Producers of salacious new Sky series Mary & George filmed the period drama at a number of Jacobean properties, including Hatfield House.
The historical psychodrama is based on the extraordinary true story of Mary Villiers, who moulded her son, George, to seduce King James I and become his all-powerful lover.
Through outrageous scheming, the pair rose from humble beginnings to become the richest, most titled and influential players the English court had ever seen, and the King’s most trusted advisors.
Sky’s latest period drama — starring Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, Tony Curran and Nicholas Galitzine as Mary, King James I and George Villiers respectively — used surviving Jacobean locations to capture the essence of the era.
The series is produced by Hera Pictures in association with Sky Studios and can be seen on Sky Atlantic from Tuesday, March 5.
Executive producer Liza Marshall said: "I think it was harder to recreate the Jacobean era than we had expected.
"We certainly discovered that there were virtually no Jacobean costumes in any of the costume stores — in the UK but also in Europe — so we've had to make almost every costume in the entire show, which is hundreds and hundreds of original pieces.
"The majority of the show has been shot in real Jacobean properties in and around London."
Scottish actor Tony Curran plays King James. He said of the shoot: "Some of the locations have been phenomenal.
"We filmed in Stirling Castle, which was amazing. King James actually lived there — and was tutored there. There's a little piece of stone with his name inscribed into it which blew my mind.
"We've been to Hatfield House and The Charterhouse in east London — where Elizabeth I prepared for her coronation.
"We shot a scene, a feast that actually may have happened at the location and that was the first time that James sees George. So, the very fact that you're shooting a scene in a house or a castle or a country manor in which events actually took place is amazing."
Where was Mary & George filmed?
Hertfordshire
1. Hatfield House
Hatfield House in Hertfordshire was one of the major locations used for filming of new Sky Atlantic series Mary & George.
The production crew set up camp in the grounds of the Marquess of Salisbury's Jacobean mansion in February last year and returned the following month — March 2023 — for more location filming on the Hatfield Park estate.
Scenes at the start of episode four clearly show the gardens of the Hatfield House estate looking towards the maze.
The Hertfordshire stately home has direct links to King James I. The estate was once home to Henry VIII's children, most notably a young Princess Elizabeth — King James I's predecessor on the throne. Elizabeth discovered she'd become Queen of England whilst living at Hatfield in 1558.
All that remains of the Hatfield Palace from that time is the Old Palace. After becoming King, James I swapped the Hatfield estate with the Cecil family home of Theobalds, near Cheshunt, in Herts.
Robert Cecil, the 1st Earl of Salisbury and Lord Treasurer to King James, demolished the Hatfield Palace and built what is today's Hatfield House, the building being built in 1611.
King James I was a visitor and one of the rooms in the mansion is even called the King James Drawing Room.
Hatfield House is more than a stone’s throw from King James’ London Palace — for which it was used in the filming of Mary & George.
Representing the epitome of the Jacobean style, the house was used for scenes of cavorting, including a masque play, ballroom dancing, and the King’s banquet.
Viewers will see Hatfield House's Marble Hall on screen near the start of episode three of Mary & George.
The chapel at Hatfield House also features at the end of episode four and the Marble Hall again in episode six.
Hatfield House was also the principal location for filming of The Favourite starring Olivia Colman as Queen Anne.
2. Rothamsted Manor, Harpenden
Located in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, Rothamsted Manor is a Grade I listed manor house that dates back to the 17th century.
According to Sky, in Mary & George the house is used for scenes at Compton Manor, where Mary weds her final husband, Sir Thomas Compton. Viewers can see the Harpenden property in the opening two episodes.
Rothamsted today functions as an events venue and is also a popular wedding venue.
3. Ashridge Estate, near Berkhamsted
One of King James’ favourite pastimes was hunting. For the hunting scenes in Mary & George, the producers chose the country roads and forest at the Ashridge Estate, north of Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
London
The capital city is home to a number of settings from the Jacobean era which were used for filming of the series.
4. The Charterhouse
One of the great courtyard houses of Tudor London, the Charterhouse was owned by businessman Thomas Sutton, dubbed “the wealthiest commoner in England".
In Mary & George, the Charterhouse is used to represent the exteriors of the London Palace, as well as doubling as the London Meat Market, the King’s Banquet Hall and kitchen, and other interior locations.
5. St Bartholomew The Great
The interior of the Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great in Smithfield, London, was used in Mary and George for when both James and George address Parliament, as well as the Royal Coronation.
6. Ham House, Richmond
George Villiers’ actual London residence was York House on the Strand — a mansion house sitting on the Thames and situated close to the palace of Westminster. The house no longer exists.
In its place, scenes within George’s residence were filmed in Ham House in Richmond.
Kent
The filming of Mary & George wasn’t just limited to London and Hertfordshire. There’s plenty of history to be found in the Garden of Eden, so Kent was an ideal location for several locations.
7. Knole
For interior scenes of James’ palace, Mary & George filmed within the impressive halls of Knole, in Kent.
The house is now owned by the National Trust and visitors can find art and letters that date back to the time Mary & George is set.
8. Dover Castle
Dover Castle doubled for the Tower of London during the filming of Mary & George.
Surrey
9. Crowhurst, Surrey
Far from being the London pad as shown in the series, scenes of Mary’s residence were filmed at listed moated manor house Crowhurst Place, which was originally a medieval hall house.
Scotland
10. Stirling Castle, Scotland
Scenes of King James returning to Edinburgh, Scotland, were filmed on location at Stirling Castle.
They filmed scenes of a great banquet and exterior shots acting as Edinburgh’s streets at the castle.
Buckinghamshire
11. Hampden House, near Great Missenden
For scenes set in the Privy Council Chamber and Coke’s legal chambers, Mary & George uses Hampden House, a Grade I listed country house situated between Great Missenden and Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire.
Mary & George launches on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW March 5.
Mary & George & Me, an accompanying documentary to the Sky Original limited event series Mary & George hosted by Alexa Chung, launches on Sky Atlantic and streaming service NOW on March 12.
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