Basildon Park celebrates 20 years as a film & TV location

Berkshire's Basildon Park is marking twenty years of being used as a film and TV location.

'Visions Unreel' is the name of an exhibition showcasing the many productions that have been filmed there including Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey, The Crown and Bridgerton.

The exhibition includes costumes, set pieces, furniture and an original hand-drawn storyboard from Pride & Prejudice.

However, it’s in the Regency splendour of Bridgerton that Netflix viewers have been enjoying Basildon Park recently.

Basildon’s Garden Room and parterre were both used to film an evening party scene in series two. In total it took a week to prepare for filming, as the shoot took place in late October whereas Bridgerton’s action is set during the London ‘season’, which traditionally runs from April to the end of August.

The production design team brought in around 5000 artificial flowers to fill the rose garden with ‘summer’ blooms, and also added more greenery and foliage around the back of the house. In the latest series three, which was shot in a summer of drought, the parched grass had to be sprayed green.

Party scenes took place during night shoots from 8pm – 5am. A team of staff and volunteers worked around the clock to get everything set up, and to be on hand during the filming. As bats are in residence at Basildon Park and night shoots could disturb them, National Trust rangers stipulated that filming lights must be turned off at twilight and dawn.

Shoots are also supported by specialist project conservators, who help to make sure that the historic surroundings and collection items are all looked after throughout the filming.

Conservation

Sebastian Conway, Interim General Manager, Basildon Park said:

‘We are always looking for ways to fund the vital conservation work that we need to do at Basildon Park. The location fees of filming go towards fundraising for conservation projects, such as the recent work to conserve the largest painting in Basildon Park’s collection, Rebecca at the Well by Sebastiano Galeotti. The funds help us secure the future of this historic estate for generations to come, whilst attracting new audiences so that more people can benefit from what Basildon Park has to offer.”

Visions Unreel, showcasing 20 years of filming at Basildon Park, is taking place in the Garden Room at Basildon Park.

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