Halton House, built 1880-1883 for Alfred de Rothschild, stands as an extraordinary example of French château-style architecture costing £1.5 million in 1880s currency. This Grade II* listed mansion was revolutionary as the first house built with electric lighting and hot-air heating. The interior features elaborate gilt plasterwork, a Moorish-style Gold Room, and grand state rooms that epitomize Rothschild opulence. Purchased by the War Office in 1918, it has served as the RAF Officers' Mess at RAF Halton ever since. Despite its military use, the ground floor state rooms retain their original grandeur, making it a coveted filming location for period dramas. **Filming Scenes:** Halton House provided the opulent interiors for Haxby Park, complementing Waddesdon Manor's exterior shots as Sir Richard Carlisle's estate. The officers' mess scenes during WWI episodes utilized the house's actual military connection, with the grand dining room and ballroom hosting military gatherings. The elaborate gilt ceilings and grand central hall with its iron stair balustrade created the perfect backdrop for Sir Richard's new money ostentation. The house's combination of French château grandeur and English country house comfort effectively portrayed the newspaper magnate's attempt to buy his way into aristocratic society through architectural splendor.