This highly acclaimed BBC drama was written by John Hawkesworth who became a household name during the mid 70’s as a result of his much loved and long running Edwardian series Upstairs, Downstairs. Screened some ten years later, By the Sword Divided was also a lavish period costume drama, set in the mid seventeenth century during the English Civil Wars. Much of the series authenticity may be attributed to the location of its filming which took place in and around Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire and which was built under the orders of William the Conqueror. Appropriately enough, the castle played a significant role in the actual events of the battles on which the series was based.

The plot follows the fortunes of two families, the aristocratic Laceys and the merchant trading Fletchers. The families are united in marriage only to be torn apart through inner conflict owing to the differing ideals of the noble Lacey’s who remain steadfast to The King while the Fletchers pledge their loyalties to the Roundheads and Parliamentarians during the ensuing unrest.

Cast as Susan Protheroe, a young cousin of central characters Anne and Lucinda Lacey, Judy’s arrival on the scene was to take the family somewhat by surprise. Bedraggled and destitute with nowhere to turn, she is taken in by her relatives thereafter for them to discover she is not entirely what she appears to be. For Judy, the role provided a wonderful opportunity to develop the character from a comparatively shy, sweet demur young lady into a scheming, conniving and at times, pure evil young woman capable of stopping at nothing to achieve her aim of marrying into nobility. A role in which she eventually succeeds by becoming Lady Susan Winter, the wife of a much older man, Sir Ralph Winter, played by Robert Stephens.

Despite being a major period production with meticulous attention to detail and a prestigious cast list of epic proportions, Judy recalls that time spent in costume and make up was minimal. With continuity a top priority, a strict make up artist was always on hand to ensure that the young actresses were not allowed to become over zealous with modern day mascara! Aside from the actual filming of the series which rang over two seasons, Judy’s overwhelming memories of the production are the glorious settings and rolling hills of the location coupled with the frequent invitations to cast and crew for dinner in the castle itself, extended by the stately home’s owners whose family has been in residence at the castle since the days of King Henry VIII’s reign. Something she feels added to a greater insight on the production.

Member s of the esteemed cast included; Julian Glover as Sir Martin Lacey, Sharon Maughan - Anne Lacey Fletcher, Lucy Aston - Lady Lucinda Ferrar, Rob Edwards - John Fletcher,  Tim Bentinck – Tom Lacey, Bert Parnaby – Sir Austin Fletcher, Robert Stephens – Sir Ralph Winter, Peter Jeffrey – Oliver Cromwell, Rosalie Crutchley – Goodwife Margaret and Andrew MacLachlan as Nathanial Cropper.