HBO/BBC drama Gentleman Jack was mostly filmed on location in Halifax and around Anne Lister’s native Yorkshire.
Gentleman Jack Filming Locations in Halifax and Calderdale
Shibden Hall and Estate & Cunnery Wood. Many scenes were shot in Anne Lister’s home Shibden Hall, near Halifax. Over 600 years old, this Grade II listed building is open to the public for you to visit (read our blog on how to get to Shibden Hall).
For Gentleman Jack Writer and Director Sally Wainwright, who grew up near the Estate, it was a “privilege” to film on location. “We were conscious that they walked through these same halls,” said Wainwright, “We know that the stuff we did actually happened in the same rooms we recorded.”
Suranne Jones, who plays Anne Lister, said: “It still blows my mind when I say that we filmed at Shibden. When I’m walking in Anne Lister’s footsteps, I am literally walking into her house, up her stairs, eating in her dining room, doing business deals where she did business deals, surveying the same land, and walking where she walked.”
Anne Lister’s bedroom and study were studio sets. “It was because the actual bedroom and study within Shibden Hall itself were just far too small for the film crew,” explains Gentleman Jack locations manager Luc Webster. “With so many scenes playing out in the bedroom and her study it was deemed much better to do it as studio set. Just to give more room to play with for the camera.”
Various locations in Halifax town centre were used to film 1830s street scenes.
Wakefield Gate & Wainhouse Tower. The opening sequence of Gentleman Jack that overlooks Halifax was filmed by Wainhouse Tower, located at King Cross Halifax. The tower is open to the public on certain Bank Holidays through the year, so you can climb to the top and take in the amazing views. link to event on VC.com
Filming took place at Haugh End Lane, Sowerby Bridge. The set for Holts Pit, a colliery owned by the Listers, was also built in the village. The interior of St Peter’s Church in Sowerby Bridge was used in Series 1 Episode 2 as the interior of St Martin-in-the-Field for the wedding of Anne Lister’s former lover.
The Lord Nelson Inn at Luddenden village is the exterior of the tavern seen in Series 1 Episode 1 of Gentleman Jack ‘I Was Just Passing’. The Fleece Inn at Elland was used to film the interior scenes.
Ripponden was used for scenes set in Scotland, including at Coal gate Road.
The beautiful rolling fields and dry stone walls countryside at Green Lane and Paddock Lane, Northowram were used for various exterior shots throughout the series.
Gentleman Jack Filming Locations Outside Calderdale
West Yorkshire
A 19th-century market was reconstructed on Huddersfield’s Queen Street in the town centre and scenes set in a solicitor’s office took place at Oakwell Hall in Birstall. This Elizabethan house, near Batley, is open to the public.
Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield appears as Rawsons Bank.
Bramham Park, between Leeds and Tadcaster, appears as the exterior of Skelfer House.
Little Germany, Bradford town centre was used to film 1830s street scenes.
Land on the Estate at Harewood House, Leeds was used to film scenes set at Southolm Farm.
York
Scenes featuring Ann Walker’s house at Crow Nest were filmed in Sutton Park, near York. This Georgian house is open to the public. Unfortunately, the original home of Ann Walker (played by Sophie Rundle) no longer exists.
Filming took place in the small 15th century Holy Trinity Church in Goodramgate, where Anne Lister and Ann Walker took communion together.
The Treasurer’s House, close to York Minster, appears as a lodging house.
Fairfax House was used for interior shots of Vere Cameron’s home. This Georgian merchant’s town house is open to the public as a museum.
North Yorkshire
Newby Hall near Ripon appears as Lord and Lady Stuart’s home in Gentleman Jack. This family-owned Georgian house is open to the public.
Broughton Hall near Skipton features as the Black Swan Inn.
Further Afield
Filming for Gentleman Jack also took place in Copenhagen, Denmark. Copenhagen City Hall was used for scenes alongside the royal chambers at Gavnø Castle.