Hamnet opens in cinemas from today
Think of Shakespeare and what does your mind conjure up? Perhaps you think of the amazing experience of watching one of his plays in the magical setting of a theatre – or at the cinema.
But what about the writer himself? What drove him to create some of the greatest written works of his time? Well, a film opens today which explores his personal life and how tragedy might have influenced his most famous work.
Hamnet was filmed across Herefordshire in July, August and September 2024. It’s Chloé Zhao’s film adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s bestselling novel about Shakespeare’s only son and the grief that inspired Hamlet.
And The National Trust’s Cwmmau Farmhouse is making its big screen debut as Agnes Hathaway’s (Jessie Buckley’s) family home, Hewlands. Hamnet was filmed across Herefordshire in July, August and September 2024.
Just a few miles outside Weobley, the Grade II-listed holiday cottage is cared for by the National Trust and provided the romantic backdrop for Will (Paul Mescal) and Agnes’s (Jessie Buckley’s) first meeting and where they fall in love.
The charity explains that filming left a lasting legacy, funding sensitive renovations that balance history with modern sustainability and comfort.
Original features remain intact, these include leaded windows, oak beams, stone floors and the 16th-century kitchen with bread ovens. There are upgrades to the property, such as a biomass boiler and spacious bathrooms ensure comfort.
Meanwhile, the production donated the real prop apple trees and replaced a stretch of period-style wooden fencing near the farmhouse.
Offering an authentic glimpse into rural Elizabethan life
Set along winding lanes in the Welsh Marches and surrounded by ancient woodlands and meadows, Cwmmau Farmhouse was discovered by chance by the Supervising Location Manager.
The charity explains it offers an authentic glimpse into rural Elizabethan life, in a landscape largely unchanged by modernity. Cwmmau Farmhouse itself is only open to holiday cottage guests.
The National Trust cares for several places in Herefordshire where visitors can step back in time and experience the peaceful county that provided the film’s idyllic backdrop.
Breaktime News recently reported on the role of Cwmmau Farmhouse in Hamnet for our Features’ section.
