The beautiful period houses chosen to play the roles of Longbourn, Netherfield, Rosings, and Pemberley in the 1995 series and 2005 movie contributed so much to the look and feel of both adaptations. Those of us who enjoyed reading about the houses chosen for Joe Wright’s movie, and fantasizing about the advantageous marriages (or perhaps lottery wins?) we’d need before ’settling with the owner,’ can now repeat the experience with this feature on the homes chosen for the BBC’s dramatization.

Longbourn – Luckington Court

Longbourn was played by Luckington Court in Wiltshire. Location Manager Sam Breckham spotted the house and simply knocked on the door and asked permission to use it for filming. The owner, Angela Horn, jumped at the chance to have sixty or seventy people traipse through her property for a period of 10 weeks. ‘You have to be willing to go the whole hog’ she says in ‘The Making of Pride and Prejudice.’ ‘When I first decided to have the film crew here I expected to suffer a lot from being displaced. After all, I’ve lived undisturbed here for the last 40 years. But instead, I’ve never been happier. Everyone in the crew works from dawn till dusk, but they’re always cheerful.’

Luckington Court was built as early as 1600, but a house has existed on the same plot of land since the 11th Century. It is available for weddings (now there’s a romantic fantasy for you!) and also corporate functions, etc. Its website contains some interesting historical notes and other pieces of information, and can be found at http://www.luckingtoncourt.co.uk/.

Pemberley – Lyme Park

For exterior scenes, Lyme Park on the Staffordshire/Derbyshire border was used. The cast and crew were not able to use it for interior scenes due to a change in management during the filming period. Sam Breckham said that ‘Some people think Jane Austen was thinking of Chatsworth House as Pemberley, but in fact Chatsworth is referred to in its own right in Pride and Prejudice.’ Of course, this doesn’t rule out the possibility that Jane Austen was inspired by Chatsworth, and it surely makes a great Pemberley in the 2005 movie!

An addition to the tudor house, converted in the 18th Century into an Italianate palace, Lyme Park also boasts a Deer Park, moorland and woodland on its estate. There are guided tours and events, and exhibitions and educational activities, as well as cycling and walking routes for the more active visitor. Admission is reasonably priced.

Here is its website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-lymepark.

Pemberley – Sudbury Hall

The interior scenes of Pemberley were shot in Sudbury Hall in Derbyshire. Sudbury Hall is a 17th Century house, famous for its interiors and its grand gallery and staircase. The house runs ‘Meet the Butler’ tours, which sound like a great way to learn about life ‘below the stairs.’ Sudbury Hall was also used in the BBC’s adaptation of Jane Eyre. By the way, Sudbury Hall is also available for weddings for well-endowed wallets.

Read about Sudbury Hall here: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-sudburyhall.htm

Rosings – Belton Park

Belton Park in Lincolnshire was chosen as Rosings Park. Breckham describes it as ‘a splendid Restoration country house with wonderfully formal gardens to the front and rising parkland to the side.’ The gardens provide a wonderful backdrop to the scene in which Mr. Collins bores everyone with his description of Rosings’ many windows. Rosings is an intimidating place in the story, but Belton is a versatile performer, having also featured in Jane Eyre and Tom Jones.

Like Lyme Park and Sudbury Hall, Belton House is a National Trust property and open to visitors, who can explore the house and grounds. There is a silver and furniture collection, deer park and even an orangery. Kids and adults can dress up in Victorian clothing, and there is a large adventure playground too. Rooms are decorated in 17th-century, Regency, Victorian and 1930s styles.

Here is the website: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-beltonhouse.htm

Netherfield – Edgcote House

Netherfield, the rented home of Charles Bingley, is played by Edgcote House near Banbury in Oxfordshire. The house is privately owned and visits are by written appointment only. The house was built between 1748 and 1754 and comes with 1,700 acres of farmland, houses and cottages. In 2005, the estate was sold to a mystery buyer for an undisclosed fee. Okay, I admit it – it was me.

Not really.

Lizzy