Release of drama filmed in village

Ammonite tells life story of palaeontologist

A new movie which was filmed inear Ashford and stars Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet has now been released.

Ammonite is inspired by the life of British palaeontologist Mary Anning, played by Winslet, and the speculative romantic relationship she had with Charlotte Murchison, played by Saoirse Ronan.

It was written and directed by Francis Lee, who was also behind 2017’s God’s Own Country.

Photos from 2019 reveal crew and period props scattered around Charing, which was used as a filming location for Ammonite.

A property called Romney House was used for late night scenes and some roads were also closed to allow filming to take place.

Large wagons, crates and barrels could be seen as part of the set, designed to appear as if they were from the 19th century, and cranes with cameras and lighting rigs were also positioned on the roads.

Speaking at the time, villager Mickey Wildman said he spotted many people in costumes walking around Charing: “I’ve been in Charing all my life and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“It’s nice the village is being used, you talk about Charing and no one would’ve heard of it, so it’s pretty exciting.

“Where they are filming is just down the road from where I live, so I hope to pop down and see if Kate is there.”

Director Lee has been forced to defend the homosexual angle of the plot, with Ms Anning’s family members questioning the historical accuracy of the portrayal.

Ms Anning lived along the Jurassic Coast and uncovered a number of important fossils including the first correctly identified ichthyosaur skeleton - a discovery that raised questions about the age of the Earth and life on it in a devoutly religious Britain.

Her fossil-hunting work in Lyme Regis was tough and dangerous, with Ms Anning almost being killed by a landslide that claimed the life of her dog.

Selling the found specimens for a livelihood, it’s been alleged that she inspired the 1908 tongue-twister “she sells seashells on the seashore”.

Her work and prehistoric finds captured the minds of the 1800s’ public, inspiring the first widely circulated pictorial representation of the time of the dinosaurs.

With cinemas still closed, Ammonite is available now for premium rental at home on digital platforms in the UK.

Picture: See-Saw Films Ammonite is out now on digital platforms while cinemas are closed

One of the crew vehicles during filming in 2019