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Last week, I visited the film locations for Sense and Sensibility (1995). Tina continued with the Inspector Tom Reynolds series with Book 4, The Darkest Place, partially set on an island off Ireland’s Kerry coastline.

I’m participating in Jane Austen January, hosted by Erin at Cracker Crumb Life and Lisa at Boondock Ramblings. They welcome all posts related to Jane Austen but are particularly promoting four movies to watch. Last week, I watched and wrote about the film locations for Sense and Sensibility (1995).

Since I enjoyed the fantasy travel of visiting the film locations, I thought I would do that again for the second film, Pride and Prejudice (2005), the one with Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet.

I remembered that Knightley and Donald Sutherland were in this movie. I’d forgotten that Judi Dench also played a small but pivotal role. At the time, I wouldn’t have known much about Brenda Blethyn (Mrs. Bennet and later Vera) or Penelope Wilton (Elizabeth’s aunt, Mrs Gardiner, and later Isobel Crawley on Downton Abbey).

Carey Mulligan made her screen debut at age 20 as Elizabeth’s younger sister, Kitty. Mulligan is now one of my favorite actors: Far from the Madding Crowd, Suffragette, Collateral, The Dig, and My Grandparents’ War.

Since Almost Ginger worked well for me last week, I returned there. She covered the film locations for Pride and Prejudice, too. Yay! Check out her post to see a map of the locations, scattered around England. With that resource, I can easily compile my list of places where we can visit, in the order that they appear in the film.

Groombridge Place, Kent. This moated house stands in for Longbourne, the Bennet’s home. It’s currently closed for renovation but it’s part of Enchanted Forest, a tourist attraction with lots of activities to entertain the kids.

Sir Francis Sykes bought the land and began the building process of Basildon Park.

Basildon Park, Berkshire. This 18th-century Palladian mansion is a National Trust site, open to the public from 11am to 4pm, most days. This is Netherfield, the house recently purchased by Mr. Bingley causing great excitement among the Bennets.

Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire. One of the largest remaining houses from the 16th century, Burghley was built by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I. The home continues to be occupied by a direct descendant. To continue into the 21st Century, Burghley is now preserved in trust with the current occupant serving as House Director. Like Groombridge Place, Burghley has added an adventure play area to entertain children. The House and some of the grounds are closed each winter for renovation work, as detailed by this recent article in The Moment Magazine. Burglhey plays the grandest house in Pride and Prejudice, Rosings Park, the home of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.

Burghley House. Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen (1829). Plates by John Preston Neale.

Stourhead, Wiltshire. I actually recognized The Temple of Apollo, the garden folly where Mr. Darcy makes his first proposal to Elizabeth. My brief, but intense, fascination with English gardens, including Stourhead, happened about 30 years ago. That was pre-Web, so it was entirely fueled by library books. The house is closed in the winter, but the grounds are open year-round, cared for by the National Trust.

Stanage Edge, Peak District. The stunning nature scene of Elizabeth on top of the world, with her dress blowing in the wind, was filmed at Stanage, a rock formation on the border of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. For Jane Austen lovers, this scene is what makes the location famous. For British outdoor athletes, it’s famous as a rock-climbing destination.

Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire. Haddon Hall is 900 years old and remarkably preserved in its Tudor and Elizabethan roots because it was uninhabited during the Georgian and Victorian times when most stately homes were remodeled beyond recognition. The dining room looks just right for the interior of the 19th-century inn where Elizabeth stays with her aunt and uncle. Descendants of the original family are once again in residence in Haddon Hall. Lord and Lady Edward Manners welcome visitors in the warmer months. Haddon Hall is a popular filming location. Nineteenth and early twentieth century writers, playwrights, and film makers were fascinated by the story of Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall who eloped with her lover John Manners in 1563. Mary Pickford starred in a silent film version of the story in 1924.

Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. This stately home has been the home of the Cavendish family for nearly 500 years. It is open to visitors, but the 12th Duke of Derbyshire and his son, Earl of Burlington, and their wives are involved in the management. Chatsworth plays the role of Pemberley, Mr. Darcy’s country estate. I was fascinated by the sculpture gallery, which looks like a museum but is, in fact, the sculpture gallery at Chatsworth.

A panoramic view of Chatsworth House and Park, early 18th century (Pieter Tillemans)

Wilton House, Salisbury, Wiltshire. The drawing room scenes at Pemberley, on the other hand, were filmed elsewhere — at Wilton House. We visited Wilton House in last week’s post. It is a favorite place for film crews.

I wonder how long my vacation to England would need to be if my goal were to visit all the film locations that appeared in adaptations of Jane Austen novels. Wouldn’t that be a grand trip?