THE locations used by the BBC drama series Wolf Hall starring Damien Lewis and Claire Foy are seeing a boost in tourist numbers this summer – and now people can see the costumes they wore at the National Trust’s Barrington Court.

A display of eight of the costumes from the hit TV programme are the centre pieces of the display in Barrington Court – which doubled as York Place, Whitehall, the home of Cromwell’s mentor and friend Cardinal Wolsey. The display will be at Barrington Court until Sunday, November 1.

The costumes featured include those worn by Damien Lewis as Henry VIII, Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Claire Foy as Anne Boleyn.

The popular BBC drama earned a reputation for lavish scenes set in authentic locations and the costumes show the attention to detail used in dressing the actors.

Keri Philips, visitor experience manager for the National Trust at Barrington Court, said: “The choice of clothing was important in a Tudor court – the garments worn showed status in society.

“Thomas Cromwell was always shown wearing black but during the series his outfits changed to highlight his growing status and power. The King’s clothes made from luxurious fabrics are, of course, the height of power – emphasising wide shoulders tapering to the narrow waist and the obligatory codpiece.

“The costumes worn by Claire Foy and the actors playing the ladies of the court show the wonderful attention to detail. They were all hand made using original methods from the Tudor period which took a lot of research and care but ensured the costumes were as authentic as the settings chosen such as Barrington Court.”

The National Trust provided around 40% of the locations used in Wolf Hall with the location fees providing much needed income - all the income from Wolf Hall will be spent looking after the properties featured in the drama.

Harvey Edgington, head of filming and locations at the National Trust, said: “It’s also a very good way of getting people interested in a property.

“Sometimes we know people are only turning up because they have seen it in a film, while some are also interested in the story of the place.

“The increase in visitors is great news for these historic places as the additional revenue will help secure their future for generations to come.”

Barrington Court is an empty house but the lack of furniture did not deter the film crews who were attracted to the Tudor interior restored in the 1920s.

They used the rooms at Barrington for many scenes featuring Jonathan Pryce as Cardinal Wolsey, the King’s trusted advisor and mentor to Thomas Cromwell. Wolsey fell from favour after failing to fulfil the King’s wishes.

The National Trust places in the South West that feature in Wolf Hall are Barrington Court and Montacute House in Somerset, and Lacock Abbey and Great Chalfield Manor and Garden in Wiltshire.