Jane Austen’s works have stood the test of time and space, and so have their adaptations for television and the silver screen. Pride and Prejudice has carved a niche for itself not only in literature but in pop culture, too, immortalizing filming locations such as this 1,700-acre English estate. A popular filming location in the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice, Edgcote Estate, a sprawling Northamptonshire property with a 1,000-year history, is up for sale for $60.5 million.
If you still haven’t guessed the part, it played the role of Netherfield Park, the house leased by Mr. Bingley, where Mr. Darcy first starts falling for Elizabeth Bennet, muddy skirts and all. But before we dive into what you are going to get if you manage to own this slice of Austen lore, let’s take a lesson on its history.
The Northamptonshire estate was first granted to Norman nobleman Geoffrey of Mowbray after the 11th century Norman Conquest. It was later passed to Isabel de Bruce, the grandmother of Scottish king Robert the Bruce, before ultimately returning to the English crown in the 14th century. In 1469, the estate became the site of the Battle of Edgcote, a key conflict during the Wars of the Roses.
Almost half a millennium later, the estate found distinction with a very different audience, fans of Austen. Thanks to its authentic Georgian architecture and traditional interiors, the manor became the stand-in for Netherfield Park in the BBC’s iconic Pride and Prejudice miniseries starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
Now, the 1,704-acre estate from Pride and Prejudice is on the market for sale for the first time in nearly a century, with an asking price of over £45 million (roughly $60.5 million). The substantial main manor sits amid a formal garden, a working farm, extensive horse-racing facilities, sprawling woodlands, and a portfolio of 31 cottages, houses, and apartments across the estate for guests and staff.
Edgcote House was built between 1748 and 1754, and spans nearly 26,000 square feet across four floors. It still retains many of its original details, such as ornate plaster ceilings, carved fireplaces, wood-paneled walls, and hand-painted wallpaper. The dramatic reception hall with a mahogany staircase, originally designed to display artwork and impress arriving guests, is now available for regency-style balls.
The sweeping lawns roll toward an 8.6-acre lake, you know the one in which Colin Firth takes a swim in the television series. The property also includes a fully operational farm with 1,149 arable acres and extensive infrastructure, as well as equestrian facilities with two professional racing yards, numerous paddocks, and a racecourse.
Currently listed with Savills, Mr. Bingley’s English estate from Pride and Prejudice can be yours for $60.5 million. It is the finest chance to live like a Jane Austen character.
Via: Robb Report
