Starring Great Britain - Highclere Castle
Starring Great Britain - Highclere Castle
Honey coloured buildings, Greek pillars, gothic arches spanning a narrow street, tall, mullioned windows, courtyards and gatehouses – the city of Oxford never fails to enchant and inspire. In addition, the sun was shining which is always a win. Ten days ago, I was part of a panel speaking at a Heritage Filming Conference in the Bodleian Library.
The brainchild of Christina Pascoe from English Heritage, the conference pulled together interested parties to learn and talk together. It was such an interesting day, from the intricate detail of filming 'Hamnet' at a National Trust property with such care and authenticity to relating the stories and the filming of 'Call the Midwife' at Chatham Docks.
The many heritage buildings scattered throughout the UK are the “real” sets for numerous TV series and films. Authenticity, depth and context along with atmosphere and natural lighting are easily added to the film makers’ textures and sounds, all of which can create those stunning vital elements that shape the narrative, set the tone, and immerse the audience in the story. Buildings are powerful visual metaphors, adding layers of meaning to a story and helping to mirror the characters’ emotional state or their personal growth and used in this way, locations can be used to represent a character’s inner world, highlighting both their struggles and their successes.
England, with its diverse landscapes, offers filmmakers and TV creators a rich variety of settings from dramatic coastlines to serene villages. In recent years, many productions have turned to locations outside of London to bring their stories to life. From the National Trust Scotland to assorted art galleries, from Stonehenge to Tintagel, all our historic sites are real and touchable. For all the possibilities of AI, there is still nothing quite like a real building. Most of us enjoy a sense of belonging, of knowing where we are and the knowledge that these buildings exist in real life and may even be visitable instils an extra something to the viewing pleasure. There is nothing like the reality of place, hearing the natural world, seeing with our own eyes, of smelling the scent of spring.
Film tourism combines reality with our imagination and, rather like reading a book, allows us for a few moments to live vicariously, standing in the steps of our favourite screen characters, from Lord Grantham to Sherlock Holmes. For houses such as Highclere, it is a relatively new and still evolving business model but consistent with the need to makes such buildings relevant to a modern world.
It is a different way of marketing but with its own issue in that inevitably film crews change or add to houses. There may be less or more wisteria crawling up the outside, or roses where none exist in real life. Different furniture and paintings can make a room look completely different and some parts of a house may exist only in a studio and not at all in real life. Certainly the Highclere guides very used to explaining to our visitors that Mrs Patmore’s kitchen is in a studio many miles from the real Castle!
42 Comments
So very interesting to read thank you
Lovely the pictures of starring great British-highcelere castle and happy Easter to you and lord Carnarvon and lam fan of Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
Always something on this blog of great interest
to both learn and to genuinely absorb.
many thanks.
I learn too as I write!
Stunning photo of Highclere between the soaring, ancient pines. Thank you for sharing!
We are, indeed, so fortunate to have so much history and beauty in the UK. I love watching the filming that goes on locally to me throughout the year. It is wonderful to see my city on the screen, large and small. My local historic house has a wonderful kitchen and it's my favourite part of the house to take in the atmosphere. My Scottish Granny worked in a space just like this in the "big hoose" .
Did she keep any diaries?
As always, excellent information
Wish I were at high-level right now
Never stop writing, you are the best
Thank you. Sincerely. Desiree creary
Very kind
As always, excellent information
Wish I were at high-level right now
Never stop writing, you are the best
Thank you. Sincerely. Desiree creary
Enjoying Monday with your stories, pictures with a cup of tea.. I had the pleasure of visiting Highclere twice one of my best memories of England
Lady Carnarvon,
My family appreciates the beauty, historic value and the history of our country's estates, Palaces, churches and homes. We have travelled to England many times and always include visits to historic homes. The National Trust and English Heritage organizations excel at walking the line between access and preservation. I encourage travelers to your country to visit their website and join them when planning a trip outside of London. I know you are enjoying Spring and the rebirth of your gardens. Best Wishes to you and your family..
The access/curate line is always evolving!
Love you e-mails , hoping to get there someday soon. I'm rewatching Downton Abbey again.
Lady Carnarvon,
As long as beautiful buildings and monuments stand, history is within actual touch at times. I am so glad to have had that honor. Thank goodness for those like you and Lord Carnarvon have pledged to keep history alive through majestic Highclere Castle and the store of history in the building and on the grounds. Thank you!
Martha G
Thank you for your kind words
I always love seeing what you are doing! You are a such amazing resource for so many ventures!
Thanks for sharing!
My husband thinks I'm weird, because I love to use google to read about the houses and castles in the film, when I've seen a beautiful location. Most often the location is in England.
Hege, I do the same thing and it makes my husband laugh.
Carol G. Oregon USA
If it brings you pleasure, it also brings you knowledge! Keep at it! I do the same thing!
I’ll not forget having my photo taken on the staircase at Highclere! It meant so much to me.
Wonderful
Any chance of buying the "Mrs Patmore's Kitchen " set and exhibiting it at Highclere?set
We had a great visit to Highclere last July. Cannot wait to return!
Rick B.
This is why I so love British television shows. The locations and scenery are amazing! I especially enjoy All Creatures Great and Small and the scenes of the Dales. And on the show Annika, there was excellent locations in Scotland. Thank you for allowing Highclere to be a part of this.
Lady Carnarvon,
You are so elegant in your expression of the
value in the incredible architecture and
locations throughout Great Britain. Upon
attending a literature seminar at Oxford
several years ago, I was completely
overwhelmed with awe at the history all
around me. As I stood at a window in
Shakespeare’s house, I touched the worn,
smooth wood and thought “he might have
stood here thinking of going to London
someday”. An unbelievable moment.
So, all this to say, we have to be very
grateful for everyone who has chosen
to curate the antiquities of the country.
This valuable gift enriches the present
time in a way nothing else can.
Thank you, dear Lady.
Thank you so much for this article. I have been wanting to come back to England & visit Highclere Castle. I just booked a day for me & my granddaughter to visit on July 21st & the day trip includes visiting Oxford. I am beyond excited.
Oxford is extraordinary
I have been watching PBS, in the US, since the original Poldark series in the late 70's. I'm especially drawn to the Dramas/Mysteries that feature "real life" locales, such as
Endeavour, Grantchester, Magpie Murders, and of course Downton Abbey. Really, it's like having the location become like another character in the series!
I will always support PBS - don't lose them !!!
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog. It was such an interesting read, great pictures, too. Also enjoy watching the programs you mentioned.
Perpetua Crawford
Beautiful. Thank you for sharing/
I just loved Oxford. My wife and I have been there twice. Cambridge is ok but Oxford it better. Highclere is also one of our favorite places to visit. Perhaps one day we will
return and spend much more time there.
Robert Douch
Vancouver Canada
Absolutely love your blog and your books received as.presents..After visiting some of your castles in UK makes.me want to come back.If only. Z
I could.
Wonderful.
Thank you for sharing.
The heritage buildings are a rich gift to us, the viewers, through the series filmed in those locations! Also, what a gift it is to the UK that those buildings are preserved! Thank you for your part in that, Lady Carnarvon! I love your blogs. d!
I can't help it. I just love England. I've been there 15 times goodness gracious perhaps that's a bit obsessive but for this Australian England is Home!t
How interesting it must have been for you to speak at the Heritage Filming Conference We are so very lucky that wonderful historical properties in Great Britain have been open to the public and used more extensively in recent years for the filming of both movies and television series. Highclere is such a beautiful building with lovely landscaped grounds that I'm sure there will be many more requests to film there. We have visited many historic stately homes and castles, but I have to admit that Highclere is our favourite. We've had such a lovely experience on each of our two visits and every time we see a Downton Abbey movie or episode, it reminds us of those visits. We hope to visit again on our next trip to the UK.
We wish you, your family a wonderful Easter weekend
Thank you - I have just been refining an Instagram post about Good Friday - it is making me ponder - I hope it will be the same for those who look and read it
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Your blog is so we'll written and such a pleasure to read!
Your words are as lush as an English countryside.
I live vicariously through British TV shows and movies.
The UK is so very beautiful and historical.
Thank you for also sharing it with the world!
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