As you can see from the title of this post, I am going to be doing a series of articles about the locations used to film Pride & Prejudice. Not only the 1995 TV series, but also the 2005 film, Lost in Austen and Death Comes to Pemberley. Where possible, I will also add some comparison picture.

I recently visited the Grade I listed building of Sudbury Hall. This is where the internal shots of Pemberley were filmed for the 1995 BBC dramatization of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice.

The house was built between 1660 and 1680 by George Vernon, and boasts a superb Great Staircase, fine Long Gallery, and elaborate plasterwork and carvings. To the rear there are formal gardens with a tree-fringed lake.

After the 9th Lord Vernon died in 1963 his son offered Sudbury Hall to the Treasury in lieu of the crippling death duties. Then in 1967 the Treasury, realising that it would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to restore and maintain, passed it on to the National Trust. After extensive renovations and conservation work, it was opened to the public in the 1970’s

Pride & Prejudice.

We start with the scene where Wickham waits for Darcy to pay him off, a handsome cheque for £3000 in lieu of the living at Kympton. Wickham tells Darcy he is inclined to study the law instead. When Darcy recalls these events in his letter to Elizabeth, he writes one of the most telling lines in the book. ” I rather wished than believed him to be sincere”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next two pictures are of when Elizabeth and the Gardiners are being shown round Pemberley by Darcy’s housekeeper, Mrs Reynolds. As you can see there is no longer access to the beautiful Grand Staircase, but I was still  able to match a picture of them about to ascend it. Note the wonderful basket carving on the end of the balustrade rail. The conservators had to clean of centuries of paint and varnish to restore it back to its former glory. Well worth it too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next room was where Darcy writes Wickham’s cheque. Mrs Reynolds also describes it as Mrs Darcy’s (Darcy’s mother) favourite room. However, the desk used during filming is no longer there, and you are limited to where you can stand to take picture due to barriers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This room is where Caroline Bingley tells Darcy how ill Miss Eliza looks. As you can see there is no longer any furniture in it, but its outstanding feature, the fireplace, is worth a picture alone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are in the Long Gallery, which is just over 138 feet in length. In this scene we see Elizabeth and the Gardiners, escorted by Mrs Reynolds, to view the ‘finer, larger’ portrait of Darcy in the Long Gallery. Elizabeth stands before the painting of Darcy, her admiration and budding feelings are clearly visible in her countenance, (I love using old fashioned words).

 

 

 

 

 

 

We stay in the Long Gallery for the next set of pictures. This time it is  when Darcy walks through with his dogs after Elizabeth has left. He goes back to the salon and remembers the look they exchanged, when she hurried to Georgiana’s side after Caroline’s carless remark about George Wickham. Encouraged by her actions, and full of hope, he decides to propose to her the next morning.

If you look to the right of the fire place you can see the same painting in both pictures. It is of Margaret Onley, who married George Vernon in 1660 aged 18. She died when she was only 33.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we see Darcy getting dressed for that very important meeting with Elizabeth. You can clearly see the fire place mouldings and the distinctive red wall paper.

And finally, no post would be complete without that famous portrait of Darcy.

Sudbury Hall is well worth a visit. It has been restored beautifully and in many of the rooms you can walk around freely. We found the room attendants to be extremely knowledgeable and willing to share the history and  stories of the Hall..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our very best

Lizzie and  Darcy x