I’m sure you’re also thinking about whether or not you should rent out your huge castle or palace for the upcoming Netflix series. It is a very common noise. So much so that the British insurer Ecclesiastical has prepared a guide so that owners of historical heritage know how to deal with this issue.
Things have gotten out of hand with Saltburn, Emerald Fennell’s film that tells the story of a not-so-talented Mr. Ripley, a scholarship recipient at Oxford University, who is invited to spend a summer in the enormous medieval mansion of a rich aristocrat with whom he shares a desk. The film became a hit on Prime Video for several reasons, among which the nude of actor Barry Keoghan to the rhythm of Murder on the Dancefloor of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, the ostensible homoeroticism of the film, the scandalous luxury of its sets or the fact that the other leading actor, Jacob Elordi, was already a star thanks to the series Euphoria. Be that as it may, it seems that Charles Stopford Sackville, owner of Drayton House, the place where the film was filmed, does not seem to be happy with the furor unleashed by it. A couple of months ago, the aristocrat said he regretted having allowed the film to be recorded there. “I never imagined the amount of interest the film would spark. It’s quite strange. And it is not pleasant at all,” he revealed to the Mail on Sunday.
The aristocrat inherited this historic location from his father 10 years ago, although it has been in his family since 1770. The mansion is located in the small town of Lowick (Northamptonshire, England) and was built in 1328. “How would you feel “If people were taking photos outside your house all day?” asked Stopford Sackville. “I would prefer that the interest fade away, but I can’t make it fade away.” There is a public path that borders the mansion, but its owner claimed that his staff had already caught “more than 50 intruders” skipping it. In addition to curious onlookers wandering off the path, Stopford Sackville says the outside of his property is filled with tiktokers dancing to Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s catchy song and a good handful of audiovisual tourists taking selfies. Although she did not reveal the amount she was paid to allow filming in her mansion, she did affirm that it influenced “100%” her decision: “These houses do not maintain themselves.” She also said that her family and that of Fennell, the director, have maintained a friendship for years, which also had her influence in allowing it to be filmed there.
In a report published in the American edition of the magazine Vanity Fair last summer, months before the premiere of Saltburn (which would arrive in November), it was stated that no member of the production team could reveal the name or location of the property due to contractual obligation. However, the British magazine Tatlerspecializing in the lifestyle of high society, recognized (and revealed) which house it was immediately after the publication of the trailer. But even if he hadn’t said it Tatlerwould have emerged on TikTok: viral interest in the mansion increased when several users of this social network they discovered his whereabouts, reaching more than five million people with this information. Too many, even for a 127-room mansion.
Other people have managed to make a huge profit out of having their mansion, castle, palace or abbey featured in a popular film or television series. This is the case of Lady Fiona Carnarvon and her husband, George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon, owners of Highclere Castle in Newbury, southern England. An enormous construction with 1,300 years of history, 300 rooms and more than 2,000 hectares of gardens, forests and farms, the work of architect Charles Barry (the same one who designed the Palace of Westminster), and which, in addition, in 2010 became the home of the Crawley family for the six seasons and two movies it ran Downton Abbey. It was thanks to the friendship of Lord Carnarvon, godson of Isabell II, with Julian Fellowes, creator of the series, who already while writing the script had his friend’s property in mind as the main setting. It is not known how much the production company spent exactly, but it is estimated that for the first three seasons, the Carnarvons received 500,000 pounds for around 30 days of filming, while, arriving at the fifth, they received around a million.
However, the real deal came later. Since its premiere, interest in the historical drama has brought millions of visitors to the Counts in the last decade (more than 100,000 a year, in addition to about 15,000 school-age children). Highclere offers specialized experiences (such as Christmas, just for £130, and Christmas dickensiana, for 185), guided tours (between 85 and 130 pounds) or historical days that recreate events such as the First or Second World War or parties set in the roaring twenties. They also offer accommodation within the property (although not inside the castle) or the possibility of holding private events there, where weddings in particular are very popular. The benefits that Downton Abbey has reported to the owners of Highclere are undoubtedly greater than the prejudices: apparently, during one of the recordings, a turquoise chest belonging to Lady Carnarvon fell to the floor and broke, requiring repair at Sotheby’s. It is assumed that the repair did not amount to a million pounds.
William Herbert, 18th Earl of Pembroke and 15th Earl of Montgomery, has also taken advantage of his estates after, at the age of 26, he inherited Wilton House, in the English county of Wiltshire, an estate of 5,700 hectares, in addition to 14 agricultural companies and 200 other real estate properties. The count himself has recognized in some publication that, in addition to agriculture, forestry and tourism in general, film shootings have become a huge source of income for the family fortune. In Wilton House scenes from the series have been filmed The Bridgertons and of The Crownin addition to the movie Emma2019, Queen Victoria2009, and Pride and prejudice2005. Those interested in historical heritage are now joined by those interested in cinema and television, in a business that, of course, is profitable for its owners despite the possible problems that may arise: we do not know if it was at Wilton House, but recently actress Nicola Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington in The Bridgertons
confessed to breaking a piece of furniture during a scene with co-star Luke Newton.
The Ecclesiastical guide, insurer of many of the most emblematic heritage properties in the United Kingdom, such as Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral or Blenheim Palace, referred to precisely these incidents: “Series such as The Bridgertons and Downton Abbey They have showcased our country’s incredible heritage on an international scale and that has to be something to celebrate. It brings with it a financial reward, as well as an influx of visitors, and can really raise the profile of a stately home,” explains Laura Carter, Client Director at Ecclesiastical Insurance. “However, as we saw with Saltburn, there can be drawbacks to allowing your property to be used for filming and that is why we have released this guide. “We are not telling owners to say ‘no’ to production teams, but rather we are giving them the advice they need to make the best decision and take the necessary steps to protect themselves.”
These recommendations include “robust contracts and agreements” that make clear everything from the limits at which filming can be done on the property to the details of all furniture or other objects that could be damaged during this time (the insurer recommends, in fact, keep the most valuable objects safe), but also “be aware of the reputational impact that may arise from hosting the recording, especially if there are controversial issues of historical, political or social impact.” Or if Barry Keoghan is going to dance naked on the property. Of course, his last piece of advice is to have a good insurance company.
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