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Basildon Park, the setting of Netherfield in the recent screen
adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, near Pangbourne,
opens its doors this winter, giving a glimpse of a festive season
from the past.
Imagine driving up a tree-lined drive and parking your Bentley
outside a magnificent Palladian mansion at Christmas time. There may
be a dusting of snow outside, but inside it’s warm and inviting. In
the hallway, where the Christmas tree is decked in all its finery,
there’s a glass of champagne or mulled wine to greet you. Under the
tree, you’ll see traditional wooden toys for the children of the
house. There’s a roaring log fire in the sumptuous drawing room and
great bowls of poinsettias and garlands of holly and ivy adorn the
mantelpiece.
It’s a fantasy that so many of us have around Christmas and this
year the National Trust staff at Basildon Park, just a short drive
from Bentley Pangbourne, have made it a reality for their visitors.
It’s only the second year that Basildon has kept its doors open
until December. Normally it closes at the end of October, but last
year it was decided to remain open later. It proved such a huge
success that the venture is continuing.
“Winter is traditionally the closed period for the National Trust
when vital cleaning and conservation work is carried out,” says
house manager Mark Simmons. “But we wanted to offer the public a
chance to see how Basildon would be at Christmas, with its elegant
rooms decorated in seasonal style.”
When you’ve toured the house, you can pop into the Stable Yard –
Basildon Park’s well-stocked gift shop – for some last-minute
presents, and then take a light seasonal lunch or tea in the
restaurant.
It’s been a busy year for staff at Basildon Park. The beautiful
Palladian mansion, which was built in 1776-83 by John Carr for a
merchant who made his money in India, was the location for several
scenes in the latest screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s best-loved
novel ‘Pride and Prejudice,’ starring Keira Knightley and Matthew
Macfadyen.
“We shut our doors for seven weeks to clear all of the first floor
rooms to make way for 250 extras and 120 technicians over 10 days of
intensive filming,” says Mark. “It was the largest and most complex
filming project ever undertaken by the National Trust.”
Basildon became Netherfield, the home of Mr Bingley, where Elizabeth
first meets Mr Darcy. The house is also the sumptuous backdrop to
the great ball and dance scenes. Having watched the film, visitors
will recognise many of Basildon’s rooms where the dancing and
merriment takes place.
During filming, National Trust staff were on hand to ‘keep watch’ on
the rooms during takes. They kept eagle eyes on the extras, to make
sure they didn’t lean on the walls, and the hundreds of candles used
in the ball sequences.
From behind the scenes photographs and film stills to footmen’s
uniforms and items signed by the stars, the exhibition is packed
with details of how Working Title Films turned the clock back to
recreate the romance of the 18th century.
In particular, Basildon Park’s beautiful Octagon Room was given a
whole new look as set designers created a ‘room within a room’.
That the house has survived at all is largely thanks to the work of
Lord and Lady Iliffe who rescued the mansion from almost certain
ruin. Together they restored it and filled it with fine furniture
and paintings.
In 1954, for example, the Iliffes relined the walls in the famous
Octagon Drawing Room in red felt, a colour popular in the 18th
century as a background for paintings, and acquired all its
furniture. Lady Iliffe still lives in part of the mansion today, but
gave the property to the National Trust several years ago for the
enjoyment of the public.
Usually open from April to October, the house this December will
really be evocative of Christmas past and a visit is sure to get
anyone into the festive spirit.
Basildon Park, Lower Basildon, near Pangbourne. Tel: 0118 984 3040.
The gift shop in the Stable Yard is open every Wednesday to Sunday
until
18 December. A Country House Christmas runs from 14 to 18 December.
Shop open Wed to Sun, 12 to 4pm.
House open 14 to 18 December, 12 noon
to 8.30pm (to 4pm on Sunday).
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