The Gilded Age: Inside HBO’s Creation of a Castle Worthy of a Duchess!

After her grueling experiences in New York City, Gladys truly earned a palace as magnificent as the one she finds herself in. Interestingly, the crew didn’t need to travel to England to secure the ideal residence for the newly minted Duchess of Buckingham.

The majestic Sidmouth Castle, as depicted in the episode titled “A Different World,” was represented by two lavish properties in Newport, Rhode Island, and another in Long Island. The initial scene, however, where Gladys (played by Taissa Farmiga) and Hector (played by Ben Lamb) are seen riding through the manor’s expansive grounds, was filmed using a real pond in England, according to director Deborah Kampmeier.

“We added the visual of the carriage reflected in the pond and then cut to a broader view as it traveled across the countryside. That’s England for you,” Kampmeier explained. “As we get closer to the castle, the scene shifts to an estate in Newport with extras flocking towards the carriage, followed by a sweeping crane shot. We enhanced what was already there through visual effects, adding layers to our visual storytelling,” she added.

The majestic front entrance and several rooms within the castle seen in the episode are from the Newport estates. On the other hand, the more intimate sitting room and lengthy corridors were filmed at a mansion on Long Island. “It’s essentially a blend, a collage of different elements that come together to evoke the grandeur of a castle using what was readily available to us,” the director noted. “We’ve practically utilized every mansion available in Newport to create this effect.”

While Gladys is used to grand living spaces, her new abode needed to feel starkly different and somewhat imposing.

“The atmosphere had to convey a sense of coldness and vastness, making her feel isolated and alone,” Kampmeier remarked. “We opted for a grey palette to not only mimic the English countryside, since we were actually filming in the U.S., but also to mirror Gladys’ inner turmoil and sense of displacement—like a fish out of water.”

Directing episodes of The Gilded Age is described by Kampmeier as “a lavish endeavor.” She also directed the second episode and the upcoming sixth.

“This series allows for the luxury of crafting epic, memorable scenes that make it to the final cut because that’s what the audience demands, not just because we need to fill screen time,” Kampmeier explained, whose directorial credits also include Outer Range, Star Trek: Picard, FBI: International, and Tales of the Walking Dead. “It’s something I truly enjoy.”