A clash of interests at an historic country manor is being played out for all to see on national television.
The eight-part BBC Four series Sissinghurst focuses on the people who live at the popular tourist attraction and their struggle with the National Trust over how they feel it should be run.
Adam Nicolson and his wife Sarah Raven want the castle grounds’ unused farming equipment to be put back to good use – much like it was after Mr Nicolson’s grandmother Vita Sackville-West bought the land in 1930 – but face stiff opposition from the current owners.
The television series was made for the BBC by London-based KEO Films.
Producer and director Claire Whalley said she was pleased with the finished product and hoped audiences were enjoying going behind the scenes of one of Kent’s best-loved landmarks.
She said: “It was a very difficult series to do because the National Trust set a schedule and we thought a lot more was going to happen during the year, but the farm idea never really took off.
“It does make for quite an interesting documentary though and I think all those involved learned something from the experience. Mr Nicolson for instance learned that when you are dealing with a big organisation like the National Trust, you can’t rush them because their main priority is to conserve places like Sissinghurst and they don’t make decisions lightly.
“But I hope audiences will see both sides of the coin and recognise that everybody wants the best for castle and its grounds.”
Built during the Middle Ages, the original building at Sissinghurst was allowed to go to ruin by its Elizabethan owners who replaced it with a magnificent manor house.
Talented writer and gardener Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson bought the land in 1930, after which time she created a beautiful network of gardens that attract visitors from across the world.
After Mrs Sackville-West died in 1962, her son Nigel handed the property over to the National Trust with the agreement that the family could continue to live there.
While the BBC series Sissinghurst focuses more on the property as it is today, Mrs Whalley said she felt the history of the land and its owners was what attracted television audiences the most.
She said: “I think people are interested in Sissinghurst for two reasons – firstly because it has some of the most famous gardens in the world and secondly because people are fascinated by Vita.
“She was a very colourful character and her marriage was interesting because she had about 45 lesbian affairs and her husband was gay as well.”
Episodes five and six of Sissinghurst can be seen on BBC Four from 8pm on Sunday, March 8.
POSTED: 07/03/2009 12:00:00
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