Chatsworth

On Monday, on our way to the North, we stopped by Chatsworth House. Supposedly this is the house that Jane Austen used as inspiration for Pemberly, Mr. Darcy's house. As we pulled around the corner I saw it and thought- that also looks like the house they used to film some scenes in the 2005 film version. And lo and behold, it was! I think they filmed the scene in which Darcy sees Elizabeth peeping through the open door at Georgiana playing the piano, and he runs after her onto the porch. Unfortunately that porch was closed. So here is what the house looks like:

And here is what it looked like when we went. Awesome. Thank you 2012 London Olympics. Before we saw the house, our bus driver, Tony, said to us "and around this corner is a true countryman's pad... Ahh! It's wrapped in scaffolding!" (Say that in a British accent). Suffice it to say it was a little disappointing.

I think this ceiling was in the movie, when Elizabeth first walks into the house.

This sculpture room was for sure in the movie- from the scene where they're looking at the bust of Darcy. We watched the movie on the bus afterward, and they showed shots of some sculptures that we had fully just seen here. It was kind of exciting!

As were were waiting for all the girls to get back on the bus, a helicopter landed on the front lawn and a Landrover drove out to it. Tony got on the intercom and excitedly said, "that's a royal helicopter." Of course I couldn't help but freak out a little bit. I think the words "this is what we've been waiting for!" popped out of my mouth. Slightly embarrassing. How awesome would it have been if it was William and Kate though. Or Harry. Unfortunately I couldn't see who got out and got into the Landrover, but luckily the car passed right by our bus. I couldn't see, but Tony said he didn't recognize them. It would've been so cool if it had been a famous royal, but then again I would've felt a little slighted because I wouldn't have been able to actually see them from where I was sitting. Afterward Tony said that if it had been an important royal there would've been way more security. Still fun though.