A new exhibition at Castle Howard explores the house’s remarkable cinematic heritage, spanning over half a century of classic film and television. Discover the history of film and television productions at Castle Howard and see the costumes used in Brideshead Revisited, Lady L, Victoria and many more.
The exhibition is included in your House ticket and runs until the end of October.
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A devastating fire in 1940 prompted George Howard to open the family home to film crews, becoming one of the first private country house owners to understand the potential of seeing the Estate on screen. Raising awareness and bringing in essential funding, the projects helped to accelerate the mammoth task of restoring the badly damaged House.
The first major production was Lady L in 1965, starring Sophia Loren, and Stanley Kubrick’ celebrated classic Barry Lyndon filmed on the Estate in 1975. It was the hugely popular Brideshead Revisited television series in 1981 that really put Castle Howard on the map, linking the House and story so completely that the 2008 film adaptation returned to the House and Grounds.
In 2020 Castle Howard played a key role in Netflix’s lavish period drama Bridgerton, doubling for the fictional Clyvedon Castle. These major productions continue to help fund the restoration and development of Castle Howard and bring the House and Grounds to the attention of thousands of viewers around the world.
When US reality TV producers needed a location to perfectly represent classic period romances, Castle Howard was the natural choice. 2022’s The Courtship made extensive use of the House and Grounds to recreate Regency-era Britain. [find out more]
Beyond the exhibition, you can step into your favourite television show and movies by further exploring the House and Grounds:
The Castle Howard on Screen exhibition is included in your House ticket and runs until the end of October.