LOUISE MIDGLEY selects her favourite National Trust houses and a forest which have been chosen as locations for a recent crop of new films
Mr Turner (2014) Petworth House and Park, West Sussex, GU28 OAE
Written and directed by Mike Leigh, this biographical drama film stars actor Timothy Spall as the celebrated landscape painter, Joseph Mallord William Turner. Filming took place over a week at Petworth House, the seat of one of Turner’s greatest patrons – the third Earl of Egremont, who is played by Patrick Godfrey in the film. Turner had the run of the house when he used to visit and annexed the enormous library as his art studio, which is vividly bought back to life in the film.
The vast late 17th Century mansion is set in a beautiful 700-acre deer park, landscaped by Capability Brown and immortalised in Turner’s paintings.
Petworth House hosts ‘Mr Turner – an exhibition’ until 11 March.
It features major artworks and original items belonging to Turner himself, together with props and visuals from the film.
Opening times: House open 14 March – 14 November. Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat and Sun 11am – 5pm
Pleasure grounds, shop and restaurant open every day except 24 and 25 December from 10am – 5pm
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house/
Into The Woods (January 2015) Ashridge Forest, Hertfordshire, HP4 1LX
The enchanting, ancient woodlands of Ashridge are no stranger to the limelight having made appearances in other blockbuster films such as Harry Potter, Sleepy Hollow and Les Miserables.
Into the Woods is a musical that includes lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and is a modern twist on several of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales. James Corden, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep all appear as fairytale characters.
The Ashridge Estate is a 5,000 acres area of the Chilterns Hills. The estate has beech and oak woodlands, commons and chalk down lands. These very different landscapes each support a rich variety of wildlife, including carpets of bluebells in spring, rare butterflies in summer and the fallow deer rut in autumn.
Opening times: Estate open all year, dawn to dusk. Visitor centre and shop closed 24 and 25 December.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ashridge-estate/
Far from the Madding Crowd (May 2015) Claydon House, Buckinghamshire, MK18 2EY
Actors Carey Mulligan and Michael Sheen star in this latest adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s classic. The film crew spent 10 days at Claydon House filming the dramatic Christmas party scenes, which saw Claydon lavishly adorned in Christmas trees, mistletoe and garlands.
Claydon House is an unexpected jewel tucked away in the heart of Buckinghamshire countryside. With its graceful appearance, peaceful setting and extraordinary Rococo interiors.
Opening times: 14 March – 1 November Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat and Sun, 11am -5pm
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/claydon/
Pan (July 2015) Stowe, Buckinghamshire, MK18 5EQ
Stowe’s Grade One magnificent Palladian bridge, was chosen by director Joe Wright as the location for a special night scene involving flashbacks with Peter Pan’s mother Mary, played by Amanda Seyfried. Wright puts a new spin on J M Barrie’s original 1911 story. A young newcomer Levi Miller plays an orphan who is kidnapped by a troupe of pirates, headed by the evil Blackbeard (Hugh Jackman) and taken to Neverland, where he later becomes Peter Pan.
The scale and beauty of Stowe has attracted visitors for over 300 years. It is an architectural masterpiece of palatial scale and one of the most imitated estates in Europe. It has welcomed many literary, political and influential visitors as well as Royalty.
Opening times: Open all year except Christmas Day, 10am – 6pm
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stowe/
Cinderella (March 2015) Cliveden, Berkshire, SL6 0JA
During the film shoot of this classic fairy-tale Cinderella, animators and filmmakers from Disney visited Cliveden seeking inspiration from the famous 30-metre tall clock-tower with gold-gilded face. The film is directed by Kenneth Branagh and stars Downton Abbey’s Lily James as Cinderella and Game of Throne’s Richard Madden as Prince Charming.
The glorious gardens and woodlands of Cliveden, more famous as the venue where John Profumo and Christine Keeler first met at a party hosted by the then owner Lord Astor, are set high above the River Thames with far-reaching views.
For younger visitors, the Storybook Play Den encourages imaginations to run wild, as they play amongst wooden carvings of favourite storybook characters, whilst the 500 metres of winding paths in the Cliveden Maze make it a challenge for all ages to find the centre.
Open times: Garden, shop, café and woodland open 14 February 14 – 31 December . 10am – 5.30pm. Property closed 25 and 26 December.
