Film crew take over approach to stately home

A film production at Calke Abbey will take over the main path to the stately home.

An unnamed production has been shooting at the Grade I listed National Trust site, near Ticknall in Derbyshire, since 5 August, with the production's location work continuing until 20 September.

For these two months, the stableyard, smithy yard and brewhouse tunnels are off limits to the public.

And from Monday to 6 September, the usual pedestrian access to the house, through the green gates and down the hill, will be redirected to a grass bank near the vehicle exit to the parkland.

A spokesperson for Calke Abbey said disruption was being kept to a minimum during the filming.

No further details of the project being shot at Calke are being released by the National Trust, but it says the money raised will go towards conservation work at the property.

Restoration work is currently taking place at the house, which dates to the 1700s, with a £500,000 first phase under way to repair and restore the 65 first and second floor windows and walls on the west and south of the house's exterior.

The trust said the latest phase of works was a "small chunk" of the bigger restoration plans at the house, which would total about £1m once complete.

During the filming and the wider restoration works, Calke Abbey remains open to visitors.

Stewart Alcock, general manager at Calke Abbey, previously said the project was "very expansive", adding it would provide people with the chance to see how restorations were carried out.

Mr Alcock said: "Part of the project is to ensure we provide information and opportunities for visitors to see the work that's happening."

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