Lights, Camera, Brontë: East Riddlesden Hall On Screen

Image © National Trust Images

East Riddlesden Hall is shining a spotlight on its cinematic past with Lights, Camera, Brontë, a new exhibition exploring the historic property’s long‑standing relationship with screen adaptations of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights.

With its dramatic stone façade, romantic rose windows and striking 17th‑century Yorkshire architecture, East Riddlesden Hall has been an irresistible filming location for more than 100 years. The exhibition reveals the hall’s starring role in three major adaptations of Wuthering Heights - the pioneering 1920 silent film, the 1992 production featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, and the 2009 ITV series starring Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley.

Visitors can discover how directors used the hall’s Great Barn, historic interiors and atmospheric grounds to bring Brontë’s world to life. Original film stills, production materials, and recreated sets, based on the surviving screenplay of the 1920 film, offer a rare behind‑the‑scenes glimpse of how the story has been reimagined for the screen across generations.

The exhibition also highlights the remarkable legacy of the Brigg family, whose dedication helped preserve both East Riddlesden Hall and the literary heritage of the Brontës. John Jeremy Brigg, a founding member and later Chair of the Brontë Society, played a key role in saving the hall from demolition in the 1930s. A 17th‑century oak buffet linked to the Brontës, believed by some to be the inspiration for the “pewter‑bearing dresser” in the opening chapter of Wuthering Heights, is among the pieces on display.

Beyond Wuthering Heights, the hall has served as the backdrop for a wide range of productions. The exhibition’s timeline charts appearances in The Meaning of Life, Sharpe’s Justice, Lost in Austen, Gunpowder and Anne Boleyn, revealing the property’s unique appeal to filmmakers and audiences alike.

Amy Gregory, House and Collections Officer for East Riddlesden Hall said

“East Riddlesden Hall may not be the largest National Trust property, but its scale, architecture and atmosphere offer visitors an evocative glimpse into the world Emily Brontë imagined.
This exhibition celebrates the creativity and imagination that continue to bring her story to life for new audiences. Though modest in size, the hall remains a place where past and present meet - its historic character offering a window into the world of the Brontës, while its role as a community space welcomes families, school groups and film crews alike.”