Basildon
We drove an hour to get to the location of what I thought was the setting of Mr. Bingley's mansion in A&E's mini-series of Pride and Prejudice. Mom thought it was the set of Longbourn, the Bennett's abode in that same mini-series.
Turns out, Basildon House and Gardens has seen it's fair share of Hollywood fame. Think back to the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice and picture Netherfield Hall, the classic setting of Mr. Bingley and Jane's romance. The imposing interior and exterior of that building is none other than Basildon House. If you've seen Marie-Antoinette or The Duchess, you have no doubt glimpsed a small part of this glorious house.
It has a rich past, despite some neglect through the years, and now rests in the capable hands of the National Trust. From its foundational beginning in 1776 to becoming army barracks in the Second World War; from its structural decline in the 1920's to its reclamation and modernization by Lord and Lady Iliffe in 1936, Basildon is full of interesting historical tidbits.
My favorite story is how Lady Iliffe went about making Basildon a home. One day, she decided to cover the walls in her sitting room. But fabric in her day was expensive, especially if you wanted to use it to cover four walls. She fixed the problem by fashioning wall coverings with some of her friend's used curtains. To this day, you can see the indents where the wall fabric would have been tied into curtains. She was a resourceful owner, and it is to her credit that Basildon has withstood the test of time.
Cheers to Lady Iliffe and the National Trust for this British gem!
Turns out, Basildon House and Gardens has seen it's fair share of Hollywood fame. Think back to the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice and picture Netherfield Hall, the classic setting of Mr. Bingley and Jane's romance. The imposing interior and exterior of that building is none other than Basildon House. If you've seen Marie-Antoinette or The Duchess, you have no doubt glimpsed a small part of this glorious house.
My favorite story is how Lady Iliffe went about making Basildon a home. One day, she decided to cover the walls in her sitting room. But fabric in her day was expensive, especially if you wanted to use it to cover four walls. She fixed the problem by fashioning wall coverings with some of her friend's used curtains. To this day, you can see the indents where the wall fabric would have been tied into curtains. She was a resourceful owner, and it is to her credit that Basildon has withstood the test of time.
Cheers to Lady Iliffe and the National Trust for this British gem!
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