Leeds Castle

Lady Jane (1987)

Posted on by Kent Film Office

 

Lady Jane Movieposter- close up of Lady Jane with her hand on a man hair. Lady Jane written in red on top.

Lady Jane Movieposter © Paramount Pictures

Directed By:  Trevor Nunn

Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood, Patrick Stewart

Production Company: Capital Equipment Leasing, Paramount Pictures

Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle

When the death of King Henry VIII throws the country into chaos, the question of succession to the throne must be resolved. While the King’s surviving son Prince Edward lies on his death bed, a scheming John Dudley resolves to marry his son Guildford (Cary Elwes) to Lady Jane Grey (Helena Bonham Carter), great niece of Henry VII and place her on the throne after the king’s death. Unwilling to be married, Guildford and Jane are at first unhappy with Dudley’s plans, but over time, their love for each other blossoms just as  a chain of events threatens to rip them apart.

This costume drama sheds light on England’s reformation in 1553 as the Duke of Northumberland attempted to guarantee a Protestant monarchy and keep Catholic Princess Mary from the throne.

The film is directed by Trevor Nunn (King Lear, Oklahoma!) and star Helena Bonham Carter (Fight Club, The King’s Speech) and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride, Saw) as young lovers Jane and Guildford, alongside John Wood (WarGames, Chocolat) and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek and X-Men series).

Three of Kent’s Castles feature in the film: the Long Gallery at Hever Castle was used for the scene where Lady Jane (Helena Bonham Carter) and Princess Mary (Jane Lapotaire) meet and talk about God and the moat around Leeds Castle was used to double as some of the exterior of Lady Jane’s home. Dover Castle doubles as the Tower of London, including the execution scenes at the end of the film.

Near Maidstone is the magnificent Leeds Castle, which is set within 500 acres of parkland and gardens and surrounded by a moat. This location boasts a mote and maze and state rooms including original marble bathrooms. The location has previously featured in productions such as Gadget Man (2014), Henry VIII (2003) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

Hever Castle was originally built as a country house in the 13th Century, but the Boleyn family, who held a seat there from 1462 till 1539, transformed parts of the castle into a Tudor manor. Today it offers three floors containing antique furniture and Tudor artefacts which makes it one of the most popular tourist destinations in the county.  The location has been used for filming projects including Inkheart (2008) and Anne of a Thousand Days (1969).

Dover Castle was founded in the 12th Century and has held defensive significance for the country throughout history. The famous Operation Dynamo during the Second World War was masterminded within its walls. Dover Castle has previously featured in Into The Woods (2015), The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) and To Kill a King (2003).

Lady Jane also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

Lady Jane was released in cinemas in February 1986 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

 

Magnum, P.I. – Season 6, Episode 1 & 2 (1985)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
John Hillerman as Higgins and Tom Selleck as Magnum stand in a bed of daffodils. Behind them is a medieval castle and a wide river. Both men are dressed in suits and are looking seriously at each other.

Tom Selleck and John Hillerman in Magnum P.I. “Déjà Vu” © Universal Television

Writer: Donald P. Bellisario, Glen A. Larson, Chris Abbott
Starring: Tom Selleck, John Hillerman, Peter Davison, Larry Manetti, Francesca Annis
Production Company: Belisarius Productions, Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal Television
Kent Locations Used: Leeds Castle

Magnum, P.I. (1980-1988) was an American crime drama series following Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV, known as Magnum. Season 6, Episodes 1 & 2 “Déjà Vu” sees Magnum go to England to prepare Robin Masters’ new castle for a party. When St Clair, an old army buddy of his dies in suspicious circumstances, he finds himself embroiled in a murder case.

The series was written by Donald P. Bellisario (Quantum Leap, NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service), Glen A. Larson (Quincy M.E., Battlestar Galactica) and Chris Abbott (Legacy, The Bold and the Beautiful), and the “Déjà Vu” episodes star Tom Selleck (Blue Bloods, 3 Men and a Baby) as Magnum, John Hillerman (Chinatown, Blazing Saddles) as Higgins, Peter Davison (The Larkins (2021-2022), Doctor Who) as Ian MacKerras, Larry Manetti (Flying Misfits, JAG) as Orville ‘Rick’ Wright, and Francesca Annis (Flesh and Blood (2020), Dune) as Penelope St. Clair.

Leeds Castle features in both episodes as Robin Master’s new English castle.

Leeds Castle is a romantic castle with medieval-themed rooms, 1920s style interiors and original marble bathrooms on a large estate with gardens, moat, woodlands, a maze with shell grotto, and an aviary. Other productions to have filmed there include Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949), Lady Jane (1987) and Henry VIII (2003).

Magnum, P.I. aired between 1980 and 1988. Season 6 Episodes 1 & 2 “Déjà Vu” aired on Thursday 26th September 1985 and are available to watch on iTunes.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Henry VIII (1979)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
image of a man and women dressed in tudor costumes stood next to each other in front of a pillar

Henry VIII screenshot © BBC

Director: Kevin Billington

Writer: William Shakespeare (play),

Stars: John Stride, Timothy West, Ronald Pickup, Claire Bloom, Julian Glover, Jeremy Kemp, Peter Vaughan

Henry VIII dvd cover- images of two tutor men on a black background. Henry VIII written in white underneath

Henry VIII dvd cover © BBC

Production Company: BBC, Time-Life Television Productions

Kent Locations Used: Hever Castle, Leeds Castle, Penshurst Place

Henry VIII is a BBC television film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s original play which provides a dramatized account of the events surrounding the divorce of Henry VIII from his first wife, Katherine of Aragon.

Originally broadcast in February 1979; the film was produced as part of BBC Shakespeare (1978-85), a series of Shakespeare plays adapted for television.

The film was directed by Kevin Billington (Outside Edge, The Good Soldier) with John Stride (Macbeth, The Omen) playing Henry VIII alongside Timothy West (Crime and Punishment, Eastenders), Ronald Pickup (Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Chronicles of Narnia), Claire Bloom (The King’s Speech, Clash of the Titans), Julian Glover (For Your Eyes Only, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Jeremy Kemp (Z-Cars, Space: 1999) and Peter Vaughan (Porridge, Game of Thrones).

The entire film was shot on location at Hever Castle, Leeds Castle and Penshurst Place, which all have an association with the historical figures within the play.

Leeds Castle doubles as Henry VIII’s palace. Both interiors and exteriors are used to create a sense of real grandeur.

Penshurst Place was used for a number of scenes, including Katherine of Aragon’s residence, a council chamber at Westminster. Baron’s Hall was used as a hall in Blackfriars when it announced that Henry and Katherine shall split. One of the halls is used to double as a room in York Place where Cardinal Wolsey holds a ball; this is where Henry VIII and Anne Bullen first meet.

The timber-clad section of Hever Castle is used to double as streets in Westminster where two gentlemen meet to discuss the royal divorce.

Leeds Castle is set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland and formal gardens and has been used in various productions, including the ITV version of Henry VIII (2003), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) .

Hever Castle is a thirteenth century castle which was once home to Anne Boleyn; it boasts formal Italian gardens and an ornamental lake. This location has also been used in various historical dramas, including Walking through History (2013), Inkheart (2008) and Anne of The Thousand Days (1969).

Penshurst Place is a Medieval and Tudor Fortified Manor set in gorgeous parkland. It is a film friendly location, having been used in notable productions such as Wolf Hall (2015), The Great Fire (2014) and Merlin (2008).

Henry VIII also features in the Kent Film Office Tudor(ish) Trail which celebrates Kent’s Tudor history and film connections.

This film was originally broadcasted on 25th February 1979, and is available to purchase on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 

Doctor Who – The Androids of Tara (1978)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Mary Tamm as Romana stands in front of an ivy-covered castle wall, looking at a man dressed as a medieval knight. He is holding a purple prism-shaped object in his hands. Romana wears a purple and green buttoned-up jacket and a purple wide-brimmed hat with a green ribbon on it.

Doctor Who – The Androids of Tara (1978) © BBC

Director: Michael Hayes
Writer: David Fisher
Starring: Tom Baker, Mary Tamm, Peter Jeffrey, Neville Jason
Production Company: BBC
Kent Locations Used: Leeds Castle

The Androids of Tara (1978) is a four-part serial from the 16th season of the original Doctor Who series. It is set on the planet Tara, which is ruled by a feudal society with electronic weapons and androids. The Doctor’s assistant Romana is kidnapped, and the two are dragged into a feud between Count Grendel and Prince Reynart over who is the legitimate heir to the throne of Tara.

Directed by Michael Hayes (A for Andromeda, Take Three Girls) and written by David Fisher (Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense, The Lotus Eaters), the serial stars Tom Baker (Nicholas and Alexandra, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad) as the Doctor, Mary Tamm (The Likely Lads, Doghouse) as his assistant Romana, with Peter Jeffrey (The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Midnight Express) featuring as Count Grendel alongside Neville Jason (From Russia with Love, The Message) as Prince Reynart.

Leeds Castle features throughout the serial, doubling as Castle Gracht, the seat of Count Grendel.

Leeds Castle is a romantic castle with medieval-themed rooms, 1920s style interiors and original marble bathrooms, all set on a large estate with gardens, moat, woodlands, a maze with a shell grotto, and an aviary. Other productions to have filmed there include Henry VIII (1979), Lady Jane (1987) and Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).

The Androids of Tara (1978) originally aired on BBC1 between Saturday 25th November – Saturday 16th December 1978 and is currently available to buy on iTunes.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)

Posted on by Kent Film Office
Kind Hearts and Coronets poster- two ladies wearing extravagant hats, with a man behind bars behind them. Kind Hearts and Coronets is written on a poster behind them

Kind Hearts and Coronets © Eagle-Lion Films

Director / Writer: Robert Hamer
Starring: Dennis Price, Alec Guinness, Valerie Hobson, Joan Greenwood, Hugh Griffith
Production Company: Ealing Studios, Michael Balcon Productions
Kent Locations: Leeds Castle, Harrietsham, Boughton Monchelsea

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) is based on the novel ‘Israel Rank: The Autobiography of a Criminal’ by Roy Horniman which tells the story of Louis Mazzini, an aristocrat descendent  who sets out to murder eight D’Ascoynes family heirs in order to become the Duke.

The film has become a timeless classic, being regarded as one of best British films of all time. It has been included in both Time magazine and the BFI top 100 British films of all time.

Eight of the D’Ascoynes are played by the legendary Alec Guiness (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Star Wars) who are one by one murdered in a variety of ways from poisoning to drowning and even exploding.

Leeds Castle doubled as Chalfont Castle, the D’Ascoynes family home. Located on the outskirts of Maidstone, Leeds Castle was built as a Norman stronghold and became the home of royalty, including Henry VIII when he visited Kent. Surrounded by a mote and 500 acres of gardens, the Castle became a monument to the Tudor era and a popular tourist destination. It has also been used for productions such as Lady Jane (1987).

The film also shot outside The Cock Inn pub in Boughton Monchelsea village for the scene where Louis (Dennis Price (The Earth Dies Screaming, The Rebel) takes photos and meets Henry (Alec Guinness). The village is on the outskirts of Maidstone and contains an array of urban and rural land and historic features including a church built in 1100 and a 16th century manor house.

Harrietsham village was also used for the scene where Louis (Dennis Price) rides around the village. Harrietsham is a  rural village to the east of Maidstone and  has many Grade I listed buildings including The Old House and Saxon Church of St John the Baptist.  

Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) was released on Monday 13th June 1949 and is now available on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.