It was amazing how many people had already heard about the filming
"It was amazing how many people had already heard about the filming," recalls Mr Ling, "and came to see for themselves." Well over 20 years after Doctor Dolittle was shot in nearby Castle Combe, the village still draws fans of the classic film.Luckington Court will star in Pride and Prejudice, but not its owner "I was offered a part as an extra," explains Mrs Horn "But I'm very fussy these days about being photographed. I don't mind as long as I hide under a hat, but otherwise I rather look my age." And this weekend, so will her home.. "We've put together a Middlemarch tourism campaign, and we did a very brisk trade indeed in Middlemarch souvenirs last summer."Mr Slater travelled to New York following the serial's screening in the US to deal with the surge of American interest in Stamford.Pride and Prejudice began boosting Lacock's tourism long ago. I think most of the village would be glad to have cameras here for ever."The pay-off for the village could be enormous.
The National Trust village of Lacock was selected for the town of Meryton, and for eight days last October the Wiltshire village was overrun.As the location manager, Sam Breckton had the task of smoothing things over with local people "Finding the location is just the beginning," he says. "You need to spend a lot of time looking after people, otherwise you're in real trouble."The then landlord of the Red Lion, Roger Ling, admits he was anxious before the crew arrived, "but it's not every day you see a film crew in action, is it? And they all cleaned up after themselves. "I'm getting more and more every day, mainly because of the collapse at Lloyd's," explains Ms Weber. "I even have some royal houses."Pride and Prejudice was filmed at several locations.
We've lost a few properties from our books through crews hacking about. One crew hacked down a priceless Jacobean chandelier because it was in the eye of the director. That's very rare: more often, the problem's with the neighbours."I was on a shoot once and the next-door neighbour insisted on playing deafening heavy metal music. In the end, we shut him up with pounds 100, but then word went round the street that he'd got pounds 100, so they all started playing heavy metal."There are 8,000 houses on Lavish Location's books, commanding fees of up to pounds 14,000 a day. Anna Weber, who runs Lavish Locations, an agency which links up film producers and historic houses, says: "It's like having a non-stop party in your house, except everyone's a gatecrasher.
Thank God, for Jane Austen, I say."Not every encounter between impatient film crews and landed gentry is this successful. But it will be great fun to watch it on television - I get very tired of all that interminable blood, sex and thunder. For five months, actors, camera crews, catering teams and make-up trailers swarmed over her Queen Anne mansion, clothing every hint of the 20th century with Austenian authenticity."The whole experience was great fun Really, I've never enjoyed myself more. The actors were young and charming, and the house looked delightful - everything in the 1700s was so beautiful. I said yes, I'd be delighted to have you in," Mrs Horn recalls. He has risen in the weights and runs off a mark of 92 tomorrow, which gives him a tough task at the weights.But all bookmakers have been slashing their odds on this one during the last three days. Ladbrokes have cut his price to 14-1 (from a quote of 33-1 on Tuesday).Belfry Green, the mount of Wendyll Woods, had not run since Ascot in July until turning out at Newbury a week ago.