The filming locations behind a film or TV series can often make or break the final product by helping to add that right amount of authenticity.
For ITV’s newest series, The Larkins, that is especially true as H. E. Bates’s The Darling Buds of May novel is famously set in Kent, the so-called Garden of England.
The Larkin’s grand farmhouse serves as a central location in the series but where is the house filming location in real life?
- THE LARKINS: Meet new Mariette star, Sabrina Bartlett
Ridley Road | Trailer | BBC
The Larkins release date and plot
The Larkins arrived on ITV on Sunday, October 10th, 2021.
Based on the H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May, The Larkins tells the story of Kent-based wheeler-dealer Pop Larkin and his ever-growing family.
Set in the late 1950s, The Larkins follows the titular family on their summertime adventures but matters take a complicated turn when Cedric ‘Charley’ Charlton arrives from the tax office to inspect Pop’s financial affairs.
Where is the house in The Larkins?
Taking on the guise of Home Farm in ITV’s The Larkins is Romshed Farm which is located just outside Underriver, an idyllic village near Sevenoaks in the heart of the Kent countryside.
Both the farm and accompanying house were used as the homely location of The Larkins.
According to the farm’s website, the history of the Romshed Farm dates back to Saxon times.
Today, the farm aims to promote biodiversity and increased opportunities for wildlife with rich wildflower meadows, large areas of long grass and old mixed hedges that provide the perfect habitat for all manner of insects, small mammals and birds.
One of Romshed’s main specialities is raising livestock, primarily cows and sheep, which help to keep the fields in check and are also used for meat, which is Pasture for Life certified as the animals are raised entirely on pasture without the use of cereals.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Romshed Farm hosted school visits and open days for members of the public to learn more about the farm’s inner workings and where their food comes from.
- MORE FILMING LOCATIONS: Explore Kent in ITV’s The Larkins
The original Darling Buds of May farm
While ITV’s The Larkins used Romshed Farm as its chief location, this differs from the original Darling Buds of May farm, which was located roughly 35 miles to the southeast near the village of Pluckley.
Originally called Buss Farm, the Grade II listed location- which includes a farmhouse, an oast house (which features in the title sequence), a Tudor barn and a cart lodge – was bought in 2013 and renamed Darling Buds Farm.
Since then, several of the building on the site have been converted into guest accommodation which is themed around the original show which ran between 1991 and 1993.
The Larkins continues on ITV at 8pm on Sundays after arriving on October 10th, 2021.
In other news, The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague season 2 renewal status explored