Many towns, villages and buildings gain popularity because of their association with films and TV. Holmfirth in Yorkshire, for example, became a popular tourist attraction because of the TV series, Last of the summer wine. People flocked to this small Yorkshire village, and the now famous café, in the vain hope of seeing the programme's three main characters, Compo, Foggy and Clegg.
There are many locations like this. The Harry Potter films are associated with Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, Alnwick Castle and of course Kings Cross Station which now has a Platform 9¾. Downton Abbey has almost renamed Highclere Castle in Hampshire, and Belvoir Castle is where many of The Crown scenes where shot. Bath, famed for its regency buildings, has witnessed numerous historical productions, but more recently, was highlighted through the historical Bridgerton series. Cornwall can claim fame to numerous film sets but most recently it is Poldark that has put it back on the map, not that Cornwall needs the publicity as we all know how beautiful this part of the British Isles are.
James Herriot's books and the subsequent TV productions cast new interest on the Yorkshire Dales - particularly Askgrigg, Grassington and Thirsk.
Many a police and detective story have become associated with locations, Heart Beat Country in the North York Moors, and in particular, Goathland village which was transformed into Aidensfield. Edinburgh is where Inspector Rebus delved into the criminal world and where he enjoyed a good pint and whisky. West Yorkshire has Inspector Frost, Northumberland has Vera, and London has The Sweeney.
Before TV and cinema it was well known people who made locations popular. Lord Brougham was no exception. He foundered modern day Cannes which is why the local people honoured him with a statue in the middle of the town.
This newspaper cutting from the Huddersfield Examiner from 1944 picks up the theme of famous people making destinations popular. The Daily Jottings column talks about how Churchill visiting Marrakesh would boost the location's profile after the 2nd World War. It then passes comment about Lord Brougham and the South of France: 'Brougham set the fashion of seeking the sun in the South of France'.
Lord Brougham intended passing through the small fishing village of Cannes in 1834, but had to stay there because of a cholera outbreak further along his journey, meaning he couldn’t risk continuing. While there, he fell in love with Cannes and decided to build a home for his daughter. He ended up living there after his daughter died unexpectedly. The rich and famous, upper echelons of society, came to visit him and they too fell in love with the climate. They stayed and built their homes; modern day Cannes was formed.
A statue, by sculpture Paul Lienard, of Lord Brougham in the square that takes his name, was erected in 1879 to mark the 'eminent assistance' he played in establishing Cannes into the thriving destination that it became.
