A fortified manor house featuring both magnificent Tudor and Elizabethan architecture, Haddon Hall has been a set location of choice for numerous films in the past two decades, including Mary Queen of Scots; The Other Boleyn Girl; and Pride & Prejudice amongst others.
However the most recent film to be shot here, Firebrand, directed by Karim Aïnouz and starring Jude Law and Alice Vikander, has taken Haddon’s long association of providing a backdrop to films to a new level - taking the unique route of shooting the film in its entirety at the hall.
And it’s not just Haddon Hall itself which has played a starring role. Incredibly rare in the film industry, shooting in one location has inevitably had an overwhelmingly positive impact in the region.
From accommodation providers, to catering companies, restaurants, pubs and bars, local suppliers and those who were taken on set as extras, it’s estimated that Firebrand invested over £3.1m into the local economy in less than three months, at what tends to be a quieter time for the hospitality and leisure sector.
‘To stay in one location throughout the duration of a shoot is highly unusual but given that we had the extraordinary location of Haddon Hall itself, we were able to create our own studio practically within its walls,’ says Gabriella Tana, producer for Firebrand.
READ MORE: Why Haddon Hall is a popular filming location for cinema and television
‘While the usual process with accommodation tends to see large hotels booked, with cast and crew bussed to the film location, given that we were here for eight weeks it enabled us to take a more wholesome approach, using smaller, independent hotels and properties, which created a continuity for the cast and crew, really allowing them to settle in and focus entirely on the job at hand.
‘Overall, it was a much more enjoyable experience for everyone and we greatly enjoyed our time in Derbyshire.
‘We really integrated into the local community, with our accommodation, renting cottages and hotel rooms all in the areas surrounding Haddon Hall.
‘We’ve used as much local crew as possible, including lots of trainees, with one of our aims being to help mentor young people who are new to the film industry. Most of the extras used in the film are local, and through each of the departments we have crew members from the surrounding area including individuals from across Derbyshire as well as Sheffield and Nottingham.
‘Our catering sourced local produce, we used a local florist for our wrap bouquets, and the cast and crews per diems were spent in the local restaurants and shops.’
And Gabriella is full of praise from the beautiful part of Derbyshire which was home to the crew for two months whilst filming Firebrand, which earned rave reviews at the recent prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
‘Everyone loved being here,’ she reveals. ‘To be in the beauty of the Peak District was a real privilege and made the working experience all the more pleasurable.
‘Our lead actors rented homes near to Haddon Hall and the Rutland Arms in Bakewell was home to the rest of our cast, whilst the Peacock at Rowsley and H Boutique hotel looked after our crew well.
While many of the crew had visited Derbyshire before, the film also brought a lot of newcomers to the area, who have a new-found love for the landscape and its people.
‘Everyone, including myself, has fallen in love with this part of Derbyshire,’ says Joel Holmes, supervising location manager.
‘Not only is the landscape outstanding, we got to know a lot of the local people, businesses and accommodation providers, who really made us feel at home.
‘Shooting a film in its entirety in one location is incredibly rare but Haddon offered us everything we needed and more.
‘As a Grade I listed building it naturally came with some challenges and it was vital that we preserved the building against damage but it was absolutely wonderful to see Haddon transformed back into a specific period of time.
‘This film is also unique in that in the five weeks we were preparing the sets prior to the start of filming, the actors were practising at the hall, as opposed to in an external location. As a character-led piece, the director felt it was key for the cast to fully immerse themselves in the world of Haddon and it really benefitted the shoot, it fed very much into their performances.’
‘The great thing about Haddon Hall is that it’s one of the most original Tudor/Elizabethan large houses I’ve ever seen,’ adds producer Brett Wilson.
‘With it being unoccupied during the Georgian and Victorian eras there’s been very little modernisation, so the buildings, gardens and surrounding estate were perfect for a film set in the period we were shooting.
‘The staff were fantastic in helping us keep to the rules of shooting in a Grade I listed building and we hardly noticed they were there as they kept their watchful eye on us. It was a great experience and Lord and Lady Edward were fabulous and very helpful hosts.
‘The film production, cast and crew, took over a lot of the local rental accommodation and hotels, with the cast mainly staying at The Peacock and Rutland Arms. Both hotels were incredibly helpful and offered us good deals, due to the amount of rooms and length of occupancy.
‘Local establishments such as The Manners Pub, Grouse and Claret in Rowsley, Joiner’s Arms, The Wheatsheaf and also Raja’s Curry House, plus many more were regular haunts of cast and crew - not to mention the fantastic wrap party thrown for us at Thornbridge Brewery.
‘I’ve grown to love Bakewell and the surrounding area and would love to shoot something there again in the future.’
‘Haddon Hall has been the location of choice for many films over the years but this is the first time we’ve had a film shot here in its entirety and it really stood out to us a unique proposition, particularly with their plans to immerse themselves within the local community during their time here,’ concludes Lady Edward Manners of Haddon Hall.
‘It’s not only been significant for the hall but also for the local area, which saw an unprecedented level of investment filter out into the economy during a quieter time of year, through the use of accommodation providers, local restaurants, bars and suppliers and more.
‘In addition, it was wonderful to welcome so many members of the local community as extras, as well as local college students who experienced life on set for a few days as part of their studies.
‘Our team did a magnificent job of working alongside the crew, while also ensuring the hall was protected at all times. It has been truly wonderful to see Haddon taken back in time and we are looking forward to seeing the film when it is released in the UK.’
