Ghosts: Charlotte Ritchie stars in BBC's comedy series
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To recap the plot of the hit BBC show, it follows married couple Alice (played by Charlotte Ritchie) and Mark (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) who discover that Alice’s dead aunt left her mansion to her niece. Excited about their unexpected windfall, the duo are unaware that Button House is home to many ghosts from different periods throughout history.
As the series has gone on, fans have also been able to find out more about the past of each deceased resident.
The spooky sitcom is filmed at West Horsley Place in Surrey, a Grade I listed building that serves as the main set, dating back to the 15th century.
With 50 rooms and a 380-acre estate to explore, viewers will recognise some of the interior and exterior sets used for filming scenes.
Guests can set foot into the library, the oldest wing of the house dating back to 1425, filled with thousands of books on the dark wooden shelves.
Another familiar room viewers will know is The Stone Hall which has an impressive history of its own.
King Henry VIII once gifted the house to his cousin, Henry Courtenay, where His Majesty is known to have enjoyed a 35-course lunch here.
Arguably the most striking room in the house is the Drawing room located upstairs, decorated in eye-catching shades of red silks and patchworks.
Other notable TV shows that have used the historic building for period drama sets include The Crown, The Durrells and Vanity Fair.
Previous owners of the red brick establishment include Lord Berners and Conservative MP Henry Currie.
But West Horsley Place made headlines back in 2014 when its previous owner, 99-year-old Mary Innes-Ker, Duchess of Roxburghe died.
Just like ‘Ghosts’ main character Alice, the house was inherited by broadcaster, author and former University Challenge presenter Bamber Gascoigne, her great-nephew.
Unbeknown to the then surprised 80-year-old, the Duchess had left the entire property solely to him, despite having other living descendants.
To help pay for the multimillion restoration of the run-down estate, Bamber auctioned many of his great-aunt’s possessions including her engagement ring which sold for £8.8 million.
Ownership of the property and estate has since been transported to West Horsley Place Trust.
Thanks to a renewed interest in the location, fans even held a fundraising campaign selling signed artwork and badges to support the Trust in 2019.
Private 90-minute tours can be arranged for up to 15 to 20 people at a time, but for those who want to see their favourite ‘Ghosts’ scenes and hear other eerie tales, will not have to wait too long.
West Horsley Place next Open Day will be held on Saturday, September 19 where according to the official website: “The most prestigious rooms in the house will be open for you to wander through on a free-flow route.”
“There will be expert stewards in each room sharing the remarkable stories of West Horsley Place including Guy Fawkes’ time as a footmen here, how Walter Raleigh’s head ended up under our stairs, why Elizabeth I had a theatre built in our gardens, how two of our owners ended up being executed and much more.”
A pop-up cafe will be on-hand to offer refreshments, with visitors even welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy within the walled gardens.
Keep an eye out for any paranormal activity during your time, West Horsley Place has just as many real-life haunting stories just like Button House.
Tickets cost £10 per person and under 16s and carers can enter for free.
Limited slots are still available. Visit the West Horsley Place Trust official site to book.
Ghosts airs its next episode on Monday, September 6, watch the whole series on BBC iPlayer.
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