‘We’re used to crowds’: latest Wuthering Heights hype doesn’t faze Yorkshire residents | Wuthering Heights
The windswept moors of West Yorkshire are bracing for another wave of visitors as a new film adaptation of Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights, starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, is set to be released next week. The landscape surrounding Haworth, believed to have inspired the novel’s setting, draws countless people to the four-mile trail leading to Top Withens, a ruined farmhouse.
A Familiar Landscape
Despite the anticipated influx of tourists, residents of Haworth appear unfazed. Craig Verity, landlord of The Kings Arms pub, noted, “We’re used to crowds.” The area has long capitalized on its connection to the Brontë sisters, with local businesses bearing their names – including The Brontë Hotel, The Brontë Bar and Restaurant, and even Brontë Balti.
Filming Locations and Local Impact
This isn’t the first time the area has served as a backdrop for adaptations of Brontë’s work. East Riddlesden Hall, about five miles from Haworth, was used in the 1992 and 2009 versions of Wuthering Heights, and even in a now-lost 1920 silent film. A January 1921 article in the Shipley Times and Express documented the use of the property for filming.
The cast and crew of the new film stayed at Simonstone Hall, a country house hotel in the Yorkshire Dales. Owner Jake Dinsdale described the cast, including Margot Robbie, as “lovely people, and brilliantly undemanding,” noting they enjoyed the hotel’s amenities and were open to interacting with other guests.
Preparing for the Spotlight
North Yorkshire council is prepared for the potential increase in visitors. Tony Watson, head of economy and tourism, stated the area is “experienced in managing that,” and that post-Covid, they’ve already seen more younger people exploring the county. East Riddlesden Hall is also preparing with a “Lights, Camera, Brontë” exhibition, showcasing items like a vast oak dresser believed to have inspired a description in the novel, originally from Ponden Hall.
Simonstone Hall is offering a “Wuthering Heights Romantic Getaway” package, priced at £738 for two nights, including champagne, candlelit dinners, and other amenities. Copies of the novel are also available in the hotel’s gift shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Top Withens’ connection to Wuthering Heights?
Top Withens is a ruined farmhouse often thought to have been the inspiration for the Earnshaw home in Emily Brontë’s novel, though its appearance doesn’t precisely match the house described in the book. Its isolated location on Haworth Moor is considered a key factor in the association.
Where did the cast of the new film stay?
The cast of the new Wuthering Heights film stayed at Simonstone Hall, a country house hotel in the Yorkshire Dales, approximately 20 minutes from where many of the scenes were shot in Swaledale.
Has the area been used for filming Wuthering Heights adaptations before?
Yes, East Riddlesden Hall, located about five miles from Haworth, was used as a filming location for the 1992, 2009, and a now-lost 1920 adaptation of Wuthering Heights.
As the new film is released, will Haworth and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales experience a sustained increase in tourism, or will the interest prove to be a temporary surge?