following the death of his parents in a bombing raid. Storylines in this series centre on suspicions of spies being operational in the Carliston area and the boys' interaction with enemy combatants being held as prisoners of war
in the locality. The series closes as the troops prepare to leave Flaxton Hall as the war draws to its end. It is implied that Terry will find a permanent home at Flaxton Hall with Matthew and his family.
Cast
Episodes
. The castle owner, Sir Thomas Ingilby
, credited the series for a dramatic rise in visitor numbers, turning the establishment from a local into a regional attraction.
The memorable theme tune for the series was provided by an excerpt from Sergei Prokofiev
's Classical Symphony
. Episodes were originally broadcast early on Sunday evenings, at the time the traditional "family" timeslot in the UK for historical drama made for children but with appeal to an adult audience also.
The Flaxton Boys continued to be repeated on various networks both in the UK and overseas until the early 1990s. However the series has never been released commercially to VHS or DVD format, although it is understood to be fully extant in the Yorkshire Television archives.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
historical children's television series
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
set in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
and covering a timespan of almost a century. The series was made by Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
and was broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between 1969 and 1973, running for 4 series and 52 episodes, each of 30 minutes duration. The Flaxton Boys had a number of different scriptwriters, was produced by Jess Yates
Jess Yates
Jess Yates was a British television presenter and producer...
and Robert D. Cardona
Robert D. Cardona
Robert D. Cardona is an American writer, producer, director and animator. Cardona co-founded Clearwater Features, along with David Mitton, in 1980.-Career:...
, and directed mainly by Cardona (45 episodes). Each of the series was set in a different era, spanning the years 1854 to 1945.
Plot, cast and episodes
The series is set at Flaxton Hall, located near the fictional Yorkshire village of Carliston. Each series follows the exploits and adventures of a different generation of boys, in 1854, 1890, 1928 and 1945 respectively. The main protagonists in each series are a young member of the Flaxton line and his closest friend, both portrayed as being around 14 years old. Storylines are drawn mainly from the traditional staples of the Boys' Adventure genre, including plot elements such as hidden treasure, cryptic clues to be solved, ghostly apparitions, malign and unscrupulous villains, and spies. Each series is essentially self-contained in terms of cast and character. However two lead actors feature in more than one series – Victor WindingVictor Winding
Victor Winding is a British actor born in London on Winding was educated at Westminster Technical Institute and initially trained as a draughtsman but acted in amateur dramatics and taught drama at night school. In 1958, aged 29, he joined Farnham Repertory Theatre. The Castle Theatre was opened...
portrays Barnaby Sweet in series 2 and Sweet's son Benjamin in series 3 and 4, while Richard Gale plays Sir Peregrine Stilgoe in series 1, Stilgoe's ward Sir Tarquin in series 2, and Miles Osborne in series 3. A constant element through all four series is narration
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
by Gerry Cowan, who appears as Jacklin Flaxton in series 2.
Series 1 (1969)
It is 1854, and Captain Andrew Flaxton is posted as missing in the Crimean WarCrimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
. His wife Lucy and son Jonathan inherit the dilapidated Flaxton Hall, an imposing crenellated
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
and ivy-covered property in the Yorkshire countryside. Jonathan befriends a local boy, Archie Weekes, and the pair spend their free time exploring. Local legend maintains that a great treasure is concealed somewhere within Flaxton Hall or its grounds, and this spikes the interest and attention of the area's avaricious, ruthless and unprincipled villain Sir Peregrine Stilgoe, who hires three convicts to assist him in locating the treasure. Jonathan and Archie find themselves in constant danger, but manage to keep one step ahead of Sir Peregrine in his machinations. A side-plot involves a strange ghostly female figure, reputed to haunt the local churchyard. The series ends with the safe return from the Crimea of Andrew Flaxton, who puts a swift end to Sir Peregrine's villainy and himself finds the treasure, which promises the family a secure and stable future.
Cast
- Peter FirthPeter FirthPeter Firth is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks, of which he is the only actor to have starred in every episode of the show's 10 series lifespan...
– Archie Weekes - David Smith – Jonathan Flaxton
- Penelope Lee – Lucy Flaxton
- Richard Gale – Sir Peregrine Stilgoe
- James Hayter – Nathan
- Molly Urquhart – Flora
- Peter Clay – Capt. Andrew Flaxton
Episodes
- The Deserter (21 September 1969)
- The Dog (28 September 1969)
- The Watcher (5 October 1969)
- The Tutor (12 October 1969)
- The Smugglers (19 October 1969)
- The Seafarer (26 October 1969)
- The Patient (2 November 1969)
- The Witches (9 November 1969)
- The Bridge (16 November 1969)
- The Hunt (23 November 1969)
- The Island (30 November 1969)
- The Will (7 December 1969)
- The Return (14 December 1969)
Series 2 (1970)
It is now 1890. Andrew Flaxton is now an old man, and his son Jonathan is revealed to have disappeared in unknown circumstances some years earlier. Jonathan's son Jacklin now lives at the Hall, and his best friend is Peter Weekes, the son of Archie and his wife Sarah. Sir Peregrine is now dead, but his villainy lives on in the shape of his erstwhile ward Sir Tarquin, who is plotting to take over the Hall in order to gain access to the large reserves of coal which lie beneath its grounds and whose ambitions are constantly thwarted by the alertness and bravery of Jacklin and Peter. Other storylines include a feud between two local Chinese Tong organisationsTong (organization)
The word tong means "hall" or "gathering place". In North America a tong is a type of organization found among Chinese living in the United States and Canada. These organizations are described as secret societies or sworn brotherhoods and are often tied to criminal activity...
, and the escape of an unhappy and lovelorn young servant girl, assisted by the two boys.
Cast
- David BradleyDavid (Dai) BradleyDavid Bradley , now professionally known as Dai Bradley, is an English actor who became well known for his first time role of Billy Casper in the critically acclaimed 1968 film Kes, directed by Ken Loach.-"Kes":...
– Peter Weekes - Gerry Cowan – Jacklin Flaxton
- Victor WindingVictor WindingVictor Winding is a British actor born in London on Winding was educated at Westminster Technical Institute and initially trained as a draughtsman but acted in amateur dramatics and taught drama at night school. In 1958, aged 29, he joined Farnham Repertory Theatre. The Castle Theatre was opened...
– Barnaby Sweet - Richard Gale – Sir Tarquin Stilgoe
- Philip Maskery – David Stilgoe
- Hugh CrossHugh Cross-Selected filmography:* Just William's Luck * William Comes to Town * Warning to Wantons * Seven Days to Noon * Svengali * The Court Martial of Major Keller...
– Archie Weekes - Lila KayeLila KayeLila Kaye is a retired British actress. She spent a number of years working in the United States, on Broadway and in television, before returning to the U.K....
– Sarah Weekes - Moultrie KelsallMoultrie KelsallMoultrie Rowe Kelsall was a Scottish film and television character actor, who began his career in the industry as a radio station director and television producer...
– Andrew Flaxton
Episodes
- The Meeting (20 September 1970)
- The Globe (27 September 1970)
- The Heir (4 October 1970)
- The Letter (11 October 1970)
- The Diary (18 October 1970)
- The Locket (25 October 1970)
- The Valentine (1 November 1970)
- The Conspiracy (8 November 1970)
- The Messenger (15 November 1970)
- The Discovery (22 November 1970)
- The Attempt (29 November 1970)
- The Homecoming (6 December 1970)
- The Solution (13 December 1970)
Series 3 (1971)
The year is 1928. Jacklin Flaxton was killed in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and his widow Jane now lives at the Hall. Their son Jonathan returns home from boarding school for the summer holidays, accompanied by his friend William Pickford. The boys befriend a local character, the feckless but well-meaning Benjamin Sweet. The Stilgoes have vanished from the scene and their former home, Stilgoe Lodge, is now in a state of advanced neglect and decay. The Lodge is to be renovated and turned into an orphanage, and Jonathan and William volunteer their holiday services in assisting with the reconstruction. However things do not go to plan, as a steady stream of workmen are frightened away from the Lodge after claiming to have witnessed hauntings and other supernatural phenomena. Jonathan and William, with the help of Benjamin, eventually discover that the supposed hauntings are fake, having been masterminded by a Stilgoe family connection, Miles Osborne, to prevent the Lodge from being redeveloped. The series ends with the boys returning to school as the summer holiday ends.
Cast
- Alan Guy – Jonathan Flaxton
- Veronica HurstVeronica HurstVeronica Hurst is an English motion picture, stageand television actress who was born in Malta. She was raised in Tooting, South London, England...
– Lady Jane Flaxton - John Ash – William Pickford
- Heather Page – Mary Porter
- Nicholas PennellNicholas PennellNicholas Pennell was an English actor who appeared frequently on film and television in the 1960s and emigrated to Stratford, Ontario, Canada where he became a stalwart of the Stratford Festival.He was educated at Allhallows College, Lyme Regis and trained at RADA. He then appeared in repertory...
– Rev. Albemarle Dobson Partridge - Victor Winding – Benjamin Sweet
- Richard Gale – Miles Osborne
- Royston TicknerRoyston TicknerRoyston Tickner was a British actor.He was born in Leicester and trained as an actor at Scarborough repertory theatre...
– Sgt. Cornfield - Gorden KayeGorden KayeGorden Kaye is a BAFTA-nominated English comic actor, best known for playing René Artois in the British TV comedy Allo 'Allo!.-Early life:...
– P.C. Joseph - John RinghamJohn RinghamJohn Henry Ringham was a British character actor of both television and stage who appeared in over a hundred screen appearances in a wide variety of roles....
– Mr. Jackson - Terry ScullyTerry ScullyTerry Scully was a British theatre and television actor.After making his name in the theatre, from the 1960s onwards he became more known for TV work...
– Mr. Wilkinson
Episodes
- All on a Summer's Day (19 September 1971)
- A Quiet Sunday (26 September 1971)
- A Fête Worse Than... (3 October 1971)
- Snake in the Grass (10 October 1971)
- In and Out of Hiding (17 October 1971)
- The Fastest Gun in the West Riding (24 October 1971)
- Trouble in the Air (31 October 1971)
- To See...A Fine House (7 November 1971)
- Things That Go Bump (14 November 1971)
- The Ghost Catchers (21 November 1971)
- The Lady in White (28 November 1971)
- Down a Long Black Hole (5 December 1971)
- Goodbye, Summer - Goodbye (12 December 1971)
Series 4 (1973)
The final series takes place in 1945, as World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
comes to an end. During the war Flaxton Hall has been requisitioned for use as an army facility. Matthew Flaxton befriends Terry Nichols, an evacuee
Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
Evacuation of civilians in Britain during the Second World War was designed to save the population of urban or military areas in the United Kingdom from aerial bombing of cities and military targets such as docks. Civilians, particularly children, were moved to areas thought to be less at risk....
from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
who has no home to return to following the death of his parents in a bombing raid. Storylines in this series centre on suspicions of spies being operational in the Carliston area and the boys' interaction with enemy combatants being held as prisoners of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in the locality. The series closes as the troops prepare to leave Flaxton Hall as the war draws to its end. It is implied that Terry will find a permanent home at Flaxton Hall with Matthew and his family.
Cast
- Philip Baldwin – Terry Nichols
- Joanna Marie Jones – Elizabeth Flaxton
- Andrew Packett – Matthew Flaxton
- Pamela Duncan – Edith
- Victor WindingVictor WindingVictor Winding is a British actor born in London on Winding was educated at Westminster Technical Institute and initially trained as a draughtsman but acted in amateur dramatics and taught drama at night school. In 1958, aged 29, he joined Farnham Repertory Theatre. The Castle Theatre was opened...
– Benjamin Sweet - Murray MelvinMurray MelvinMurray Melvin is an English stage and film actor.The son of Hugh Victor Melvin and Maisie Winifred Driscoll, he is best known for having created the role of Geoffrey in the Shelagh Delaney play, A Taste of Honey, a role which he recreated opposite Rita Tushingham in the 1961 film of the same name...
– Gerald Meder - Derek BenfieldDerek BenfieldDerek Benfield was a British playwright and actor.He was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, and educated at Bingley Grammar School. He was the author of the stage farce Running Riot and the second actor who played Patricia Routledge's character's husband in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates...
– Sgt. Brophy - Cyril LuckhamCyril LuckhamCyril Luckham was a British film, television and theatre actor.Luckham played the White Guardian in the long running science fiction television series Doctor Who. He appeared in The Ribos Operation, the first serial in The Key to Time season, and Enlightenment...
– Peter Weekes - Jill SummersJill SummersHonour Margaret Rosell Santoi Fuller, better known as Jill Summers , was a British music hall performer and comedienne born in Eccles, Lancashire...
– Mary Porter - Tom Browne (broadcaster) – Captain Ewing
Episodes
- Is Your Journey Really Necessary? (25 March 1973)
- This Little Piggy (1 April 1973)
- What You Don't Know Might Hurt You (8 April 1973)
- No Place Like... (15 April 1973)
- The Bevin Boy (22 April 1973)
- Welcome Home Tommy Atkins (29 April 1973)
- It Fell off the Back of a Lorry (6 May 1973)
- Charity Begins at... (13 May 1973)
- Things Are Not What They Seem (20 May 1973)
- Cry Wolf (27 May 1973)
- A Funny Kind of Day (3 June 1973)
- Remember, Remember (10 June 1973)
- Keep the Home Fires Burning (17 June 1973)
Additional information
Location filming for The Flaxton Boys took place at Ripley Castle, four miles north of HarrogateHarrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
. The castle owner, Sir Thomas Ingilby
Ingilby Baronets
There have been three Baronetcies created for members of the Ingilby family, one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
, credited the series for a dramatic rise in visitor numbers, turning the establishment from a local into a regional attraction.
The memorable theme tune for the series was provided by an excerpt from Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Prokofiev
Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev was a Russian composer, pianist and conductor who mastered numerous musical genres and is regarded as one of the major composers of the 20th century...
's Classical Symphony
Symphony No. 1 (Prokofiev)
Sergei Prokofiev began work on his Symphony No. 1 in D major in 1916, but wrote most of it in 1917, finishing work on September 10. It is written in loose imitation of the style of Haydn , and is widely known as the Classical Symphony, a name given to it by the composer...
. Episodes were originally broadcast early on Sunday evenings, at the time the traditional "family" timeslot in the UK for historical drama made for children but with appeal to an adult audience also.
The Flaxton Boys continued to be repeated on various networks both in the UK and overseas until the early 1990s. However the series has never been released commercially to VHS or DVD format, although it is understood to be fully extant in the Yorkshire Television archives.