Revellers in Georgian attire celebrate 200 years since Jane Austen's novel at Chatsworth House Pride and Prejudice soiree

Up to 100 Austen fans paid £65 for tickets to attend the dinner and dance yesterday

Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr. Darcy's residence



The stately home also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden




Regency costumed guests arrived in their dozens at the carriage house for dinner during the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire yesterday.



Celebrating the 200 years since the publication of Jane Austen's famed novel of the same name, the Pride and Prejudice ball at the stately home, believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, Mr Darcy's residence, staged a costume evening to remember.



With capacity for 100 or more, the vast majority of Austen fans turned out in full Georgian costume - a key point of the ball, though the fancy dress wasn't compulsory. Tickets were £65 per head.

A champagne reception in the Painted Hall was followed by a a tour of the North Wing, a grand five course dinner.



Regency costumed guests arrive for the Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House yesterday

Afterwards guests were invited to take part in period dancing following a demonstration by professional Jane Austen Dancers.

Attendees yesterday surely enjoyed themselves more than Elizabeth Bennet, who meets Mr Darcy for the first time at a similar event and takes an early dislike to him.



Chatsworth House is believed to be the inspiration for Pemberley, the residence of the novel's romantic hero Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy as Austen is known to have visited the home in 1811 while staying at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell while penning the masterpiece.

She wrote the novel: 'The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound.

'It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned.'

A costumed couple walk hand in hand in the grounds where the 2005 Pride and Prejudice film was created

Regency costumed guests participate in the Pride and Prejudice ball enjoying a glass of champagne at the welcome reception

A regal looking woman with porcelain skin is captured in a moment of thought (l) as ladies walk peacefully together through the grounds (r)



The beauty look mas mastered to a tee, with ladies sporting choker necklaces and pretty up-dos that were popular in the Georgian era

Siting down for the grand five-course dinner, the couple gaze into each other's eyes in the impossibly romantic setting

The menu

Canapés

Smoked salmon and caviar on buckwheat blinis

Soft boiled quails eggs on toasted brioche

Goat's cheese and pickled beetroot on sour dough toast

Free range ham hock tartlet grape chutney



Starter

Chicken ballotine, mini pigeon and leek pie, chicken consommé



Fish course

Trout fillet beurre blanc en brioche croute



Main course

Chatsworth estate lamb noisette, fried sweet breads, broad beans and peas, potato and lambs tongue tian



Dessert

Lemon and raspberry assiette (little lemon tart, honey comb, chilled lemon & raspberry soufflé, lemon and raspberry posset)



Homemade petit fours

Chocolate bonbons, orange and rose water Turkish delight, pistachio macaroons

From across a candlelit table, the couple are captured in a romantic cinch. The lady's hairstyle is notably beautifully braided

The stately homes has been the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire since 1549 and is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice as one of the stately homes that Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

Chatsworth also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley.

Chatsworth, one of England’s greatest country estates, provided the perfect setting to launch the Peak District estate's Georgian Summer of events (27 July - 29 August), all of which are free to visitors with a house and garden ticket, celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Austen's novel.



An exhibition in the New Gallery looks at Chatsworth in the time of Pride and Prejudice and compares it to Pemberley, featuring a display of Georgian era items as well as those of Mr Darcy from the 2005 film.

Georgian themed events in the garden will take place every Saturday including Sing Live, where singers perform in the garden dressed in Pride and Prejudice costumes.



Guests watch a display of regency dancing during the Pride and Prejudice Ball in the painted hall (l) and a costumed guest arrives (r)



The regency dancing provided some much-needed guidance for some guests unfamiliar with the moves of the 1800s

Like a scene from the film itself, the party have all clearly made an effort to look the part and fit in with the theme of the evening yesterday

Ladies clad in immaculately suited attire attempt to master the dance style of the Jane Austen era

An older lady drapes pearls around her exquisite hair style to match with her earrings and necklace



