The location is West Horsley Place in Surrey and the premise is that a group of ghosts inherit a mansion and have to move in with other ghosts. I had no idea the show existed until a few days before going to visit.
The house and huge estate is privately owned and is mostly maintained by volunteers. The building was in a sorry state but a lot of work has been put into it to get it to this point. Ironically, there is a ultra modern visitor centre and a theatre which hosts shows in the summer.
The original gateway was set way back from what is now a modern day road, outside there are two dog houses. Story goes that the owner once had two massive dogs that stuck fear into intruders but probably visitors too. It turned out to be a joke as the dogs were on chains that would not quite reach the front door so there was never any danger.
The doorway to the house has a unique archway, there is also one other upstairs but it is not known what the significance is.
Walking into the main hallway, it felt cramped compared to other stately homes, usually with tall ceilings and/ or huge staircases but the area still had a grand feeling.
On the ground floor is the morning room, library and kitchen quarters. The morning room was quite literally named as that was where first light reached the house.
Books in the library are in the process being recorded by a few volunteers by hand, carefully opening them to retain the binding and some even have small notes in from various people. Unexpectedly, we were offered to choose a few to look at. I went for the smallest book.
Following the curved stairs to the first floor, into a huge room with a fireplace to match, tapestry walls and a few items from the family collection. The tour guide made us aware that the restoration is expected to keep the original decorations and style without modernising too much compared to National Trust properties.
When the house was explored for the first time, there was a red bag hanging by the mantlepiece. Story goes that Queen Elizabeth would visit the house occasionally, mainly for dinners but as a result, she soon fell in love with the owner at the time. However, a chamber maid had also fallen for the owner. It was a forbidden love and in fact, it turned out that the queen was owed by the owner for various things and didn't pay up so had him killed.
The maid paid off the executioner to have something to remember him by...she ended up with his head that she carried around with her in said bag.
From here is a narrow walkway into a small room which is said to have taken styling thoughts from Henry The Eighth. In those times you would do as the king wishes to keep your head.
There is also a monkey decoration on the ceiling in memory of the family pet monkey that rescued a child from a burning shed on the estate.
The next room is the dining room, oddly cramped and decorated. Also seen is a model of the house that was used for the BBC show.
Instead of being offered after filming, it went to auction and a staff member saw it and just knew it had to stay at the house. The amount paid was undisclosed.
Heading back downstairs, more old books line the walls, there are a few empty looking rooms that were kind of skipped over until we got the the kitchen.
Far from the living quarters, it was a cold room, the tour guide mentioned that the houseworkers lived above here in the cramped attic. The huge stained glass window covers two floors showing evidence that the ceilings were once double height. This means that over time, the workers were moved around.
There is access to the attic however the conditions up there are more that unsafe for staff let alone visitors.
There must be so many stories to be told and so much to uncover that it might be worth another trip back next year!
Until the next time!
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