The Flaxton Boys

The Flaxton Boys is a British historical children's television series set in the West Riding of Yorkshire and covering a timespan of almost a century. The series was made by Yorkshire Television and was broadcast on ITV between 1969 and 1973, running for 4 series and 52 episodes, each of 30 minutes duration.

The Flaxton Boys had a number of different scriptwriters, was produced by Jess Yates and Robert D. Cardona, and directed mainly by Cardona (45 episodes). Each of the series was set in a different era, spanning the years 1854 to 1945 and 1946.

The first series is set in 1854-55, during the Crimean War. Captain Andrew Flaxton has disappeared during his war service, while his wife Lucy and his son Jonathan inherit the dilapidated Flaxton Hall. The plot revolves around treasure hunting within the Hall. The returning Andrew finds the Hall's treasure and seemingly secures a safe future for his family. The second series is set in 1890, with Andrew in his old age and Jonathan having disappeared. An old friend is hired as the Hall's caretaker. Two boys prevent the takeover of the Hall by a hereditary foe. One of them is David, the previously unknown son and heir of Jonathan. The third series is set in 1928. David Flaxton was killed in World War I, and his widow Jane is the sole resident of the Hall. Their son Jonathan returns from his boarding school, and volunteers to convert the abandoned Stilgoe Lodge into an orphanage. The plot revolves around supposed hauntings in the Lodge. The fourth series is set in 1945 and 1946, in the aftermath of World War II. Jonathan returns from his war service, but he is unable to financially maintain the Hall. The Hall is largely destroyed by a fire.