TV drama role for stately home

TV VIEWERS in dozens of countries will be able to get a sneak peek from tonight at long-abandoned servants’ quarters at a South Yorkshire stately home.
 

TV VIEWERS in dozens of countries will be able to get a sneak peek from tonight (Friday) at long-abandoned servants’ quarters at a South Yorkshire stately home.

Wentworth Woodhouse’s rarely-seen “downstairs” locations will be seen in the Netflix drama The Irregulars, based on the works of Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The atmospheric period surroundings of the mansion were used by the drama’s film crew in late 2019 and February 2020.

The Irregulars, which comes out on March 26, follows a gang of troubled street teens in Victorian London who are manipulated into solving crimes for the sinister Doctor Watson and the elusive Sherlock Holmes.

Wentworth’s workrooms and courtyards, once bustling with servants, are not yet open to be public.

But you can look out for the old “slaughter house”, which appears as the Duck and Quiver Inn.

The film company left a good impression on their hosts — literally — as they removed a layer of tarmac to reveal the original cobbles.

The Green Dining Room will also feature in the series – and now has a fetching new set of curtains to replace the 20th century pink velvet ones they found there.

Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust chief executive Sarah McLeod said: “Filming is a very important source of income for the Trust. We will be glued to The Irregulars.

“It’s always exciting when we have film crews with us, but even more so when we finally get to see the production on screen.”

The new-old cobbles are not the only surface to be transformed in the Wentworth grounds, as the enforced closure of lockdown has paved the way for long-overgrown “red-stone” pathways to be restored.

The colourful historical walking routes are believed to have been created in the 1790s but had fallen into poor condition and become grassed-over.

They have now been brought back into use after work by the trust’s gardeners and volunteers, opening up a route from the Stables to the north-west end of the stately home and making it more accessible for visitors

The gardens are now open from Wednesday to Sunday, with bluebells and daffodils coming into bloom.

MEMORIES and images of the derelict Camellia House in the grounds of Wentworth Woodhouse as plans are drawn up for it to be restored and turned into a café and events venue.

The dilapidated building was an orangery and tea room in the 18th century before going on to house camellias.

David Trellis-Smith, head of the team behind the restoration project, said: "Local people whose ancestors worked in the house and gardens, or who visited decades ago could hold fascinating nuggets of information."

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