Distances in Enola Holmes (2020): Ferndell Geography
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This is part of a series of posts in which I try to map certain locations portrayed in Enola Holmes (2020): Basilwether Hall and Station, Ferndell, and Miss Harrison's school. Here, I am discussing the geographic clues for Ferndell, Enola's childhood home. This is not an absolute conclusion, since due to speed estimates I established Ferndell needs to be located within a certain distance of Basilwether, and vice-versa. As the less complex of the two linked locations, I cannot progress without establishing criteria for good Ferndell candidates.
What do we know about Ferndell?
This shot is extremely telling. It shows us Ferndell has either a river or canal (1), banked on either side by hills, with further hills or perhaps mountains (4) in the distance. The area is forested, but there is room for clearings.
Since this is at sunrise, or soon after, the sun (2) should be in the East or East-southeast. Given the position of the house (3) slightly to the right of the sun, the house should be East-Southeast of the camera. Since the river is between the viewer and the house, we are given an approximate position of the river relative to the house. We see Enola cross another river or stream to get to Ferndell Station at 4m13s, but this one seems to have a swifter current. It may not be the same waterway. Still, it tells us Ferndell either has two waterways, or Ferndell Station is North or west of the waterway. Which is more likely may depend on one's interpretation of the Holmes' arrival at Ferndell.
Ferndell Criteria:
River or canal
Either two waterways, or Ferndell Station is west of the waterway
Hills in local terrain
Hills or mountains in distance
Forests
At 54m00s, Enola recounts rescuing a sheep from a cliff's edge as a girl, and then her mother patching her up at Ferndell. It is possible that Ferndell is near cliffs.
Ferndell Criteria:
River or canal
Either two waterways, or Ferndell Station is west of the waterway
Hills in local terrain
Hills or mountains in distance
Forests
Cliffs or steep terrain
Here is another line of thought: she took some mode of transport, be it on foot or by horsepower, to get to Basilwether Station. Basilwether Station could have been as far as twenty miles away— although probably less. Point is, if she could reach Basilwether at that speed before her absence would be discovered, then if London was at a similar or shorter distance she could have skipped the train altogether and used her existing mode. So it is possible that Ferndell needs to be closer to Basilwether Station than to London. However, since Enola was trying to throw them off her trail, it is possible she went out of her way.
One last thing: Ferndell Station is on a working railway. It doesn't seem to be a large one, but it is functional, with service north or to London (which does not mean that London is north of Ferndell, but it does not preclude it either). The train used is labeled and colored as a part of the Great Western Railway (GWR). It actually has its serial number visible, but since the train used in the production post-dates both 1884 and 1900, it is unlikely to be an exact match. The GWR and its livery, on the other hand, do fit the period, and thus might be canonical. It may not be, though. I'd place GWR as a bonus.
Ferndell Criteria (FINAL):
River or canal
Either two waterways, or Ferndell Station is west of the waterway
I loved the variety of greens I saw on a walk this morning on the Fern Dell path in Griffith Park. #green #plants #griffithpark #ferndell #watercolorpencil #crayon #paintingplants #art #illustration #drawingfromlife #greenery https://www.instagram.com/p/CK12oxDDS_S/?igshid=1c96ifcrwiv1q
#tomlabonge if you live in LA and LOVE #griffithpark this man Tom Labonge a great city council man who cared so much about this amazing fun place - I really liked Tom , he was a career city politician - much like the character in #gangsofnewyork much like #bosstweed except honest and so passionate about our park - I just saw him 2 days ago - cleaning #ferndell in our beloved park Rest In Peace Tom! (at Mount Hollywood) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ2UCGTFrpt/?igshid=1r2l5waxn5qc7
If a tree falls in the woods and something something @thisisframework shirt #losangeles #gooutside #outdoors #ferndell #griffithpark #hiking #woods #beard #facialhair #thisisframework #represent 📷 @raescharfman (at Ferndell Griffith Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BswOKLiHIuf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=fji5xh6toxus
This is close to the entrance where actress Jean Spangler's purse was found. #jeanspangler #actressmissing #ferndell #griffithpark (på/i Ferndell Griffith Park)
Actress Jean Spangler's purse was found close to the entrance of the Fern Dell area at Griffith Park. #jeanspangler #actressmissing #ferndell #griffithpark (på/i Griffith Park)