The DVD of the acclaimed movie, The Duchess – starring Keira Knightley, and parts of the stunning Peak District – will be launched on March 16, in time for this year’s Mothering Sunday.

Knightley returned to The Peak District to depict one of English history’s most notorious women in the movie, which hit the big screens last September.

The star of Pride & Prejudice – much of which was also filmed in The Peak District & Derbyshire – Knightley plays Georgiana Cav-endish (born Lady Georgiana Spencer) in a movie adaptation of the book Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, by Amanda Foreman, who appears as an ‘extra’ in the movie.

The Duchess also stars Ralph Feinnes as the Duke of Devonshire, Charlotte Rampling (Lady Spencer), Hayley Atwell (‘Bess’ Foster), and Dominic Cooper (Earl Grey).

Georgiana herself lived at Chatsworth, following her marriage to the 5th Duke of Devonshire. Scenes here were shot in the Private Gardens and The Chapel. An exhibition about the life of Georgiana – including locks of her hair and a letter written in her own blood to her six-year-old son – are on show in the house this year.

Another ‘star’ of the movie is Kedleston Hall, built for the Curzon family between 1759 and 1765. The marble hall, saloon, library, three state rooms, the drawing room and exteriors were all used during filming, with Kedleston taking on the role of the Spencer’s family home of Althorp.

An exhibition about the filming of the movie at Kedleston – including clips, still photographs and special interpretation panels – shows how the Hall, along with some areas of the spectacular parkland, were used as locations for the new feature film.

It ‘lifts the lid’ on the filming of The Duchess and also features a number of costumes from the movie. Visitors are also able to see parts of a replica floor that was made to protect the Marble Hall floor during a ballroom scene, as well as many behind-the-scenes photographs of the filming process.

‘Visit Peak District & Derbyshire’ offers its visitors a Movie Map – focusing on Keira Knightley and The Duchess – to help visitors follow in the footsteps of the stars. It also highlights all of the other movies and TV productions, shot on location in and around the region in recent times – including BBC TV’s adaptation of Jane Eyre, the award-winning Pride & Prejudice, and The Other Boleyn Girl.

Most of the cast stayed at Breadsall Priory Hotel, on the outskirts of Derby.

Keira Knightley, meanwhile, stayed at Hurdlow Grange Cottage, with boyfriend Rupert Friend. Hurdlow Grange is a self-catering cottage in the Peak District village of Longnor, and is one of several cottages the owner operates within the region.

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For more information, visit www.visitpeakdistrict.com/film

Free copies of the Peak District & Derbyshire Movie Map from Matlock Tourist Information Centre on 01629 583388 or e-mail matlockinfo@derbyshiredales.gov.uk