HOT on the heels of the success of Downton Abbey, the BBC has chosen to film its new flagship period drama at Duncombe Park, near Helmsley.

Parades End has been adapted for the screen by Sir Tom Stoppard from a novel by Ford Madox Ford and is set between the end of the Edwardian era and the First World War.

The drama is due to appear on screens as a five-part mini series next year and will star Rupert Everett, Miranda Richardson, Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall, among others.

Jake Duncombe said that over the course of two weeks, the house and its surroundings were transformed.

“Part of the gravelled forecourt was turfed over and a large polystyrene model of a cedar tree, complete with real branches, was erected around a scaffold frame, to create the setting for one of the story’s most dramatic scenes,” he said.

“Polystyrene was also used, along with 3D printing, to create a replica of the existing Old Father Time sundial.

“The polystyrene version looked very similar to his stone counterpart, except he was about a third larger, and I understand the director requested his bottom be made slightly more curvaceous.

Mr Duncombe said that a 70-metre cherry picker was also parked on the slope above the house to illuminate the entire West Front.

“I went up on the platform first thing Monday morning and, as we swayed in the breeze at maximum height, it didn’t take long to wake up, but it was worth it for the views, which were magnificent,” he added A funeral scene filmed on Sunday afternoon involved about 50 extras who were costumed and made up as servants of the house.

The make-up and costume areas were located in what would have been the centre of operations for the same domestic staff the extras were portraying — butlers adjusted their collars in The Butler’s Pantry, maids tied aprons in what was the laundry and footmen waited to be called to the set from the Servants’ Hall.

“It all felt quite eerie seeing people and things just as they might have been at Duncombe Park 100 years ago,” Mr Duncombe said.

“Raffaella and I, and our three children, moved into the main apartment at Duncombe Park in September — contrary to rumours about the house being for sale — and so it was particularly exciting to have been chosen as a location for such a prestigious production shortly after our move.”

Mr Duncombe said the terraces and garden remained open to the general public five days a week during the summer months, while the house was now available as a venue for weddings and functions all year round. He said: “Last year, we decided to close the house to the general public and one of the benefits has been greater freedom to offer the house as a film location, besides as an exclusive venue for weddings and corporate events. In fact, a young couple walking in the park were interested to see what was going on and are now inquiring about use of the house and garden as the venue for their wedding in 2012.”