Now, for the exteriors that make you feel the sooty, romantic grit of the 1950s. The show’s production team fell in love with the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Kent. This place is a maritime museum, but it moonlights as the cobbled streets of Poplar. Seriously, they just slap some vintage signs on it, and boom—you’re back in time.
Walking through Chatham is like stepping into a time capsule. You’ll see the actual streets where the midwives cycle, argue, and deliver babies in the most awkward places. The dockyard’s old buildings have perfectly preserved brickwork and gas lamps, which the show uses for all the outdoor market scenes and street chases. It’s a film set that’s also a real working museum—double duty!
The Little Details That Fool Us All
What about the characters’ homes? Those cramped, peeling-paint flats aren’t real either. They’re built on sound stages, but the art department deserves a serious handshake. They source actual 1950s wallpaper and furniture from antique dealers, so everything looks authentic down to the last tea stain. The goal is to make you believe you’re smelling boiled cabbage and carbolic soap.
Even the church that the nuns attend is a film set, but the real-life St. John’s Church in Chatham sometimes pops in for exterior shots. It’s a delightful game of “spot the real building” if you ever visit. Just don’t expect a nun on a bicycle to wave at you—though I’d be thrilled if one did.
