Film and Photoshoot Location

Set in its own grounds and surrounded on two sides by farmland, the third side the beach and bay and the fourth side the distant village obscured by trees with a glimpse of the church, Harry Warren makes a good location and would suit any period. The only English production since the 1950s here was the 2017 Howard's End when it featured in Episode 3 as Aunt Juley's house in Swanage. Some years ago now it was used on several occaisons for German language/English everything else 1960s period romantic dramas. It has been a hotel, a care home, a country manor etc. After several romantic difficulties, they all ended happily!

The beach steps and path with its bridge over the pond, the little woodland walk and various semi formal features of the garden all contribute to its attraction as a location. It has also been the wrap party location of choice with the group photograph taken on the sunken garden facing the cliffs.

The house and grounds are authentic victorian and there is nothing visually that is out of period.

The BBC/Playground Entertainment production of Howard's End (2017) used the outside of the house, the grounds and the driveway with very little dressing required, only some creeper to cover the entry of the underground services to the house at the back door. The summerhouse provided a convenient and quiet actor's rest room and the downs were also used for the scenes in the book where these featured.

Swanage Pier was also used as it is pretty authentic Edwardian and you can see Alex Lawther, Hayley Atwell, Matthew MacFadyen, Tracey Ullman and Philippa Coulthard in the Harry Warren drive with the sea in the background. Appropriately the first kiss took place in the garden with the rhododendrons in the background - rhododendrons are in the book so it was a perfect fit.

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