The Frogs Legacy is one of the main episodes that links Only Fools and Horses with its prequel Rock and Chips. Without this episode the two would have very little connection. Aaron Spicer took it one step further and decided to really see if he could dig even deeper into the past…
IN SEARCH OF THE FROG’S LEGACY – IPSWICH
by Aaron Spicer
My step-son, Tulsa, is an avid fan of ‘Only Fools’, watching endless repeats which even eclipses my teenage obsession with the sitcom. I often tell him to turn it over, so well-worn is the dialogue now. However, a prospective mission to find some genuine locations reignited my interest.
The Frogs Legacy Location secrets
Until recently I had assumed that the programme was filmed in Peckham and other London locations. I fancied visiting a pie and mash shop, something I had never done before being from Norwich, so I googled one in Peckham. I thought that I could perhaps justify the long trip for this simple nosh by combining it with a sight-seeing jaunt of ‘Only Fools’ locations. On discovering that Del and Rodders never actually went near Peckham and that Ipswich had often been used, it seemed rude not to take the 40 mile trip down the A140…
Where to look? Wikipedia told me that much of the ‘Frog’s Legacy’ had been filmed at the junction of Seymour and Rectory Road in Ipswich. Luckily I had just invested in a new Satnav, so I was fairly confident of finding this location. Prior to motoring off, my step-son and I watched the ‘Frog’s Legacy’ and noted Rodney’s hearse scene in particular: this had to be one of the roads in Ipswich. I took some poor quality pictures from our freeze-framed TV and off we went.
On arriving at the said location in Ipswich on a cold Sunday in October it became very clear that Rectory Road was indeed the same one that sees Rodney reluctantly leading the hearse in the hilarious scene from this 1984 special. We compared the house frontages and matched up some double steps in particular with our freeze-framed shots of Rodney, in addition to doors and bay windows. The market scene, which sees Del, Albert, Boycie, Trigger and other onlookers watching Rodney perform his duties as Chief Mourner, was filmed just into Seymour Road. The white door and cornice are clearly visible in my pictures and in the scenes.
Tulsa walked up the road in imitation of Rodney, trying to avoid the dog mess! We thought about knocking on some doors, but shrank away from this as new residents had probably long-since moved since the special was filmed. We were also loathe to disturb Sunday Lunch and you can never be sure what sort of reaction is going to be forthcoming.
It did occur to us the Church visible in the distance behind Rodney and clearly seen by us on this day may have been the same one used for the scenes in the ‘Frog’s Legacy.’ Could it have been that the ocean was spliced in? However, on closer inspection, it obviously wasn’t the same Church. If anyone knows where it was or, for that matter, the ‘Nag’s Head’ in Ipswich, then I would be keen to know.
So, what became of the pie and mash? We drove to Colchester on the grounds it was closer than Peckham and the nearest to Norwich available; and very nice it was too; luverly jubbly in fact!!
aaronspicer@btinternet.com
Finally some video
I have some footage taken on Rectory Road and the corner of Seymour Road. My step-son Tulsa and my wife Jeanette are in shot. You can see the Church in this footage which is visible behind Rodney as he walks up the road.
Does anyone know where the beach is at the end of the episode? The church is inland so when they cut to the view of the sea it’s another location and the sun is in the wrong place.
Great information thanks But please look again at the scene and let me know why a 12 year old milky bar kid is driving the hearse
hi, i live in the street the frog’s legacy market scene was filmed in, altho i moved into my house in 1994, the church you see in the video above is the church you see in background wen rodney is walking in front of hearse. but its not the same church you see at the end of the episode when they step over fence onto beach. that church is in a place north of leiston suffolk up the A12 heading towards lowesstoft/ great yarmouth. as for nags head am not sure where that was filmed, they used different locations for market and pub scenes not just ipswich, can tell you i have lived in ipswich from birth and now am 50years of age, outside nags head scenes are not from any place to my mind in ipswich area. but cannot swear to that. seymour road hasnt changed much to this day, except exactly where the spot the filmed the scene has yellow lines on that corner, and both the end houses on each side of that road were once corner shops when i was a lad.just one bit more of info, in the episode the road rodney is leading the hearse is signed as a one way street. in real life it isnt a one way street, be better sometimes if it was, but it has always been two way road. hope some of this info helps a bit. cheers.
Hello,
Thanks for the comments. Sorry about the mistaken date – it was 1987!!
It was the 1987 Christmas special.
Very interesting read,and i enjoyed this very much.
Thanks for sharing this with us and especially
for the video clip also..great stuff!
Bonjour!
It was 1987.
Interesting pics and video!
Was Frogs Legacy really released in 84? – I thought it was December 87?
The special in 85 was To Hull and Back and TFL was after that.