The set of the BBC's prestigious historical drama Wolf Hall has been found to contain a hidden, natural hazard: dangerous levels of radioactive radon gas. The discovery was made at Chastleton House in the Cotswolds, a key location used for filming the award-winning series.
Planning Permission Sought for Gas Removal
In response to the find, the National Trust, which acquired the property in 1991, has applied for planning permission to West Oxfordshire District Council. The application specifically concerns Ostlers Cottage, one of the buildings on the estate, where testing revealed radon concentrations "above the recommended maximum level."
The trust has instructed specialists to devise a solution to protect the cottage's tenants. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, but prolonged exposure is linked to an increased risk of lung cancer, making its removal a public health priority.
How the Hazard Will Be Tackled
The proposed works aim to install a protective barrier beneath the suspended floor in the cottage's living room, identified as the entry point for the gas. The system will then extract the radon and vent it safely to the outside air.
"The only visible evidence of this will be a tile vent in the outside wall," stated the investigation report. "Once this is complete, it will extract the radon to the outside air, removing it from the interior of the accommodation." Following the work, the area will be retested to ensure the gas has been successfully eliminated.
A Drama of Critical Acclaim
The discovery has not affected the legacy of the drama itself. Wolf Hall, which first aired in 2015, is a six-part adaptation of Dame Hilary Mantel's novels, starring Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as King Henry VIII.
The series has been a monumental success, winning eight Emmy awards and three Golden Globes. Critics have lavished praise on the production, with one noting it was "among the best British TV shows in years," while others hailed its "subtle, brutal, elegant" storytelling.
Series producer Mark Pybus highlighted Chastleton House's authentic, slightly shabby feel for portraying the Seymour family's ascent. The National Trust's swift action ensures this historic location can be preserved and made safe for future use, separating the fictional intrigue of the Tudor court from a very real environmental concern.
