Just a few kilometers outside Newark-on-Trent lies the picturesque village of Flintham. A regular for me for dog walks with some great routes and also a fantastic pub.

 

Its a place so timeless, so charming, it feels like stepping into a period drama. And now, that fantasy has become reality. Flintham Hall, the village’s majestic Grade I-listed estate, has been catapulted into the cinematic spotlight as the central location for the newly released Hollywood film HEDDA, directed by none other than Nia DaCosta, the visionary behind Candyman and Marvel’s The Marvels.

 

HEDDA, a provocative reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s 1891 play Hedda Gabler, is set in 1950s England and unfolds over one electrifying night of champagne, secrets, and emotional chaos. The film stars Tessa Thompson as Hedda, alongside Nina Hoss, Imogen Poots, Tom Bateman, and Nicholas Pinnock

 

The story centers around Hedda, a newlywed trapped in a life of quiet suffocation, who throws a lavish party at her country estate, Flintham Hall, only to spiral into manipulation, betrayal, and a dramatic chandelier crash that’s already being hailed as one of the most iconic scenes of the year.

 

Flintham Hall’s cinematic debut is no accident. The estate, dating back to the 10th century, has a rich lineage, from the Hose and Hussey families to the Disneys and finally the Thoroton Hildyards. Rebuilt in 1798 in Georgian style and later remodeled in the Italianate style by architect Thomas C. Hine, the hall boasts a 40-foot stone-and-glass conservatory, a ballroom with mezzanine, a library, and a 10-acre lake.

 

Production designer Cara Brower scouted over 200 properties across the UK before landing on Flintham Hall. “When we got there, I just knew it had the right architecture,” she said. The owners allowed the crew to paint walls, install wallpaper, and even drop a chandelier, a scene filmed in one take using a custom sugar-glass chandelier and a raised floor to protect the historic interiors.

 

 

The film’s aesthetic, described as “Hollywood glamour meets faded aristocracy”, was brought to life with bold colors, sensual fabrics, and avant-garde art. Hedda’s green gown, designed to be both seductive and unsettling, mirrors the emotional tension of the film.

Filntham village itself is just perfect with a wealth of history which stretch back before Roman times, with archaeological evidence of early dwellings near Spring Lane. The name itself comes from the Old English Flinta + hām, meaning “Flinta’s homestead.”

The village is home to one of the few surviving dovecotes in the UK, now a Scheduled Monument. Once used to raise pigeons for meat, the dovecote was restored in 2012 and originally housed up to 350 nest holes, a sign of wealth and status in centuries past.

The Grade I-listed Church of St Augustine of Canterbury is a cornerstone of Flintham’s heritage. Recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, it was gifted to Welbeck Abbey during King John’s reign and later passed to Trinity College, Cambridge under Henry VIII. The church was largely rebuilt in 1828, preserving its Norman tower with distinctive herringbone stonework and four historic bells dating back to 1613, 1616, and 1718.

Flintham is one of the few villages in Nottinghamshire where the traditional Plough Boys Play was performed—a folk drama involving seven characters and 151 lines of dialogue. Last staged in 1925, it was revived in 2014 by local schoolboys and the Foresters Morris Men, bringing old customs back to life.

The Flintham Museum offers a charming look into village life, showcasing rural traditions and stories from the past.

 

 

No visit to Flintham is complete without a stop at the Boot and Shoe Inn, a beautifully restored country pub offering award-winning Sunday roasts, charcoal-grilled meats, and craft cocktails. With its cosy corners, seasonal menu, and dog-friendly garden, it’s the perfect place to unwind after exploring the cinematic grandeur of Flintham Hall.

 

Whether you’re sipping a martini like Hedda or enjoying a hearty roast, the Boot and Shoe is a local treasure that adds warmth and flavor to this newly minted movie village.

 

Flintham’s starring role in HEDDA is more than just a film credit, it’s a celebration of Nottinghamshire’s heritage, architecture, and timeless beauty. As someone who often strolls through Flintham, I can say with certainty: this village has always felt like a film set waiting to happen. Now, the world gets to see it too.

 

So grab your popcorn, stream HEDDA on Prime Video, and take pride in knowing that Newark-on-Trent and Flintham are now part of cinematic history.