It’s a truth universally acknowledged that someone in possession of a good fortune must be in want of fancy house.
And there is nothing fancier than the grade II-listed country home that doubled up as Elizabeth Bennet’s home in the BBC’s 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation.
The eight-bed Luckington Court, in Wiltshire, is up for sale for £3.95million via estate agent Knight Frank – three years after it was listed for £6million.
In 2018, the home went on sale for the first time in 70 years with a price of more than £9million but did not sell, so the current listed fee marks a drop in value of more than half.
Those wanting to live their very own Jane Austen-inspired life can strut through the Queen Anne front pillared portico or wistfully meander through the mature gardens like the Bennets did at Longbourn.
The historic country house, featuring a wood carved doorway reputedly by Anglo-Dutch sculptor Grinling Gibbons, also has seven bathrooms and six reception rooms, providing ample room for family life and entertainment.
The second floor is a flat and games room.
And there’s plenty of outside space too, with extensive lawns approaching the house dominated by a 400-year-old Lebanese Cedar, which has one of the largest girths ever recorded in the UK.
The new owners will also enjoy a tennis court, stable block, a dovecote, an outdoor riding school, home farm buildings, 1.27 acres of woodland and four well-presented cottages.
James Walker, Regional Head of Central in Knight Frank’s Country Department, said: ‘It is a privilege to be involved with the sale of Luckington Court, which is the epitome of a classic, small country estate.
‘The next custodian will appreciate the subtle grandeur and the sense of pride it evokes.
‘Quintessentially English and wonderfully understated.’
The BBC’s six-part adaptation of Jane Austen’s celebrated novel was a huge success with critics and viewers.
It made Colin Firth a sex symbol and earned a Best Actress Bafta for his co-star Jennifer Ehle.
The series first aired on September 24, 1995.
To the BBC’s surprise, an average of 10 million viewers tuned in to watch the drama.
During filming at Luckington Court, Inspector Morse star John Thaw – who lived nearby – was annoyed by the presence of the BBC crew ruining his peace and quiet.
Director Simon Langton recalled: ‘He complained bitterly because he wanted to get away from it all, but we invited him for a drink and he went away well-fed and mollified.’
