IT’S a house with a long and proud history.

And now Cannon Hall is set for more headlines – as a TV star.

The historic mansion in Cawthorne is to feature heavily in a new series tipped to become one of the autumn blockbusters.

Lost in Austen, the time travelling take on the literary classic Pride and Prejudice, was partly filmed at Cannon Hall and the programme is to be screened on ITV1 over several episodes starting on Wednesday, September 3, at 9pm.

Jemima Rooper starts as Amanda Price, a frustrated romantic who lives for reading and adores the characters in her Jane Austen books. Disillusioned with her life in London and disenchanted with her boyfriend, Amanda Price discovers Elizabeth Bennet in her bathroom.

Soon she finds herself swapping places with Lizzie, and entering the “real” fictional world of Pride and Prejudice, taking centre stage in the celebrated love story.

Writer Guy Andrews had the former Midsomer Murders star in mind when he wrote the starring role of Amanda. Jemima said: “She is a modern girl with a romantic streak, who seeks solace in reading Pride and Prejudice.

“After becoming disenchanted with London life and boyfriend Michael, she is plunged into the period world at Longbourn through a portal. Her presence soon turns everyone's world on its head with the older people wary and the younger residents fascinated by her.”

Several areas both inside and outside of Cannon Hall feature in the production including the magnificent oak panelled Ballroom, which is set to feature scenes with Jemima and Elliot Cowan, who takes on the role of Mr Darcy – made famous in an earlier series by Colin Firth.

Cowan is a former Poirot and Foyle's War actor, who believes he has breathed new life into the character with his own “vulnerable” take.

For 200 years Cannon Hall was home to the Spencer-Stanhope family who made their fortune in the local iron industry.

In the 1790s the architect John Carr of York enlarged the hall and redesigned the interior.

In 1957 the Hall opened as a museum, and is home to a collection of art including ceramics, glass, furniture and Old Master paintings, displayed in the Hall’s Georgian and Victorian rooms. Highlights include Mrs Tuder by John Constable, Wheelback Chairs by George Hepplewhite and stunning ceramics by William de Morgan and Moorcroft.

The Hall also houses “Charge”, the Regimental Museum of the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the Light Dragoons which is a must for anyone interested in military history. The museum was refurbished with assistance from the Heritage Lottery Fund and illustrates the part played by the Regiment in many major battles such as the Charge of the Light Brigade.

Pride and Prejudice factfile

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE opens with one of the most famous lines in literature: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife".

The novel was originally titled First Impressions, and was written between October 1796 and August 1797.

It has been filmed an on TV many times, most notably the 1995 BBC version starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth

In August 2008, a San Francisco theatre company presented Pride and Succubus, a comedy that merged Jane Austen with Buffy the Vampire Slayer casting Elizabeth as an 18th-century vampire slayer .

In 2003 it came second behind The Lord of the Rings in the BBC poll "UK's Best-Loved Book"