Thetford in Norfolk, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Captain Mainwaring's Statue

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 24, 2026

1. Captain Mainwaring's Statue Marker

Inscription. The Captain Mainwaring statue you see before you was unveiled on 19 June 2010. It marks the long association BBC TV's Dad's Army has had with Thetford -- the real Walmington-on-Sea. The idea for the state was that of Thetford resident, Stuart Wright, who realised that, flowing the exceptional interest in the Dad's Army guided walks around the town, visitors needed a photo opportunity to remember their visit by and what better than to have your photo taken next to Captain Mainwaring. Local artist John Mayes was asked to provide an artist's impression and this image caught the imagination of the public around the world. The show's creators, David Croft and Jimmy Perry, were supportive of the idea as was the family of Arthur Lowe, the actor who played Captain Mainwaring. After 2 years of fundraising by volunteers from the Thetford Dad's Army Museum, Sean Hedges-Quinn was chosen to sculpt the statue.

Dad's Army
Dad's Army has continually been voted one of the best comedy series ever produced. Its creators, Jimmy Perry and David Croft, wrote the series drawing on real life experiences of the Home Guard. During the 80 episodes

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produced between 1968 and 1977 the story lines explore many of the challenges faced by volunteers wanting to do their bit, ill-equipped but resolute in their defence of their country. Today the series is still shown regularly and appeals to all ages, giving an insight into a nation fighting alone in the dark days of World War II. The main platoon characters depicted on the adjoining photograph were supported by numerous other regular appearances notably, Warden Hodges, played by the late Bill Pertwee. The show's numerous catch phrases such as 'Stupid Boy', 'Don't Panic!' and the immortal, 'Don't tell him Pike!" are a part of the British psyche and are now used in conversation in all walks of life.

The new Dad's Army film has brought a fresh set of actors to play familiar roles in what is now a British Institution.

Why Thetford?
Harold Snoad, who was later director of many of the episodes, was given the task of finding a suitable location for the external shots of Walmington-on Sea. The Stanford Training Area to the north of Thetford was available and the town itself had hotels to accommodate everyone and several streets with

Captain Mainwaring's Statue image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 24, 2026

2. Captain Mainwaring's Statue

neat rows of grey brick and flint houses, which gave the right period feel and could be used in the series. Thus Thetford became Walmington-on-Sea despite being 50 miles from the coast!

Dad's Army Trail and Museum
The Thetford Dad's Army Trail was launched in 2004 and since then thousands of people have visited the Thetford locations used in the series. In 2007 the Thetford Dad's Army Museum was officially opened by David Croft and soon afterwards, the 'Friends of Thetford Dad's Army Museum' was formed to run the museum and develop the links between Dad's Army and Thetford. The museum is used in the Old Fire Station in Cage Lane to the rear of the Guildhall, which is only a short walk from this site. In 2012 the Museum acquired the original Jones's van used in the series.

Dad's Army Appreciation Society and Bressingham
The Society was formed in 1993 by a small group of enthusiasts passionate about the programme. The Society has been supportive of this statue project, generously donating to the appeal and continuing to support the Thetford museum wherever possible. In 2000 some of the Society's collection [illegible] Army items

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were put on display at the Bressingham Steam Museum, 15 miles east of Thetford on the A1066. The exhibition [illegible] a mock up of the Walmington-on-Sea street scene, photographs and vehicles from the series.

The Anchor Hotel
A few yards from where you are standing, in the Norvic room of the old Anchor Hotel, the very first scene of the very first episode of Dad's Army was filmed. Broadcast in 1968, it depicted the platoon at a dinner some years after the war with a guest speaker, Alderman George Mainwaring. In the speech 'he recalled the dark days of the war and we are then transported back to 1940 and the formation of the Local Defence Volunteers, later to become the Home Guard. Thus a television legend began.

Not only did the Anchor Hotel feature in the series, it was also a favourite watering hole for cast and crew staying there and in the nearby Bell Hotel opposite. We can see from this photo the landlady Mrs Jean Bishop surrounded by members of the cast at the opening of the new 'Tartan' bar in the hotel.

Sadly, the Anchor Hotel was demolished in December 2012 by Breckland Council for redevelopment.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1968.

Location. 52° 24.816′ N, 0° 44.769′ E. Marker is in Thetford, England, in Norfolk. It is at the intersection of Anchor Place and Bridge Street on Anchor Place. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Anchor Place, Thetford, England IP24 3AA, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in England’s East Anglia.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 19 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Thetford Priory (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Thetford Priory - The Church and Nave (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); The Great Court (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); The Abbot's Palace (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); The Abbey of St Edmund (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); The Abbey Gate (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); St Edmunds Abbey (approx. 18.9 kilometers away); Charles Dickens (approx. 18.9 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thetford.

Also see . . . Revisiting the Captain Mainwaring statue in Thetford, Norfolk, UK (Youtube, 0:46). (Submitted on July 24, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.