Jane Eyre is one of my favorite novels of all time, so I have made a point of watching every movie version I could find over the years. I’ve seen the ones with Orson Welles, William Hurt, Timothy Dalton, and Ciaran Hinds. I know it’s widely debated among Jane Eyre fans, but the best one so far, in my opinion, is the Toby Stephens-Ruth Wilson miniseries produced for Masterpiece Theatre in 2006. I’ve watched it at least four times–a fifth to take photos of Thornfield Hall for this post–and I never get tired of it. Toby Stephens may be a little too good looking for Rochester, but he captures the spirit of the character in a way I don’t think the other actors did.
Haddon Hall, a fortified medieval manor house in Derbyshire, England, dating from the 12th Century, was used as the setting for Thornfield in the film. (Photo found here.)
This is a photo from the Haddon Hall website of the Long Gallery. If it looks familiar, it’s because it’s been used in lots of other productions, including the 2005 version of “Pride & Prejudice” with Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen (another favorite of mine that I’ll do a post about someday!).
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- Jane wakes up on her first morning at Thornfield.
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- Jane explores the grounds of Thornfield on her first morning there.
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- Jane sees a red scarf waving from a window in the North Tower.
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- Adele performs a French love song for Jane when she arrives that Jane finds a little inappropriate.
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- Adele in the schoolroom at Thornfield.
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- Jane and Adele in the schoolroom.
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- Jane grading Adele’s homework.
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- Jane sketching in her room.
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- Jane’s bedroom door at night. Is something out there?
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- Jane sees Rochester’s study for the first time.
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- Adele’s bedroom.
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- Jane writes to her uncle in Madeira.
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- Jane steps down into the back hall.
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- Jane watches Rochester pacing in the garden below her bedroom window. What’s he so tormented about?
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- Jane looks up at the roof of Thornfield, where Grace Poole is shaking out the rugs.
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- The servants’ kitchen, where Jane and Adele eat breakfast.
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- Jane sits on a hill, sketching Thornfield in the distance.
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- Jane and Adele watch the elegant party guests arrive from the upstairs landing.
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- Jane enters the drawing room.
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- The party goes on for days.
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- Jane in the drawing room.
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- Rochester confronts Jane in the back hall, asking her why she has left the party.
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- The party guests watch Rochester leave.
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- Rochester’s high society guests, including Blanche, who is expecting a proposal.
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- Jane and Rochester discuss her leaving to visit her dying Aunt Reed.
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- The exterior of Mrs. Reed’s house, where Jane lived as a child until she was sent off to Lowood School.
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- Visiting her aunt, Mrs. Reed, on her death bed. I thought the murals on the walls were interesting.
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- In her aunt’s house, Jane sits with her cousins.
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- Jane helps Bessie polish silver in her Aunt Reed’s house.
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- Jane returns from her aunt’s house.
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- On the lawn.
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- Rochester and Jane make wedding plans in his study.
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- Jane getting ready for the wedding in her room.
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- Jane in her wedding dress.
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- The wedding scene.
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- The wedding is interrupted. Someone knows a good reason why Rochester and Jane shouldn’t be married.
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- The servants line up in the front hall to congratulate the newlyweds and throw rice at them. Rochester says, “Save your congratulations! You’re 15 years too late!”
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- Bertha may look normal, but there’s a reason she’s locked in the North Tower.
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- St. John Rivers takes Jane to his sisters’ home after rescuing her from the moor.
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- Jane recuperates in bed at the Rivers’ home.
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- St. John sits in his sisters’ parlor, pondering why Jane has still not accepted his proposal.
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- I love this shot of Jane as she sits pondering St. John’s proposal. She hears Rochester calling her name and returns to him instead.
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- Jane is stunned to find that Thornfield has burned.
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- Thornfield after the fire.
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- Thornfield is a ruin.
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- Jane finds Rochester living here, in the caretaker’s cottage.
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- Jane and Rochester finally reunite. He is blind and “crippled” from his burns and tells her to leave unless she’ll be his wife because he doesn’t want her as his caretaker. She tells him she still loves him and will never leave again. I always get sniffly at this part!
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- Final shot in the movie, of Jane and Edward with their two children, extended family, and friends, in front of their new home.
The scenes inside Thornfield were all so dimly lit that some of these photos are kind of dark. Sorry about that. It was very authentically shot, so you felt how cold and formidable it must’ve been inside the hall, especially at night by candlelight.
In his behind-the-scenes production notes, producer Diederick Santer wrote about filming at Haddon Hall:
Haddon is a magical place. We’re made extremely welcome by Lord Edward and his staff. The hall does not open to the public until well into April, so we have the run of the place. The rooms are rugged and beautiful, and are made all the more so by the brilliant decoration and propping of designer Grenville Horner and his team. Our base is close by, and it’s an extremely comfortable location in which to work.
Except that it is FREEZING.
I wear more layers than ever before — three on my LEGS! And a coat that’s more like a duvet. And I’m still FROZEN! Heaters are no use. We line up about a dozen in the long gallery (which serves as the drawing room of Thornfield Hall) and our breath is still condensing. It’s as though the stone of Haddon contains all the cold of seven centuries, and there’s nothing we can do about it. At times through the day, I feel myself losing focus, getting light-headed, unable to perform simple tasks. I feel like I’m lost in the ice…
Brrr. Gives me new appreciation for how well Ruth Wilson and Toby Stephens managed to heat up the screen with their characters!
You can take a virtual tour of Haddon Hall as it looks today on the official website. I hope you’re enjoying Movie Mondays. If you have a movie you’d like me to feature in the future, let me know and I’ll add it to the list!
If You’re Hooked on Houses from the Movies:
- The House from “Stepmom”
- “The Holiday:” A Tale of Two Houses
- The Private English Estate Used in “Atonement”
- See All Posts About Movie Houses
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I am such a Masterpiece junkie. It has been a bit since I watched Jane Eyre, thanks for posting the pictures. I may have to watch it again!!
Shannon’s last blog post..Problem Potentially Solved
Great post! I do not think I’ve seen this version so I will have to check it out!!
Angela’s last blog post..Hooked on Fridays: 24
LOL!! I was about to say I’d hate to heat one of those homes – I bet they are freezing! Lovely pictures, thanks for posting.
Liz@VioletPosy’s last blog post..How I learnt to embrace pink
I’ve never seen this movie! I have to see it for sure now. Great post:-)
Amy @ Living Locurto’s last blog post..Sweet Face
I thought of a good movie house you could do: the mansion from Sabrina (the Harrison Ford version). That would be a neat one.
It’s been a long time since I read this book; I was probably 12. I need to try it again.
Regarding Haddon Hall, I’m always blown away to think of a building, a home, that’s been in existence since the 1100’s ! What amazing, and mundane, things have gone on behind those walls?
Anyway, great post!
Holly’s last blog post..I Heart Pottery Barn
Oh, I’ve never seen this version – I have to now!
Ms.Tee’s last blog post..A Whimsical Laundry Room Tour
Great post, Julia. You have me wanting to see that movie now. I need a cold day to snuggle up and really appreciate it.
I’ve left you an award on my blog. Have a great Monday!
I’m like Amy ~ I’ve never seen this movie before. Shame on me! I’ll definitely try to watch it sometime in the near future.
~Angie
theArthurClan’s last blog post..The Snowglobe Snowrock. Thingy.
I LOVE that version of Jane Eyre. I wish I had it right now to watch.
Don’t you wish we still wore such beautiful ball gowns these days as well? They just look perfect against all the wood panelling and stone fireplaces
Tamara’s last blog post..My Trip to China With My Big Sister
Haddon is so beautiful! I’ll have to check out the movie!
Thanks for the great post!
-Kim
Kim@ForeverWherever’s last blog post..Blog Party — Tasty Tuesday — Don’t Miss It!
Oh, I must check out that movie! Gorgeous!
Happy day!
Melissa
I must admit, I’ve never seen this movie. I’m a bit embarrassed since it is a classic. I do love the exterior, so pretty!
Hi Julia
I am ashamed to say that I’ve never read the book, but my absolute favorite movie version is the one with Orson Welles. I think he was hot then (I know, weird). I’ve never seen this version, so I think I’ll have to. Great post!
rue
rue’s last blog post..Letter to our weatherman
Would you believe I’ve never read the book OR seen the movie?? I’m a disgrace to girls everywhere.
)
marie’s last blog post..that’sa lotta greasy meata-ball!
I’ve not read the book, but I have seen a few versions of it. In fact, I saw one BBC version just last week. I forgot the names of the stars.
That manor house is a freakin’ castle! It’s beautiful, but I would not have wanted to live in that time. I like all of our modern conveniences and the fact that we don’t have to wear four layers of clothing! Although, it seems they need it there.
Beautiful post. I haven’t seen this version of Jane Eyre and will look for it. As for my suggestion for a future post, I don’t recall seeing you mention this one before so, if you have, sorry for being redundant: the “Practical Magic” house. Saw a bit of this movie a few nights ago and remembered that the house was almost more interesting than the story. And I remember reading about it (in Country Home or Country Living maybe?) when the movie first came out. Thanks for this fun “movie house” series!
Imagine living in a house that large. I would love it but hate to clean it~
Susie Harris’s last blog post..A small space with big ideas…
Yes,love these classic homes. Every time I see one of these beauties I think, “I was mean to live in THAT era.” Then I look around and quickly remember that my bathroom, as simple as it is, is a modern miracle! I’ll settle for the 6 hour A&E Pride and Prejudice with Collin Firth. Ahhh…. love me some good chick flicks and some yummy chocolate!
PrettyOrganizer’s last blog post..Mirrors for Game Day
I never saw that version, but will see if I can get it from Netflix! Have you been watching Masterpiece Theater this year? They just aired a two part series of Tess of d’Urbersville (you can watch it on-line) and it was REALLY good!
Stephanie’s last blog post..Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict
Excellent and I love this way this post looks and reads! Love the classics.
I believe Haddon Hall was also used during the filming of The Princess Bride.
Love the photos!
Starwoodgal’s last blog post..Recipe: Country Pork with Mushrooms
I’m ashamed to say that I’m not familiar at all with Jane Eyre but I’m interested now. That’s a beautiful castle.
Amy’s last blog post..Drat!
I just found your blog through twitter today. What a fun blog! I have subscribed to it!
Katrine’s last blog post..Henry
Can you believe I have never seen a movie version of JE?
Now onto a more important topic. Did I see something saying that you’re going to Blissdom????? I think my head is going to explode from all of the fabulousness there!
Kimba @ A Soft Place to Land’s last blog post..The After-Christmas Mantle
One of my favorite books and I loved this version of the movie as well. An amazing “home” but just a tad chilly – oh and you’ve got that crazy first wife cruising aroung in the dark too!
Julia, I adore this post! Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorite books, and I’ve seen every version, too. Yeah, this Rochester is pretty good – but a bit young and hot for my taste. Ciaran Hinds is my personal pick – so gruff and dreamy. But back to the post; it’s a terrific look at the house – more homes-of-literature, please, maybe “Rebecca’s” Manderley?
marilyn @ simmer till done’s last blog post..The Secret Life of Oven Mitty
Great post. i need to rent the movies it’s been awhile. Thanks for the great reminder.
LuLu
Hi Julia,
I’ve been looking around your blog this afternoon, wow. A lot to see! So, I’ve noticed the fixture above your kitchen dining table and was wondering if you might know the model? I’m looking to replace mine and think that would work for me. Thanks!
I love the ceiling in that reat hall/drawing room. I always think I want to live in a house like this back then with the gowns and manners, but then I remember the BBC documentary Manor House (now THERE’S a house!) and I think I’d rather have central heating and deoderant.
Robin’s last blog post..New bird on the block No. 24
One of the greatest novels ever and this screen version was amazing. I had to giggle when I read the comment above mine! I have had the same thoughts…oh to live there but oy. Now hot showers, deodorant or central heat.
No wonder so many people died of consumption. *grin*
One film I would love to see you do is Sense and Sensibilities. I LOVE the book and the Emma Thonpson/;Kate Winslet version. So many gorgeous manor house, London townhomes and the girls an dthei Mothe lived in after their father’s death.
Thank you for always providing us with such eye candy and smiles.
Love,
Sue
Sue’s last blog post..Ah…I Feel So NOT Alone!
I love those elaborate ceilings often found in beautiful English manors.
thingsthatinspire’s last blog post..French Inspired Houses (aka, My Dream Home 2009)
That is so amazing! I love being able to take closer looks at houses that are in movies! Thank you for doing this!!!
If you ever do TV show houses…I LOVE Nora’s house on Brother’s and Sister’s! Look forward to the next house!
Beth’s last blog post..I couldn’t have said it better myself…
LOVELY setting!
Fifi Flowers’s last blog post..Fifi Re-Designed by Imogen…
I loved this movie too, by far the best adaptation!