by Chris Price

Kent is set to be one of the stars as locations across the county provide the backdrop for the latest blockbuster Dickens movie.

Great Expectations is going on general release today, and eagle-eyed film buffs can spot several landmarks used as atmospheric scenes in the Victorian classic.

Movie makers at BBC Films, who are behind the film, arrived at Elmley Marshes on Sheppey last November to film some of the scenes.

“We were really excited. It’s a very quiet place so it was unusual to have so much going on,” said assistant warden at Elmley, Lyndsey Record, who lives in Sittingbourne.

Warden at the RSPB reserve, Gordon Allison, was in charge of the production team’s visit but he died in February, so his colleagues are going to make sure they see the film in his honour.

“He really enjoyed them being here,” said Lyndsey.

“It is a difficult balance of letting them do what they want but also making sure the wildlife is not disturbed but the film crew took everything on board.

Ralph Fiennes as Abel Magwitch in Great Expectations

“It was very foggy and misty. It was perfect for their scenes. They went to a few marshes to film and it will be good to try and spot our one.”

Another setting for the film was Sir Thomas a Becket Church in Fairfield on Romney Marsh, where Ralph Fiennes and Young Pip actor Toby Irvine filmed some of the tense opening scenes of director Mike Newell’s adaptation.

Shellness Beach on Sheppey was another location and the crew also shot two scenes for the movie – also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Flemyng and Holliday Grainger – at Chatham’s Historic Dockyard.

One was a chase scene with the Young Pip running through the cobbled streets around the Ropery complex, often used by moviemakers to mimic the old streets of London.

The other scene involved ex-Cracker actor Robbie Coltrane.

Toby Irvine and Ralph Fiennes filmed at Fairfield, Romney Marsh

Shot in one of the Hemp Houses of the Ropery complex, the film crew put a carriage inside the room for a special effect scene, simulating the carriage moving forwards with Robbie Coltrane inside.

“As often happens, they wanted to film as many different scenes on location as possible to minimise cost,” said the Dockyard’s filming manager Sam Cooper, who lives in Marden.

“They needed a room where they could fit their carriage prop so they brought that along on the day they were filming the cobbled streets to get the most out of their day.”

The film is the latest in a string of big-name productions to arrive at the Dockyard, including Hollywood flicks Sherlock Holmes and the forthcoming Les Miserables movie, as well as the BBC drama Call The Midwife.

Jeremy Irvine as Pip and Holliday Grainger as Estella

“There are a lot of Dickens related connections in Medway so it is good to see this movie using a bit of Medway,” said Sam.

Dickens had a particular love of Kent - having lived at Ordnance Terrace, Chatham, as a boy and then living out his days in Higham at Gads Hill Place, Higham.