H is for Homes

Once again, today we are going to be jumping around the country.  

Today's A to Z Tour of Harry Potter Filming Locations is H for the homes of the Harry Potter characters.  On the whole, the locations were just used for their exteriors and are private dwellings so not open to the public - still, you can see/photograph the outside which is what was used in the films in any case.

9 Heathgate, Hampstead Garden

9 Heathgate is a two-story bungalow at the end of a quite street in the north eastern suburbs of London. The nearest underground (or tube) station is Golders Green on the Northern line.  At the beginning of The Deathly Hallows, part 1, after erasing her parents’ memories, Hermione exists the family home and walks up the street towards St Jude’s Church – both of which look just like they do in the film, hedges and all.

12 Picket Post Close, Bracknell

Picket Post Close is in the village of Bracknell in Berkshire, the nearest train station being Martins Heron, on the London Waterloo-Reading line. The street is lined with identical-looking houses; in fact the whole area is filled with similar houses, almost all of which could be home to the Dursleys.  However, it was number 12, Picket Post Close that was used as the location for 4 Privet Drive in The Philosopher’s Stone.  Subsequent films were shot on a studio set – it’s been reported that the residents of Picket Post Close had demanded a much larger fee to film on their street.  I dropped by to take photos on my way back from Sailsbury one weekend, but didn’t hang around for long as I fell over when walking to the street, twisting my ankle and scraping my knee so wasn’t up to walking the length of the street to find the exact house!  Clumsy Ros for the win.

Godric’s Hollow

A medieval wool town in Sufolk, Lavenham is famous for its half-timber houses and 15th century church. To me, however, it is most famous for being the template for Godric’s Hollow.  The final footage is a combination of background shots of Lavenham, digital buildings, and a studio set, with the actors filming in front of a green screen. 

de Vere House, Lavenham.
Image from http://www.itv.com/news/anglia/topic/harry-potter/ 

The Potter's family home was based on the de Vere House, a grade 1 listed building available for self-contained holiday stays - it's one of those things I've found out since I visited the town, so I've had to make do with a photo from the internet.  The de Vere House went on the market in 2012 for nearly £1 million, and is now the second-most photographed doorway in England (the first being 10 Downing Street).  Although based on this house, the actual building used was a studio set, now on display at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. Personally, I don't see it... but who am I to argue with the internet?

Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire

Hardwick Hall is an achitecturally significant Elizabethan country house.  It was built between 1590 and 1597 for Bess of Hardwick.  Owned and managed by the National Trust, today Hardwick Hall is home to the most amazing collection of tapestries and embroideries, most of which date back to the 16th century.  These tapestries were initially preserved as it was (wrongly) believed they were linked to one of the early monarchs - which means they still of a high quality and worth preserving in their own right!  The tapestries are beautiful and very much worth a visit.  Hardwick Hall was used as the exterior for Malfoy Manor in The Deathly Hallows, part 1.  Only the ground and first floor were used, with the towers digitally added in post.  The yew alley and gardens were digitally moved from the side to the front of the property with the iron gates added in afterwards.  Personally, I thought the building was imposing enough without the pointed towers.

Clachaig Gully, Scotland
Located approximately two miles east of Glencoe village, the Clachaig Gully became the home of Hagrid's Hut for the later films.  On a ridge opposite Clachaig Inn, set designers built Hagrid's Hut, the standing stones, and the Bridge to Nowhere.  The location was used for The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Order of the Phoenix, and The Half-Blood Prince.  Despite pleas from local business owners, all traces of the set were removed at the end of filming.  I didn't climb the ridge because of a foot injury, and instead just photographed it from below.

Whew.  Thank goodness "I" is going to be an easier entry!  Before you ask, Ron's house is being left to another entry (Y... you'll understand when we get there!).

Happy travels

Ros

I'm also cross stitching the A-Z challenge over at Fangirl Stitches - both a Pokemon and a Supernatural alphabet.  Please stop by and check it out.