100 years since Buxton visited by Hollywood royalty

Posted 16.04.2024

Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, a Hollywood power-couple in the 1920s, came to the Peak District in 1924 to visit Haddon Hall, staying at The Palace Hotel.

 

Canadian-born Mary Pickford (1892-1979), whose real name was Gladys Louise Smith, was a pioneer in the American film industry, with a career which spanned five decades, and was known as ‘America’s Sweetheart’ during the silent film era. American actor, Douglas Fairbanks (1883-1939) made the transition from silent star to the talkies to become the biggest movie star of his time. Together with Charlie Chaplin and director, D. W. Griffith, they formed United Artists Studios in February 1919 (pictured)­, and the couple, who were married for 15 years (1920-35), were two of the 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Pictures in 1927, with Douglas being its first President.

Their visit to Haddon Hall, the medieval manor house in the River Wye valley near Bakewell and present-day home of the Manners family, took place on Monday 21 April 1924.

It was to see the ‘real’ Haddon Hall, ahead of the release of silent film, in which Mary starred, Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall (released: 25 May 1924). The film was based on the 1902 novel of the same name by Charles Major, itself inspired by the tale of Dorothy’s elopement in the 16th Century to marry John Manners. The story takes place against the drop-back of the religious and political tensions between Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots, something we re-visited last year when marking the 450th anniversary of Mary Queen of Scot’s first visit to Buxton. The descendants of Dorothy and John, the Dukes of Rutland, continue to own Haddon Hall today.

Reports that the movie was filmed at Haddon Hall are not supported by the records of the Mary Pickford Institute for Film Education, Haddon Hall or the registered filming locations. Instead, a full replica of Haddon Hall was recreated in Los Angeles, albeit, apparently, with some liberties, as referenced in the article below.

The following was reported in the Hull Daily Mail, amongst other publications, the day after their visit on Tuesday 22 April 1924 (Source: The British Newspaper Archive).

MARY PICKFORD AT HADDON HALL

Haddon Hall, Tuesday – Mary Pickford, accompanied by her mother and husband, Douglas Fairbanks, paid a surprise visit to Haddon Hall yesterday evening, and were conducted over the historic building.

The party were charmed with all they saw. Miss Pickford said she had never seen such a lovely English home in her life, and that she had taken some liberties with the hall in her latest film, but she hoped everyone would like it much.

Tea was partaken the famous old cottage, and before leaving, the world’s sweetheart signed dozens of autograph albums.

As they motored away for Nottingham, the famous film stars had an enthusiastic send off by an admiring crowd.

A photograph of them posed outside The Palace Hotel in Buxton, taken by ‘Hunters’, featured in The Tatler magazine on Wednesday 30 April 1924 when reporting that the couple attended the opening of the British Empire Exhibition in Wembley, London on 23 April 1924.

The Tatler reported (source: The British Newspaper Archive):

“They are still the greatest obstructors of the London traffic.”

A similar photograph (pictured below) is held by Buxton Museum & Art Gallery (reproduced with permission).

Mary Pickford & Douglas Fairbanks outside The Palace Hotel, Buxton. Source: Buxton Museum & Art Gallery, Derbyshire County Council.

Haddon Hall continues to attract film-makers, most recently those of Firebrand (2023) which tells the story of the darker side of the King Henry VIII’s six marriages and which stars Jude Law and Alicia Vikander.

Douglas and Mary visited Buxton again the following year, on 28 October 1925, to watch the legendary Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, and her performance of the Dying Swan at the Buxton Opera House.