Pemberley... or was it Lyme Park?

 One TV adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice outshines all others — the 1995 version, staring Jennifer Ehle as Elizabeth and the delectable Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. I missed the original transmission in 1995 but discovered it for myself on one of the early repeats. I instantly fell in love with it.

Darcy's grand ancestral home was Pemberley. Jane Austen describes Elizabeth's reaction on first seeing it:

 ... the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome stone building, standing well on rising ground...  Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place for which nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in their admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something! 

The BBC chose Lyme Park as their 'Pemberley'. The excellence of the choice is confirmed in the fact that, 22 years later, the National Trust is still celebrating the association, and your enraptured bloggist was more than happy to make a 2 hour journey across the Peak District to see it.

"And of this place," thought she, "I might have been mistress!"

The National Trust have (of course!) produced a Pemberley Walk, inviting one to follow in the footsteps of Mr Darcy and the BBC film crew. It would have helped if I'd accurately remembered the scenes, but the places are hopefully recognisable enough. BBC on the left, mine on the right...

Darcy arrives in Pemberley's woodlands at the end of his long journey

Darcy, after a rapid change out of damp clothes, runs to meet Elizabeth

Darcy and Elizabeth walk together and love grows.  Ahhh!

One scene in particular made the series famous — the Lake Scene. The Guardian declared it to be "one of the most unforgettable moments in TV history." It wasn't in Austen's novel, yet it feels wholly correct and received widespread critical acclaim. Darcy, arriving alone in Pemberley's extensive grounds after a long journey on horseback, and blissfully unaware that Elizabeth is viewing the house and gardens, decides to cool off with a swim in one of his ponds. Then, dripping wet, he comes face-to-face with a startled and embarrassed Elizabeth.

I just had to see that pond!

As my aunt Sarah commented, Colin Frith must have been the stunt man!

A sopping wet Darcy walks unawares towards Elizabeth. You can just see
a path in the foreground...

... from where I took this photo.

I think a girl could be very happy living in Pemberley.  So long as I had servants to look after it, this one certainly could.