BBC’s is known for its emotional portrayal of midwifery and life in 1950s and 60s East End London.
The series is based on the memoirs of Jennifer Worth and started off by following the challenging experiences of a young midwife called Jenny as she started working in Poplar.
However, modern Poplar has changed significantly since the period that is depicted in the show.
So instead of being shot in the East End of London, the show is filmed in meticulously designed sets at Longcross Studios in Surrey.
The studio, which has one of the most extensive and unique backlots in the UK, offers the a controlled environment where members of the production team can recreate the look and feel of historic London streets.
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Call the Midwife is set in East London (Image: BBC)
The set is home to memorable locations from the drama, such as Violet’s shop and Fred Buckle’s allotments. Period accurate houses and shopfronts have also been constructed there.
But few viewers will be aware of the fascinating history of military research and development that lies behind the location.
Long before it became a filming hub, Longcross Studios played a key role in Britain’s military history. The site was originally owned by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) from 1941, and used for the development and testing of military vehicles, including tanks.
It operated under several names over the years, including the Forces Vehicle Research and Development Establishment and later the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency.
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Nonnatus House used to be an officers’ mess hall (Image: BBC)
Despite local protests the MoD held onto the site until 2005, when it was finally released for commercial use.
The extensive test tracks, which were designed for military trials, are now used for filming high-speed chases and stunt sequences. For example, they featured in Skyfall and The Dark Knight.
A Victorian manor house called Barrow Hills is also in the Longcross site. It was used as an officers’ mess during the MoD’s tenure, but now functions as Nonnatus House in Call the Midwife.
Since 2006 Longcross Studios has been used as a film production site, but its future was uncertain when secured a long-term lease in 2021.
The streaming giant announced plans to expand production facilities on the north lot, which lead to concerns about whether Call the Midwife would have to be shot in a different location.
After extensive negotiations, a deal was struck between , the , and the production company Neal Street to relocate Call the Midwife’s sets to the Barrow Hills side of the studio.
The move reportedly cost over £1million, but ensured the show could continue filming without interruption.
Temporary sound stages were constructed to house the set in order to preserve the show’s high production standards.