Stars, Stage and Screen at Benthall Hall
- Published:
- 10 September 2024
Let's shine a spotlight on Benthall's theatrical connections. As well as providing the setting for a popular Netflix drama series, the Hall was also home to Michael Pickersgill Benthall who worked with some well-known actors of stage and screen.
Michael Pickersgill Benthall
The son of Sir Edward Benthall and his wife Hon. Ruth McCarthy, Michael was born just after the end of the 1st World War in 1919. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church in Oxford. In 1938 he left Oxford without a degree to become a professional actor. The outbreak of the 2nd World War happened a year later, and Michael joined the Royal Artillery.
June 6th 1944, D-Day, was a turning point in the allied invasion of France and would prove to be the foothold the allies needed in Europe. Along with another 350,000 troops, Michael was part of the landings, finding himself on Sword Beach. He would write home many times during his military career and a selection of those letters can be found in Benthall today.
After the war, Michael had a varied career within stage, directing stars such as Vivien Leigh, Laurence Olivier and Katherine Hepburn. It took him all over the world to Australia, New York, Lisbon and the home of Shakespeare, Stratford upon Avon. He was appointed Artistic Director of the Old Vic in 1953 and would go on a ‘five-year plan’ to stage all thirty-six plays in the Shakespeare first folio.
Judi Dench
In his time at the Old Vic, Michael would give debuts to many, most notably Richard Burton, John Neville, Keith Mitchell and a certain Judi Dench. She was straight out of drama school when he cast her as Ophelia in Hamlet and from there her career flourished.
She would go on to have a glittering time, across seven decades, and work on huge productions like James Bond, Chocolat and Shakespeare in Love. From the latter, she would win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Michael would go on to be the godfather to Judi Dench’s daughter Flinty and she would never forget the career she owed him because of the opportunity he gave her. You can find more about her in our collection at Benthall.
Enola Holmes
The eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted the ancestral home of the Holmes family is an estate in Shropshire. Benthall was used as an exterior location during shooting with a little bit of artistic license involved to allow the gardens and house to seem unloved. Much different from the manicured, well-preserved house and gardens we see here today.
Enola Holmes, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is the younger sister of the great detective Sherlock Holmes, played by Henry Cavill. Along with their brother Mycroft, played by Sam Claflin, Enola embarks on an adventure to find her missing mother only to meet a Lord and find herself on an even bigger adventure that could threaten the whole country.
The scenes centred around the approach to the house with a stone fountain added to the front lawn and an array of foliage used to give the front aspect an overgrown appearance.
From the 2nd World War, until the present day, Benthall has played a large part in shaping stars, screen and stage. Why not pay the estate a visit and read more about Michael’s story whilst walking in the footsteps of Enola Holmes.
History of Benthall Hall
Discover the history the Benthall family played in the Civil War, as being Royalists, the family supported King Charles I and this meant confronting the Parliamentarians.
Visiting Benthall with your dog
Benthall Hall is a one pawprint rated place. Discover countryside walks surrounding Bentham Hall in Shropshire for you and your dog. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit.
Things to see and do at Benthall Hall
Benthall may be small, but it’s packed full of things to do. Explore the house and then stroll around the gardens and stop off for a snack of tea and cake.