Seasons
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The History of Midsomer Villages
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for all episodes until series 24; the information on episode 24×01 contains no relevant spoilers and the information on episode 24×04 is hidden here spoiler markers)
•Having looked at the historic Midsomer villages of Parva and Worthy, there are many more villages where history happens – but often it’s just one event. For this reason, I have decided to use this map of Midsomer County as a guide and place the events in the four cardinal directions.
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Saint Frideswide
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 12×04: The Glitch)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.•
The Midsomer Cycling Club from Aspern Tallow – adults and young people – often go cycling, today along the old pilgrim route to an old church ruin. On the top of a hill they take a short rest. Down in the valley, the destination is already in sight: The Abbey of St Frideswide in the Valley of Midsomer Sanctae.
While some of the children continued to cycle at a fast pace, the adults stopped to chat. George Jeffers interrupts their conversation to look down at the ruins of the church.
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Jane Austen & Baroness Orczy in Midsomer County
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for episodes: 10×07: They Seek Him Here, & 19×05: Death by Persuasion)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.
•The idyllic landscape of Midsomer County is well known. No wonder Jane Austen and Baroness Emma Orczy, two famous writers, are said to have stayed here. Or is that just a story?
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Sports History in Midsomer, pt. 1: Boxing
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 13×06: The Noble Art)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.
•Cricket is played in many episodes – even actively by Sergeants Gavin Troy and Ben Jones – but unfortunately the history of cricket is never discussed, and football is completely absent. However, there are mentions of historical events in three other sports, each involving very successful Midsomer County sportsmen: chess, Formula 1 and boxing. See: Sports History in Midsomer, pt. 2.
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Debt of Lies & Painted in Blood – Midsomer’s Bank Heists
Two episodes of Midsomer Murders focus on fictional robberies in Midsomer County. Rugged Edge in “Painted in Blood” (06×03) and the Goldman Forbes heist in “Debt of Lies” (23×02). Both took place in the 1990s, in 1993 and 1998 respectively.
(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 06×03: Painted in Blood, and 23×02: Debt of Lies)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch. -
William Tyndale
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 11×05: The Magician’s Nephew)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.
•Tom Barnaby, wearing a black coat and a burgundy shawl, enters a church in search of Aloysius Wilmington, and discovers him kneeling in front of the communion pew in the nave, sorting. Aloysius Wilmington is also wearing a burgundy scarf, but a light grey coat over it.
When he notices Tom Barnaby, he sighs at the local rector, who doesn’t want to replace the poorly preserved Book of Common Prayer with the new ones he’s already bought for the parishes. The Book of Common Prayer is largely based on the work of William Tyndale, who was condemned as a heretic by the Anglican Church and murdered.
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‘Involved in the Gunpowder Plot.”‘
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 08×04: Bantling Boy, and 15×02: Murder of Innocence)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.
•Welcome to Bantling Hall, located in the picturesque Buckinghamshire… no, sorry: Dorney Court. A stunning Tudor manor that has been listed on the National Heritage List since 23 September 1955. With a rich history dating back to before the Battle of Hastings, the manor has been owned by several notable figures, including Aldred and Miles Crispin. Dorney Court is proudly owned by the Palmer family, who have maintained its beauty and heritage for generations. It is worth noting that the text does not reference the Gunpowder Plot, Battle of Marston Moor, or War of Independence. In 1646, during the Civil War, the Palmer family, who were royalists, had their estates seized. However, their estates were returned to them in 1657.
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The Civil War, pt. 1
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 03×04: Beyond the Grave, 06×04: A Tale of two Hamlets, 08×04: Bantling Boy, and 11×02: Blood Wedding)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.•
After the Gunpowder Plot, religious tensions in England continued to escalate against the Catholics. Among them were the Fitzroys of Bledlow Village, who took over ownership of their manor c.1610. This is what Harry Fitzroy told Ben Jones during his investigation…
The episode first aired in 2008, which means the Fitzroys have owned the manor since at least 1608, perhaps even before the Gunpowder Plot? Unfortunately, we don’t know from whom they acquired the manor.
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The Civil War, pt. 2
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episodes: 11×02: Blood Wedding, and 15×01: The Dark Rider.)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.•
Continued from Civil War, pt. 1
But when the Parliamentarians failed to capitalise on the successful battles of Marston Moor and Aspern Tallow, Oliver Cromwell and Thomas Fairfax formed the New Model Army – a single professional standing army of fanatical Puritans who fought not for money but for their honour, their faith and their passion.
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Roman Vineyards
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(Caution: Contains spoilers for Episode: 17×04: A Vintage Murder)
Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf Deutsch.
•Elspeth Rice has just returned from measuring the depth of a lake in Midsomer Vinae. She is deeply concerned about the results, as this lake holds a painful memory for her. Five years ago, she accidentally hit and fatally injured young Jessica Tyler, and her car sank into this very lake. Nothing should incriminate her. Elspeth has been struggling to forgive herself ever since, and in an effort to protect herself, she made some regrettable choices.
At the trial, she confidently testified that she saw Nadia Simons’s black car at the scene of the accident, driving at dangerously high speeds and probably under the influence of alcohol. This occurred after the launch of Carnarvon’s first Midsomer Vinae wine, to which Simons was invited. Elspeth was unkindly intruding on her friend and Jessica’s mother, Judy Tyler, and telling her that Jessica’s death was caused by Nadia Simons, who is known for her drunk-driving. The Carnarvons had invited her to their wine presentation, possibly to distract from her.
