Benthall Hall is situated in the town of Broseley just above Ironbridge. Broseley is more famously known for its clay pipe making skills in the last century, notably the very long church warden ones.
Surrounded by Shropshire countryside, and with a fine stone building and grand courtyard entrance, Benthall Hall was chosen as an ideal filming location for the exterior of ‘Ferndell’ - the Holmes family estate. However, a lot of work was needed to make this well-cared for historic place look wild and unkempt for the film.
Production Designer Michael Carlin said: ‘In the story we have the brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft, arriving home for the first time and Mycroft expressing dismay at the state of their home. He’s been sending his mother money for upkeep but she has more important things to do with the money.
‘The gardeners and the people taking care of the house at Benthall were brilliant in allowing the gardens to get really overgrown and letting us drape vines all over the exterior.’
Along with the return of Sherlock and Mycroft to their family home, this location was also used to film carriage rides through the horse chestnut avenue and through gates behind the church into the front courtyard. An assembling search party scene was also filmed on the front courtyard.
I had not visited in some years so it was a spur of the moment decision on our part & we are glad we did.
The gardens have lovely spring colour & it all looked splendid. We stopped in at the lovely church attached to the estate, so much history is there.
I hope you have enjoyed the photos, stop by again soon, or leave a welcome comment.
Dee
I love the photos of Benthall Hall
ReplyDelete