Insights into Wolf Hall’s Dorset Filming Locations Shared

Rebecca Pearson, the location manager for the BBC historical drama “Wolf Hall,” has shared details regarding the series’ filming. She stated that she and the show’s designer explored numerous sites, numbering in the hundreds, during their scouting for the second season. “Wolf Hall,” which is adapted from author Dame Hilary Mantel’s trilogy, chronicles the ascent of King Henry VIII’s chief minister, Thomas Cromwell. Among the chosen sites is Wolfeton House, a medieval and Elizabethan property situated close to Dorchester, which served as the setting for Princess Mary’s confinement. Filming for the most recent series, titled “The Mirror and the Light,” took place from November 2023 to April 2024, with its inaugural episode airing on 10 November. In March, the cast and crew arrived at Wolfeton following a damp winter, which left the ground considerably soft. Ms Pearson commented: “It’s quite tricky to get to because these houses weren’t made for big trucks, they were built for horses and carts.” She continued, stating: “We had to work with neighbours and local farmers to create a pathway for our vehicles, but we had one vehicle that wouldn’t wait and got stuck in the field – so we had to spend a lot of time making sure we left it as we found it.” Forde Abbey, located near Chard in Dorset, was another site selected, serving as the backdrop for Hampton Court Palace. Rebecca remarked: “They have got this amazing cloister corridor that just photographs so beautifully.” She added: “Everybody fell in love with it.” Pearson further explained: “We went there for the corridor but we also ended up using their Great Hall as a presence chamber for the king and we use it a lot in the series.” She noted: “It features quite a lot in episode one as they are walking back and forth.” Despite being chosen for their historical accuracy, these structures invariably require modifications for filming purposes. Ms Pearson stated: “We always need to make changes.” She elaborated: “They have some fire exit doors so we had to build some wooden panels in front of those.” She continued: “We wanted to change the colour a little bit so we used this very clever low-tack tape to go on the panelling to bring it to our era.” Pearson also mentioned: “We always have to hide and change little pieces.” Reflecting on her profession, she shared: “I work on a host of shows and you never know what you’re going to get asked for.” Ms Pearson concluded: “I had a whole year when it seemed like I was looking for nothing but fields then I had a whole year when I was looking for nothing but Tudor palaces, so it really does vary,” she added. For updates, BBC Dorset can be followed on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their external linking policy is available.