Filming at such a high profile location presented a unique set of challenges for the Team.
This stained glass window was made
on site during the dig
Shooting inside the Abbey required meticulous planning as we were not able to film during services and had to work around the thousands of visitors. A shooting schedule was constructed so that filming could take place with minimum disruption to the everyday life of the Abbey.
Our incident room was the fabulous Cheyneygates. Having hosted kings and queens over the centuries it now housed our team of historians. Such a historic location required very special care and crews were only allowed in wearing socks to avoid damage to the floors.
Most Time Team sites are in open fields with only wildlife for company, this shoot was very different. At times spectators were three rows deep behind the fence, with everyone anxious to see what we had uncovered.
The Abbey is a huge building, full of corridors, passages and staircases. Getting crews around inside this medieval maze required some serious route planning. Everyone was equipped with a map and signs were erected to guide people from one location to the next.
Not every scene makes the final programme. At Westminster we had prepared an elaborate cameo to make a medieval stained glass window. So much was happening in the trenches that it was impossible to squeeze it into the final programme. Emma Blount, our stained glass expert, produced a fabulous window over the three days - spot the Time Team logo.
