Flaxton Boys, The (ITV 1969-1973, Peter Firth, Victor Winding)

Well remembered teen drama The Flaxton Boys was almost like an anthology series which each of it’s four seasons set in a different time period and featuring a different cast. In the first season it is 1854 and young Jonathan Flaxton moves into Flaxton Hall with his mother. He makes friends with apprentice chimney sweep Archie Weekes (a young Peter Firth) and together the pair embark on a quest to discover the hidden treasure they believe is someone in Flaxton Hall. Also in search of the treasure is the none too likeable Sir Peregrine Stilgoe.

The second season moved the action to 1890 and the grown up Jonathan has disappeared in mysterious circumstances (in fact he has been missing for 12 years when the season starts), enter the villainous Tarquin Stilgoe, ward of Sir Peregrine, who intends to take over the hall to make his fortune out of the coal seam that he believes lies beneath the grounds. Richard Gale who had played Sir Peregrine in the first serial is back again but this time he is Sir Tarquin. In season three he was Miles Osborne.

Season three is set in 1928 and sees young Jonathan Flaxton and his mate William Pickford getting caught up with crooks when they start helping out with the renovations at Stilgoe Lodge (which is being turned into an orphanage).

In the fourth and final season it is 1945 and Mathew Flaxton takes Terry Nichols, an evacuee from London, under his wing.

Flaxton Hall was the real life Ripley Castle.

production details
UK / ITV – Yorkshire / 52×25 minute episodes / Broadcast 21 September 1969 – 17 June 1973

Creator: Sid Waddell / Theme Music: Symphony No. 1 in D Op. 25, Classical Symphony by Prokofiev / Executive Producer: Jess Yates / Producer: Robert D. Cardona

SEASON ONE CAST
Peter Firth as Archie Weekes
David Smith as Jonathan Flaxton
Penelope Lee as Lucy Flaxton
Richard Gale as Sir Peregrine Stilgoe
James Hayter as Nathan
Molly Urquhart as Flora
Peter Clay as Capt. Andrew Flaxton

SEASON TWO CAST
David Bradley as Peter Weekes
Philip Maskery as David Stilgoe
Victor Winding as Barnaby Sweet
Richard Gale as Sir Tarquin Stilgoe
Gerry Cowan as Jacklin Flaxton (not in fact a member of the family)
Hugh Cross as Archie Weekes
Lila Kaye as Sarah Weekes
Moultrie Kelsall as Andrew Flaxton

SEASON THREE CAST
Alan Guy as Jonathan Flaxton
Veronica Hurst as Lady Jane Flaxton
John Ash as William Pickford
Heather Page as Mary Porter
Nicholas Pennell as Rev. Albemarle Dobson Partridge
Victor Winding as Benjamin Sweet
Richard Gale as Miles Osborne
Gerry Cowan as Roger Grafton
Royston Tickner as Sgt. Cornfield
Gorden Kaye as P.C. Joseph
John Ringham as Mr. Jackson
Terry Scully as Mr. Wilkinson

SEASON FOUR CAST
Philip Baldwin as Terry Nichols
Joanna Marie Jones as Elizabeth Flaxton
Andrew Packett as Matthew Flaxton
Pamela Duncan as Edith
Victor Winding as Benjamin Sweet
Murray Melvin as Gerald Meder
Derek Benfield as Sgt. Brophy
Cyril Luckham as Peter Weekes
Jill Summers as Mary Porter
Tom Browne as Captain Ewing

THE EPISODES
SEASON ONE
1. All on a Summer’s Day (19 September 1971)
2. A Quiet Sunday (26 September 1971)
3. A Fête Worse Than… (3 October 1971)
4. Snake in the Grass (10 October 1971)
5. In and Out of Hiding (17 October 1971)
6. The Fastest Gun in the West Riding (24 October 1971)
7. Trouble in the Air (31 October 1971)
8. To See…A Fine Horse (7 November 1971)
9. Things That Go Bump (14 November 1971)
10. The Ghost Catchers (21 November 1971)
11. The Lady in White (28 November 1971)
12. Down a Long Black Hole (5 December 1971)
13. Goodbye, Summer – Goodbye (12 December 1971)

SEASON TWO
1. The Meeting (20 September 1970)
2. The Globe (27 September 1970)
3. The Heir (4 October 1970)
4. The Letter (11 October 1970)
5. The Diary (18 October 1970)
6. The Locket (25 October 1970)
7. The Valentine (1 November 1970)
8. The Conspiracy (8 November 1970)
9. The Messenger (15 November 1970)
10. The Discovery (22 November 1970)
11. The Attempt (29 November 1970)
12. The Homecoming (6 December 1970)
13. The Solution (13 December 1970)

SEASON THREE
1. All on a Summer’s Day (19 September 1971)
2. A Quiet Sunday (26 September 1971)
3. A Fête Worse Than… (3 October 1971)
4. Snake in the Grass (10 October 1971)
5. In and Out of Hiding (17 October 1971)
6. The Fastest Gun in the West Riding (24 October 1971)
7. Trouble in the Air (31 October 1971)
8. To See…A Fine Horse (7 November 1971)
9. Things That Go Bump (14 November 1971)
10. The Ghost Catchers (21 November 1971)
11. The Lady in White (28 November 1971)
12. Down a Long Black Hole (5 December 1971)
13. Goodbye, Summer – Goodbye (12 December 1971)

SEASON FOUR
1. Is Your Journey Really Necessary? (25 March 1973)
2. This Little Piggy (1 April 1973)
3. What You Don’t Know Might Hurt You (8 April 1973)
4. No Place Like… (15 April 1973)
5. The Bevin Boy (22 April 1973)
6. Welcome Home Tommy Atkins (29 April 1973)
7. It Fell off the Back of a Lorry (6 May 1973)
8. Charity Begins at… (13 May 1973)
9. Things Are Not What They Seem (20 May 1973)
10. Cry Wolf (27 May 1973)
11. A Funny Kind of Day (3 June 1973)
12. Remember, Remember (10 June 1973)
13. Keep the Home Fires Burning (17 June 1973)