Bridgerton has swiftly transmuted into a guilty pleasure for those obsessed with romance, spectacle, and ‘scandal’ (if you know, you know). Since its inception in December 2020, the show has taken the audience by a spin with its steamy romances and details of the Georgian era. But after the release of its second season, the larger-than-life architecture of the show has taken precedence.
For the unversed, Bridgerton is about the young ladies and lads of the Ton who are ready to conquer the marriage market traversing through stiff competition, a peering eye of Lady Whistledown and the Queen’s expectations.
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Let’s talk about how Bridgerton has been a total feast for the eyes, as its architecture takes the front row.
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The Landscape Locations
The show Bridgerton has used real and reel-life locations like Wilton House, Windsor Great Park, Hampton Court Palace and Syon Park, and studio sets for its production. The most astonishing part about the sets, as the fans might know, is the overwhelming details that make them look too real. The majority of the star cast were actually under a single roof in a studio located in North of London.
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But what remains constant is the influence of the Regency era on the interiors of the shooting locations. The production designer, Will Hughes-Jones, very cleverly used a particular colour palette devoted to a character. For instance, Lady Danbury’s demeanour was allotted with peach and dusty pink hues. Pink and dark purple flowers were used to adorn her house. This effort made it easier for the audience to wander from one world to another.
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The story has been curated in a manner that some parts of it do not fit the Regency world. Hence, the bewildering pieces of sets are a pastiche of this deemed romantic period. Apart from filming in Bath and London, the crew choose other ‘royal’ locations in the country as well. These included the Castle Howard in Yorkshire (known to have the largest dome in a private residence) and the resplendent gardens of 18th-century Painshill Park.
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We all remember the fancy galas that witnessed the main leads eyeing each other, right? This sumptuous meet and greets of the ladies of the ‘Ton’ were shot at the beautiful 17th-century Hatfield House in Hertfordshire. Marble Hall was also used for the same. The team was also shooting next to Prince Charles’s residence, which led to some hurdles.
Scintillating Second Season
The characters in Julia Quinn’s bestselling novels in corroboration with the hit machine Shondaland returned to television with the same madness but with even better architectonics. Apart from the locations already featured in the first season, the Assembly Rooms and Abbey Deli also made a comeback.
Enough of the foretaste now, let’s have a deeper glimpse at the architecture of the palaces and mansions that were an indispensable part of the success.
The Bridgerton House
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The exteriors of the magnificent place were shot at the Georgian mansion, popularly known as Ranger’s house. Talking about the interiors, Hughes-Jones informed Architectural Digest in an interview that they were established on a soundstage. Regal and sophisticated, they blend various period styles, including jabot draperies, medallion patterned fabric, ebonised wooden furniture, and marquetry tables. These elements struck a harmonious symphony with the romance that brewed around them. Wedgewood Blue was the colour palette assigned to Daphne, Anthony, and the Bridgerton family.
The Duke of Hastings’ Residence
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The house is established in a real location, and it is called Wilton House, designed by Inigo Jones. Even though the show makers have used the back of this fancy building, they have still done a decent job. The place is renowned for its phenomenal facade. The house has a French-style garden in the front, surprisingly not very English. A big fountain embraces the centre of the entrance.
Baron Featherington House
Image Courtesy: Architectural Digest
An idiosyncratic example, this mannerist style of architecture was first designed by Michelangelo when the Italian renaissance concluded. No. 1 Crescent, a Regency Museum in Bath, was used for the exteriors of the Featherington mansion. As visible in the costumes of Pen or Lady Whistledown and her sisters, orange, yellow and green dominate the hues of their interior decor.
Lady Danbury’s House
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Lady Danbury’s house, or the Palladian villa, is named after the architect Palladio, an Italian architect in the 1500s. He is famously known for writing the four books of architecture, working around the original Greek and Roman styles of architecture. Palladio’s popularity was such that most of the architects of the Georgian period copied his style. The details of the house are awe-inspiring, clearly indicating that it was made for a filthy rich family. A rusticated base and large central flooring (piano nobile) embrace the house.
Clyvedon Estate
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This palatial estate, the real location of which is the Castle Howard in Yorkshire, was designed by John Vanbrugh. The four arches provide the base to hold the dome. Splendid stonework in ornate limestone is a welcoming sight. The beautiful pendentive pieces are embellished with paintings. The dome, also ornate with intricate paintings, has been styled like the one you would usually find in Rome.
Royal Crescent
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The majority of the shoot was done in the city of Bath, established by Romans. The long wall is always sheathing the characters, making it even more significant, both in the series and architecturally.
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The Bridgerton Effect
Ever since the show was first aired in December 2020, the fans have been in a frenzy and quite literally obsessed with its entirety. Despite the swooning romances and majestic palaces, the glamour of what the show presents takes home the prize. Phenomenal interiors fuel this glamour. So much so, there was a hike in demand for Regency era decor and objects, skyrocketing the prices on eBay and auction sites. With season 3 in the pipeline, we are sure that the series will be back with drop-dead gorgeous sets and locations to woo its audience.
