Belton House near Grantham reopens after conservation work

A Grade I listed stately house used to film dramas including Bridgerton and Pride & Prejudice has reopened following conservation work. Belton House, near Grantham, Lincolnshire, closed at the start of January for the installation of new lighting and heating system, as well as a deep clean of all the rooms including the chapel, the red drawing room and the breakfast room. The National Trust property was the backdrop for the BBC's 1995 series of Pride & Prejudice – starring Colin Firth – and more recently Netflix's Bridgerton Queen Charlotte. Jennie Johns, the collections and house manager at Belton House, said staff had been working very hard "bringing to life pieces in the collection". Belton House, which contains art and porcelain collections, was built between 1685 and 1687. It was home to the Brownlow family dynasty who lived at the property for more than 300 years, until 1984. The historic house is surrounded by 1,300 acres (530 hectares) of parkland made up of ponds and woodlands, occupied by deer and sheep. Part of the conservation work includes redisplaying collections and fitting a new carpet in the breakfast room. "We want to be able to share this special place with peopl