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JANE EYRE BLOCKBUSTER FILMED AT BELTON HOUSE
Belton House was taken over by the BBC last week to film a new version of Charlotte Bronte's classic Jane Eyre.
Belton House was taken over by the BBC last week to film a new version of Charlotte Bronte's classic Jane Eyre.The stately home is being used as Gateshead Hall, home of Jane's aunt Mrs Reed who is supposed to look after the orphaned Jane but is cruel to her before sending her away to Lowood School.
The drama features an all-star cast including Tara Fitzgerald, Toby Stephens and Francesca Annis alongside Ruth Wilson as the eponymous heroine.
The line-up also includes Darling Buds of May favourite Pam Ferris and Christina Cole, best known for her role in the Sky One mini-series Hex.
Belton House has been used for television shows including Bargain Hunt, Treasure Hunt, Moondial and also featured as Rosings in the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
House and collections manager David Fitzer was on hand during filming to monitor the BBC.
He said: "They have a schedule they need to fit to and we do all we can to help them, working within the limits. Because we are a nationally important house they can't do anything to put the house or contents at risk.
"It is our job to look out for the conservation of the building. We know they are going to be extremely careful but it looks frightening when you see the amount of equipment they have.
"So much is required for these things and we have moved all our furniture out for them. They bring their own props which they get from a specialist supplier and are contemporary to the period.
"It can be a lot of hard work for staff here. It is a different type of work for everybody, something out of the ordinary.
"It raises the profile of the house and gets visitors through the doors which in turn helps us to fund the property."
During filming visitors had the opportunity to explore areas not usually open to the public including the basement, the servant's tunnel and the chapel.
Mr Fitzer said: "We have had to close about 90 per cent of the house because they are using the red drawing room, dining room, breakfast room, study, boudoir, queen's bedroom and the Chinese bedroom.
"The house has become very condensed for visitors but the funding will allow us to do some projects that we have got lined up a couple of years ahead of what we were planning. It all benefits our visitors. They will get to see more of the house. We are planning to open up the basements on a permanent basis."
Although Belton House has its own red room, opened in March 2004 after two years of restoration work, the red room where Mrs Reed locks Jane is actually being created at Sudbury Hall while Belton's red room is transformed into the grand salon at Gateshead.
The four-part drama series will be shown in the autumn and is directed by Susanna White who also directed the successful Bafta-nominated adaptation of Bleak House.
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