Stately home Knebworth House that starred in the Crown, The Kind’s Speech and Batman needs more than £70,000 of emergency repairs due to cracks blamed on climate change
- Knebworth House, in Hertfordshire, was awarded £74,175 by Historic England
- Funds granted for urgent repairs to cracks caused by rain and high temperatures
- The manor has featured on-screen in Batman, The Crown and The King’s Speech
A British stately home where The Crown, Batman and The King’s Speech were filmed needs emergency repairs due to climate change.
Knebworth House in Hertfordshire has been awarded £74,175 by Historic England for urgent restoration and investigative work after increased levels and cycles of rain – combined with higher temperatures – caused cracks.
The public body dubbed the house ‘an important historic building and a major visitor attraction’ – saying they are ‘pleased to support the urgent repairs’.
The property dates back to 1346 where it was owned by several families until 1492 when it was purchased by Sir Robert Lytton – who built a more-grand home around a courtyard.
Knebworth House (pictured) in Hertfordshire has been awarded £74,175 by Historic England for urgent restoration and investigative work
Increased levels and cycles of rain – combined with higher temperatures – have caused large cracks to develop on the property
It was remodeled and had eight towers built in the early 19th century by Elizabeth Bulwer-Lytton, who dubbed the original red brick Gothic structure ‘old-fashioned and too large’.
It is the original 19th Century structure now facing damage, with one of the towers seeing significant cracks.
The breathtaking building was used as Wayne Manor in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie, as well as appearing in The Crown, The King’s Speech and as a location in Paddington 2.
Knebworth House’s interiors stood in for Balmoral Castle in hit Netflix series The Crown.
The work continues an extensive programme of repair and renovation. It began in the mid-20th century when a leaking roof was found to be causing deterioration of historic room interiors
Away from the silver screen the sprawling Grade II-listed country pile’s grounds hosted giant gigs and festivals, featuring world-famous performers including Oasis, The Rolling Stones and Metallica.
Tony Calladine – regional director for Historic England in the East of England – said: ‘Knebworth House is an important historic building and a major visitor attraction.
‘We’re pleased to support the urgent repairs to the north-west turret of the house to ensure that this remarkable property can be enjoyed by visitors in the future.’
The work continues an extensive programme of repair and renovation.
It began in the mid-20th century when a leaking roof was found to be causing deterioration of historic room interiors.
The breathtaking building was used as Wayne Manor in Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman movie, as well as appearing in The Crown (pictured) and as a location in Paddington 2. Interior shots of Balmoral Castle in The Crown were shot inside Knebworth House
Knebworth House was also used as one setting for this scene in the film The King’s Speech (pictured)
To date, £5million has been invested in these essential ongoing works, of which £1million has been grant funded by Historic England.
Dr Robert Fernley, chairman of Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust, said: ‘We are extremely grateful to have received this support from Historic England.
‘This grant will allow us to carry out emergency repairs that will enable us to continue visitor access to Knebworth House and retain employment.’
Knebworth House Education and Preservation Trust has also received a grant of £180,000 from the Historic Houses Foundation for additional repair works to the north-west turret.
This grant was awarded from the Government’s Heritage Stimulus Fund to restart vital construction and maintenance on heritage sites and preserve visitor attractions.