KATE'S AIRBnB IN OXFORD WAS HER FAMILY HOME. It has everything that we could want—plus a fabulous garden! It’s actually in Crowley, an easy mile’s walk from Oxford University and not far, as it happens, from fictiously famous county of Midsomer . As I wrote about our visit ten years ago (journals.worldnomads.com/vagabonds) the combined list of graduates from Oxford's 40 colleges covers many of the great names in science, religion, philosophy and letters and includes 26 prime ministers and 12 saints! But neither Tom Barnaby or his cousin, John.
Chief Inspector Morse and Sargent Lewis with classic Jaguar
Sargent Hathaway and Inspector Lewis in Oxford
Young Morse, Endeavour, and Bridge of Sighs
This time we weren’t here to attend classes but on a BBC/PBS scavenger hunt of sorts. Three of our favorite British mystery series—Inspector Morse, its sequel Lewis and the prequel Endeavour—are all set in Oxford.
"Causton" Town Hall, Henley-on-Thames
Argyll Pub, Henley-on-Thames
"Causton Playhouse," Wallingford Corn Exchange Theatre
Our all-time favorite British series, Midsomer Murders, is set in Oxfordshire and nearby Buckinghampshire. In 129 episodes spanning 22 seasons, no fewer than 395 murders, 164 attempted murders plus countless assaults, robberies and swindles have occurred in Midsomer County so we had plenty of places to suss out.
"Midsomer Mallow" Village Green, Warborough
Thatch home in Midsomer Mallow Warborough
The towns of Wallingford, Henley-on-Thames and Warborough feature prominently. Town Hall in Henley-on-Thames and Wallingford’s Corn Exchange Theater masquerade as Causton, Midsomer’s county seat while the village of Warborough, especially the Six Bells Pub, has appeared in at least six episodes!
Chief Inspector Barnaby and Sargent Jones (Jason Hughes) leaving Six Bells, Warborough
Several residents told us about meeting John Nettles (Chief Inspector Barnaby) and John at the Corn Exchange Theater in Wallingford was actually an extra in a few episodes!
John, an actual Midsomer Extra, Corn Exchange Theatre
I realize we were putting our lives on the line in such a high-crime area but sometimes you’ve got to live dangerously!
