Overview

SAT NAV. RG9 6QU. Enter this for part 17 and 18 of Midsomer Tour What a beautiful attractive village, old, flint stones, beautiful gardens, well kept village. The name TURVILLE was recorded in 796 as Thyrefeld in Anglo-Saxon times, and meant “dry field. The manor of TURVILLE belonged to the abbey of St Albans until seized by the crown in 1547. It was later rebuilt as TURVILLE Park, and the Hoare Nairn family held possession for most of the 20th century. It is now owned by Lord David John Sainsbury, born 24 October 1940, who served as chairman of the supermarket chain, Sainsbury. The village has been used in many films over the years, just to mention a few, the war film “Went the day well”. Also the comedy “Father came too” and a dream scene from “Bride and Prejudice” The Cobstone windmill above the village was used in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And of course, four episodes of Midsomer Murders have been made here. “Who killed cock robin”, “The Straw woman” and “Schooled in murder”, and in an episode for “Murder on St Malley day” OUR PHOTOS Along scenic country lanes you arrive at TURVILLE, (photo 1) and soon pull into a car park on the left (photo 2), which is large enough to hold a number of cars. It looks over the old Cobstone Windmill, high above you. COBSTONE WINDMILL (photo 3) The mill was built in 1816 and was a working cereal mill until 1873. Sadly, it was damaged by squatters who were living in the mill. In 1967, it was roughly renovated to be used in the film, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, but it has also been used in other films, such as “Goodnight Mister Tom”. “Went the day well” and the 2009 film of “Day of the Triffids” It has also been used in TV productions, such as Jonathan Creek, in “The grinning man”. The mill and cottage was bought by Hayley Mills and husband Roy Boulting, and they had extensive conversations, and refurbishing of the interior and exterior work done. TURVILLE At the end of the car park by the inn, a gate leads you inside the garden areas (photo 4) or you can walk along the lane alongside (photo 5) which will pass a wonderful brick and tile roofed cottage (photo 6), which is opposite the beautiful pub, The Bull and Butcher. ( READ OUR REVIEW FOR THIS ) There are delightful brick cottages beyond the pub (photo 7) that leads you to the St Mary the virgin church (photo 8). The churchyard looks across at a line of cottages and towards the windmill (photo 9). The church was built in the 1100’s mainly using local flint stone. The present bell tower was then built in 1340, and the four bells inside date from 1670 and 1744. A fifth bell was added in the late 1990’s and a sixth in 2018. It has had to be restored over the years, such as in 1875 when the floor had to be raised. In 1901 the vestry was constructed, the roof had to be repaired in 1972, and then in 1996 a new bell-frame was added, and bells re-tuned. Garden maintenance work has be done to prune back trees (photo 10) with grass cutting on a regular basis. The church leads us back now towards a line of attractive cottages (photo 11) and to the school lane (photo 12) In one episode of Midsomer, boys are seen running along the school lane, from the school known as Devington School on St Malleys day race. The pub is also used in this episode as boys sneak to the pub, and became called The Spotted Cow in “Schooled for murder”. Country scenes are shown in this episode as well. The long line of cottages by the green (photo 13) are seen in the episode “The Straw Woman”, and what nicer end could we have to our review than overlooking the pleasant and peaceful scenic view of Cobstone Windmill.

Transport & Parking

You need to park and leave your car in the Inns car park area, and then walk ahead into the village itself, there’s only about a dozen or so homes, but what a delight.

Access

All the village is on the level, and you can see every delightful cottage, the road is tarmac so no problem for you. A bit more difficult to see the church as it’s mostly grassland, but you will manage.

Toilets

Staff

Photos