Our places in explosive BBC series Gunpowder

The Cellarium at Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire

There was no shortage of anti-monarchist plots throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, but few have made such a lasting impression on the country as the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This autumn the legendary events are retold in Gunpowder - a new three part TV series for the BBC which was filmed at some of our places.

Many people associate the plot with Guy Fawkes, but the real mastermind was a member of the minor gentry named Robert Catesby, who was involved in several efforts to bring the newly Protestant England back to Catholicism. At a time when the country was at war with Catholic Spain and those still practicing the religion were persecuted and forced into hiding, this was rebellion at its most dangerous.

Starring Kit Harington (Game of Thrones), the series charts Catesby’s final dramatic attempt to halt the spread of Protestantism: a plot to blow up both Parliament and the King.

" We were delighted East Riddlesden Hall and Fountains Abbey were chosen as key locations for the series. Filming provides valuable income which helps fund the conservation and preservation of National Trust properties"
- Harvey Edgington, Head of Filming and Locations

Our places in the spotlight

Filmed mainly in Yorkshire, the production made use of two of our properties to bring the story to life. East Riddlesden Hall is the venue for the pivotal scene where a member of Parliament receives a letter warning him that something is afoot.

Fountains Abbey is also featured as the vaults under the Houses of Parliament, where the plotters hoard their barrels of gunpowder and prepare to set their plan in motion.

The first episode in the three-part series Gunpowder aired on Saturday 21 October, BBC 1. The full series is available on BBC iPlayer.

The back of the House, showing the age blackened stonework at East Riddleston Hall, West Yorkshire
East Riddlesden Hall   West Yorkshire

East Riddlesden Hall features in a plot most evil

East Riddlesden Hall has been used as a location for many films and television dramas. Find out about the latest programme filmed here which is set to air on Saturday 21 October, 9.10pm on BBC One.

Visit now
Channel 5's Anne Boleyn 2021

Fountains Abbey on film 

Fancy a peek behind the scenes of Gunpowder? The crew spent 10 days filming at Fountains Abbey, and our team were on hand to help make sure things ran smoothly. Read on to find out more about their starring role.

Go behind the scenes at Fountains Abbey
The house at Baddesley on a frosty morning

The raid on Baddesley Clinton remembered 

Discover a priest's first-hand account featured in our guidebook which describes a raid thought to have taken place on Baddesley Clinton. It was used as a basis for a scene in BBC's Gunpowder series.

Read the extract
The sixteenth-century Gate Tower on the West Front at Coughton Court, Warwickshire

Connections to the plot 

As well as these special filming locations, we also look after several places that were connected to the actual plot back in the early 17th century.

Discover the places behind the plot