New Hardy film to be made in Dorset
ATHELHAMPTON HOUSE, THE NEW HARDY PLAYERS & CHOCOLATE FILMS TO MAKE A SHORT FILM ABOUT DORSET NOVELIST THOMAS HARDY
DORCHESTER, DORSET, Friday, 31 January 2020, Athelhampton House is to create a new short film about the Dorset novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. The film will be made by Chocolate Films of London with most of the cast supplied locally by the New Hardy Players.
Chocolate Films will be filming at Athelhampton on the 7th, 8th and 9th of February, creating a short film about Thomas Hardy’s frequent visits to Athelhampton throughout his life. Young Hardy painted a watercolour of Athelhampton, he later based his poem ‘The Dame of Athelhall’ at the house and was a guest at the house when the telegram telling of the outbreak of the Great War arrived.
The Grade 1 listed Athelhampton House and Gardens were sold to Mr Giles Keating in July last year by the Cooke family and he will continue their work to protect this important heritage site for generations to follow.
Athelhampton will re-open in 2020, with previews from 17th February and full opening from 2nd April, with a new collection of furniture and a focus on the intricate history of the house and its owners over the last 500 years.
As well as new furnishings, a new dedicated media room is being created for this first short film be shown in to enhance the visitor experience.
"Welcoming visitors from around the world for 50 years, Athelhampton is one of the finest examples of Tudor Manor houses in England. The medieval hall built-in 1485 is the heart of this important heritage site.
The fine architectural gardens designed by Inigo Thomas Surrounding the house are the previous recipient of the prestigious Garden of the Year Award"