Pride and Prejudice Location- My afternoon at Pemberley

OK, now that I have got your attention with the breathtaking view of Pemberley (AKA Lyme Park, Cheshire), I will take you there.  It was last summer and we had just driven down from the Lakes District and through busy Manchester (yes the same city where Beckham used to play for Manchester United) and found our way to Disley, Cheshire, just on the east side of England's seventh largest city.
At the gate, they gave us a CD to pop into the player in the car which gave an audio tour of the park, with music from P&P, as we drove in.  Very nice touch and I am sick to think that we left it in the rental car!!!
After a torrential downpour (unusual for England-usually a drizzle) during which we had lunch and browsed the gift shop, the sky finally cleared.  It was a Wednesday, and the interior of the house was not open, but I really just wanted to see the grounds and all the outdoor locations of the beloved miniseries as they used a different house for the interiors (I'll blog about that one another day).
The first view you get is not the one above, which is the back of the house, but this:

"I hope you are not displeased with Pemberley."

Excitement building? It was for me.  This drive, of course, is where the Gardiner's carriage was parked when Lizzy was trying to hurry them away.  Maybe this next shot will help to visualize.

Did your heart just skip a beat?  Notice that the sun came out just as we approached the courtyard and peeked through the arch.  Then we walked through and...

I swear I could actually see Mr. Darcy running down those steps in those boots (oh those boots) and buttoning his jacket.  I couldn't believe I was actually there.  Then we walked through to the rear of the building and my husband (The Squire as I affectionately call him) got the beautiful sunny shot which I use for my main blog photo.

"I confess I had no idea Pemberley was such a great estate."

 We had to hurry now, as all the rain delay meant that we were nearing closing time.  We saw the sunken gardens which are just to the left of the walk in the view above.

And then we walked past that glorious rear facade to the stairs...

"Do I ask too much to introduce my sister to you during your stay at Lambton?"

And then at the top of those steps, you turn back for the gorgeous view below.

"We must leave here at once.  Oh I wish we had never come."

We kept walking down this path and around the lake for the shot that everyone remembers as Lizzy's first view of Pemberley.

"I think one would be willing to put up with a good deal to be mistress of Pemberley."

And then the bell rang and we were hurried out of the grounds, back through the courtyard and onto the drive in front of the house again.  So off we drove to the Peaks district and to the next Pemberley (AKA Chatsworth).  But that is a blog for another day...

I wanna go to....Saltram House-Location for Sense and Sensibility 1995

OK, doesn't this make you want to go to Devon and drink up some of that gorgeous scenery and remember Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant being all adorable and witty?  If you don't recognize Saltram House from the photo above, perhaps the one below will help...

 "Has she shown you her tree-house?".....  "Not yet.  Would you do me the honour Miss Dashwood?  It is very fine out."  ...."With pleasure."

"A country living is my ideal - a small parish where I might do some good, keep chickens and give very short sermons."

"Piracy is our only option."........"What is swabbing exactly?"

I think I could spend at least a day between the gorgeous grounds where those wild woolly sheep were running all over (and apparently had to be shorn halfway through filming as they were so heavy they were tipping over) and that amazing stately house.  I would love to see the library ("These are mostly foreign...") and see the window where Emma Thompson (as Elinor) watched the sword fight between Hugh Grant (as Edward) and the adorable Emilie Francois (as Margaret).  "Oooooff!"

Yes, I think that would be a lovely day, even if I didn't get to climb up to the tree-house.  My sister and I plan to go there someday and drink it all in.  Care to join us?

Emma location-Squerryes Court

Rarely have I ever drooled so much over a location as I have for the location chosen for Emma's home of Hartfield in the 2009 BBC version of Jane Austen's Emma.
Not only the actual house and gardens of Squerryes Court, which are exquisite, but also the way the house was "dressed" by the set designers and the way the intimate photography and direction brought the viewer through the house as if you were right there with Emma and Mr. Knightley as they were verbally sparring with each other.

If ever I find myself again in Kent, I will go out of my way to see the house.  It is open Wed, Sun and Bank Holiday Mondays and only 7 pounds sterling for both the house and garden!  I certainly could understand how Emma would not be in a big hurry to leave that house to get married, especially to a worm like Mr. Elton.

But to Jonny Lee Miller's Mr. Knightley, well, that is a different matter.  I mean, even the perfection of Squerryes Court cannot compare to his Mr. Knightley!


 
This is my idea of the perfect country manor house. And to all of the lucky brides who get married or have their receptions there every year, I am green with envy.  And to anyone who got to see the Emma Exhibition this year at Squerryes Court which included some of the dresses from the above production-you are very lucky!!!

 

Anyone want to join me in a house and garden tour?  Even though the costumes are gone, I could spend at least an afternoon poking around Emma's home in the country.  You too?