Tucked away in the picturesque Cotswolds, Chavenage House has become a local landmark. The Elizabethan estate is located just a stone’s throw from Highgrove House and Gatcombe Park, the private residences of King Charles and Princess Anne, and was once a playground for Princes William and Harry.
The historic property has also made its mark on television, featuring in iconic shows such as Wolf Hall, Poldark, and, more recently, Rivals, one of the nation’s most beloved (and steamy) period dramas.
Actor Aidan Turner has notably filmed bedroom scenes at Chavenage House, portraying both the 18th-century heartthrob Captain Ross Poldark and 1980s journalist Declan O’Hara in the Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper’s best-selling novel.
“Aidan used this bed for a sex scene in Poldark, and when Rivals came along, he used the same one,” says James Lowsley-Williams, who gives HELLO! a tour of the grade I-listed manor that has been home to his family for six generations.
Describing Chavenage as a “lived-in family home, not a museum or National Trust property,” James explains that the family is happy to host film crews. “We’re not too precious,” he says, noting that they welcomed the Rivals cast and crew for five months in the previous year.
“The cast and crew were so genuine and kind. The family would sit in the catering trailer with the actors,” James shares. “My family is flamboyant and loves to jump in and say, ‘Aidan! Come here!’ I’m more like, ‘It’s Aidan Turner – I don’t want to bother him.'”
James, a former professional cyclist who now works with the Global Cycling Network (GCN), recounts fond memories of interacting with the stars. “I’d always pop by to see what was going on and say ‘hi’ to Danny Dyer, who plays Freddie Jones. He used to call my aunt Caroline ‘treacle.’ He’d be like, ‘Oh hi, treacle, you alright?’ She’d say, ‘Danny’s just the same off-camera as he is on.’ Then Aidan would come up and give my grandmother a cuddle.”
James, who recently married his fiancée Emma and hosted their wedding reception at Chavenage, is thrilled to see the Cotswolds experiencing an “insane boom” thanks to the popularity of TV shows and famous residents like the Beckhams and the royal family.
“I met the King when I was much younger, and he’s visited quite a few times,” James says. “Princess Anne has attended parties here, and she’s part of the same riding circle as my aunts. Prince William and Prince Harry were also regular visitors as children.”
“When they stayed at Highgrove, it was quite secluded, and they were encouraged to play with other kids in a protected environment. We were like the family next door, so they could get to know us.”
