The Wentworth Woodhouse—the largest private house in the United Kingdom

Despite its storied history, the fate of Wentworth Woodhouse had fallen into great disrepair by the late 20th century, and several attempts in the early years of the early 21st century also fell far short of the conservation needs of this massive house. Fortunately, the chancellor of the Exchequer came to the rescue, with a government grant of some £7.6 million for restoration of the estate. The chancellor's largess was due largely to the association of the estate with Jane Austen's prized novel Pride and Prejudice as the inspiration for Mr. Darcy's Pemberley Estate—an association that never existed, according to the Jane Austen Society.

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England to restore house with ties to Jane Austen, or not

By Christopher D Shea

The New York Times

November 25, 2016