Film At Our Sites

English Heritage are very proud of their association with the television, film, video and photographic industries - both within the UK and internationally. Several thousand enquiries are fielded each year with the majority of the production work tying in with the normal tourism period.

In 2005 Eltham Palace played host to the filming of Guy Ritchie's 'Revolver'. The soon-to-be-released and highly anticipated feature film 'Scenes of a Sexual Nature' was filmed over 3 weeks in August at another English Heritage London property, Kenwood House.

Television highlights for 2005 include 'Hustle', 'Bad Girls', 'BBC's Elizabeth: The Virgin Queen' and 'The Farm'. English Heritage properties also shone in 'Coast' for the BBC, David Starkey's 'Monarchy' series and 'Time Team'.  The Discovery Channel's motorcyle diary 'American Chopper' visited Stonehenge and ex-English Heritage archaeologist Julian Richards was interviewed by the infamous bike-builder presenters.

We also enjoyed hosting 'Annie Liebowitz for Tatler', New York, students for 'The National Film School' and a third-time return visit to Rievaulx Abbey - footage is used for backdrop in 'History Boys', Alan Bennett's hugely successful production at the National Theatre.

Feature Films

Ralph Fiennes in Onegin, filmed at Northington Grange One of the most impressive film productions at an English Heritage site was 'Onegin'(1999), starring Liv Tyler and Ralph Fiennes, filmed at Northington Grange in the South East. It took the crew three weeks to transform the 18th century mansion into a sumptuous Russian country house (including adding a third storey and an extra wing), requiring Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent.'To Kill a King', a feature film about Cromwell and Fairfax, starring Dougray Scott, Tim Roth and Rupert Everett, was shot at Dover Castle for ten days in February 2002. A mock London street scene was created with the castle in the background as the Tower of London (the domes to be added in post-production). The courtyard and keep of the castle and the underground tunnels were also extensively used.

Kenwood House in Hampstead during the filming of 'Notting Hill' in May 1998. Kenwood House in Hampstead during the filming of 'Notting Hill' in May 1998. Osborne House in the Isle of Wight provided the perfect setting for the Blockbuster 'Mrs Brown' starring Dame Judi Dench and Billy Connolly. 'Notting Hill', starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, featured Kenwood House, London, as a spectacular location at which Roberts' character was filming a period drama. Kenwood was also used in '101 Dalmations' and 'Mansfield Park'.

Recent filming coups for the ever popular Eltham Palace have included Stephen Fry's directorial debut 'Bright Young Things', and the film adaptation of Dodie Smith's beloved 1948 novel 'I Capture the Castle'.

Kirby Hall in the East Midlands was transformed into a splendid Regency location for Miramax's 'Mansfield Park' starring Jonny Lee Miller. As a result visitor numbers increased significantly, with the spin-off of popular Mansfield Park tours. 'A Christmas Carol' starring Star-Trek's Patrick Stewart was also filmed at Kirby.

Filming in the North East region has included 'Elizabeth' (1997) the BAFTA award-winning film starring Kate Blanchet and Joseph Fiennes, filmed at Warkworth Castle.

Television

Osborne House is in demand for a wide range of filming from 'Songs of Praise' to 'Blind Date'.

Stonehenge in the South West has the most international appeal of all our sites, with recent filming for Japanese, German and Canadian audiences. Programmes about the mystery of Stonehenge appear often on the Discovery Channel and National Geographic.

Recent filming at Kenwood includes 'William & Mary' a BBC sitcom with Martin Clunes. Lord Burlington's palladian villa at Chiswick House was used for the BBC's 'Inspector Linley Mysteries'. The BBC also spent two days filming 'Crime Doubles' with Chiswick interiors and exteriors receiving over 20 minutes of coverage.
After narrowly missing out on providing the location for 'Remains of the Day' (1993) Audley End in the East of England has bounced back, its organic kitchen garden has proved highly popular, most notably in the hour long 'Gardener's World' special programme screened on BBC 2 in August 2002, which led to a significant increase in visitor numbers. The West Midlands attracts a wide range of productions, from the BBC's 'Dangerfield' filmed at Kenilworth Castle to 'Curious Gardeners', filmed at Witley Court.

The Yorkshire region's rich history makes it an ideal location for programmes such as the BBC's 'Blood of the Vikings', filmed at Clifford's Tower and Middleham Castle. The popularity of David Attenborough's 'Life of Mammals', filmed at Mount Grace Priory, in which he said it was one of his favourite sites in the country, has given the site and it stoats national coverage and increased visitor numbers.

For more information about filming at our properties call Sarah Eastel Locations on 01225 858100, Fax 01225 858798 go to the website Sarah Eastel Locations.