PRIDE & PREJUDICE 2005
Chatsworth House used as 'Pemberley'
The largest private country house in England, home of Deborah, Duchess of Devonshire, Chatsworth house was used as the exterior of Pemberley, Darcy's family home. Jane Austen mentions Chatsworth in the book, and the Duchess believes that the author was thinking of Chatsworth when describing Pemberley. The Duchess is one of the renowned Mitford Girls (her sisters were writers Nancy and Jessica Mitford, Unity was a famous supporter of Hitler before the second world war, and Diana married British fascist leader Oswald Mosley), who between them probably inspired as many books as the two author sisters wrote.
Within the house, the grand staircase of the Painted Hall is where Lizzie and the Gardiners begin their tour of Pemberley, and within the Sculpture Gallery, Lizzie Bennet sees the bust of Mr Darcy, while his housekeeper describes the many good qualities of her master.
