Batman is a cultural icon. Created by Bob Kane in 1939, the Caped Crusader is one of the few super heroes that actually poses no super powers. He's mortal, flawed, and still able to overcome any circumstance. He's an All-American hero and of course is living the American Dream of home ownership.
Batman is a cultural icon. Created by Bob Kane in 1939, the Caped Crusader is one of the few super heroes that actually poses no super powers. He’s mortal, flawed, and still able to overcome any circumstance. He’s an All-American hero and of course is living the American Dream of home ownership.
Wayne Manor is possibly one of the most notable fictional homes in comic book lore. And with the final chapter of the most recent Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, ready to be released we thought it was time to take a look at the various residences that have played home to Wayne Manor on television and in the movies over the years. Oddly enough, most of them are British. Take a look.
Wayne Manor in the 1960’s Batman TV series
1960’s TV Series – 380 S. San Rafael Dr. in Pasadena, California
The exterior shots for Wayne Manor in the campy 1960’s Batman TV series were filmed at a real mansion located at 380 S. San Rafael Avenue in Pasadena, California. The interiors, however, were shot at Culver City Studios. One of the more memorable scenes from the show is the Batmobile roaring from a hidden tunnel entrance of the Batcave and those scense were shot in Bronson Caverns in the Hollywood Hills. You may also recall Wayne Manor’s hidden entrance to the Batcave was behind a bookcase and the switch to open the door was hidden inside a bust of William Shakespeare. Rumor has it that upon entering this home you are compelled to say aloud, “Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel” and then start humming this song.
Wayne Manor from Tim Burton’s Batman & Batman Returns
Batman & Batman Returns – Knebworth House
The Knebworth House is a country estate in Hertfordshire, England and is used as the outside of Wayne Manor in the Tim Burton directed Batman movies. This home to Wayne Manor is owned by the family of the Early of Lytton and it’s been used in a number of movies including most recently The King’s Speech. The interior scenes for Batman and Batman Returns were filmed at the Hatfield House which is also in England in the town of Hertfordshire. This version of Wayne Manor has the secret entrance to the Batcave hidden in an iron maiden and it’s activated by flipping a switch to light up a miniature replica of Wayne Manor located at the bottom of a fish tank. Evidently there’s also a staircase that leads to the Batcave as that’s how Alfred gets down there.
Wayne Manor in Batman Forever and Batman & Robin
Batman Forever and Batman & Robin – The Webb Institute
This private college in Glen Cove, NY played home to Wayne Manor in the Joel Schumacher directed Batman films (both of which were pretty forgettable in my opinion save for Jim Carey as The Riddler). Only exterior shots were used on location and the interior of Wayne Manor was filmed at studio lots. Interesting fact: The Web Insitute only offers one undergraduate program – a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture and marine engineering. The silver closet holds the secret entrance to the Batcave as the back wall rotates allowing you to chute down to the Batcave in a capsule.
Wayne Manor in Batman Begins
Batman Begins – Mentmore Towers
Located in Buckinghamshire, England, Mentmore Towers is the most recent Wayne Manor and was used for both interior and exterior shots in Batman Begins. This estate had plans of being turned into a hotel until legal issues arose that halted its progress. The grounds also play home to Mentmore Golf & Country Club which has two 18 hole golf courses although I’ve never seen Bruce Wayne with a set of clubs. If you’ll recall Wayne Manor was burned down by Ra’s al Ghul in Batman Begins and is never actually seen in The Dark Knight although reference is made to the fact that work is being done to rebuild it. In this version of Wayne Manor, the secret passage to the Batcave is accessed by playing three notes on a piano to reveal the entrance.
Wayne Manor in The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises – Wollaton Hall
Found in Nottingham, England, Wollaton Hall plays the newly rebuilt Wayne Manor is the final installment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. While the home has been around since the late 1500’s one of its more famous uses was as a holding ground for U.S. paratroopers in World War II as they waited to be dropped over the mainland of Europe. Oddly enough, Wollaton Hall is also home to one of the largest antique tractor collections. No official word on whether the secret access to the Batcave will continue to be the three notes on the piano, but we shall find out soon enough.
Husband. Father. Socializer. Mets Lifer. TV Aficionado. Consumer Engager.
David Marine is the Chief Marketing Officer at Coldwell Banker, where he oversees the brand’s marketing efforts and content strategy including acting as managing editor for the Coldwell Banker blog and heading up video production efforts. While CMO by day, David runs a three ring circus at night as he is the father of 4 boys. He also happens to be married to Wonder Woman. True story.
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I was at the AC boardwalk and I noticed birds flying over the Ballys Casino one night.. not really paying attention to the weather, an electric storm was starting and I looked up at lightening and it was in the shape of a W over the casino.. the frozen picture in my mind said something like Wayne Manor? and I thought.. whoa.. gotta get some coffee… pretty neat !! I noticed Wayne Manor always has bat wings.. lol…. check it out!
Kevin, it does look quite similar although I’m not sure if it was built by the same person or not. To me a lot of these old British estates look alike.
[…] What was last night’s biggest snub? If you ask me, it’s that The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t nominated for best picture! In spite of the Hollywood Foreign Press’ oversight, step inside some of the amazing versions of Wayne Manor throughout the Batman moves and TV shows. […]
I just drove by the San Rafael house to show my husband and it’s not there anymore. Demolished. So sad. The gate house is still there, and the gate, but the house is gone and it’s for sale. My childhood is gone :O(
There was another large brick mansion that burned years ago, located at 160 S. San Rafael Ave in Pasadena. It was often incorrectly attributed as the Batman House. The actual home at 380 S. San Rafael was designed by Stiles O. Clements and is still there, but not visible from the street. http://othersiderainbow.blogspot.com/2005/10/fire-destroys-famous-pasadena-mansion.html
While many of us wish we could fly, have X-ray vision or be faster than a speeding bullet, the majority of consumers wish they could live like Bruce...
This is such a cool post. Awesome job David!
Thanks Lindsay. I’m curious to see the inside of Wollaton Hall in The Dark Night Rises!
Same. Looks beautiful.
BTW I would settle for any of these 🙂
Excellent! !!
I will be coming back soon, thanks . I intend to bookmark
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banker
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I was at the AC boardwalk and I noticed birds flying over the Ballys Casino one night.. not really paying attention to the weather, an electric storm was starting and I looked up at lightening and it was in the shape of a W over the casino.. the frozen picture in my mind said something like Wayne Manor? and I thought.. whoa.. gotta get some coffee… pretty neat !! I noticed Wayne Manor always has bat wings.. lol…. check it out!
You forgot to include the two 1940s serials!
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Wayne_Manor_%281943_Serial%29
http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Wayne_Manor_%281949_Serial%29
Good find Brandon. Didn’t even think of those.
I’m impressed that Wollaton Hall actually looks so much like an expanded Mentmore Towers. The same architect, perhaps?
Kevin, it does look quite similar although I’m not sure if it was built by the same person or not. To me a lot of these old British estates look alike.
For the record, Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne did indeed have a golf club in hand, teaching Earle’s secretary how to putt in ‘Batman Begins’…
[…] What was last night’s biggest snub? If you ask me, it’s that The Dark Knight Rises wasn’t nominated for best picture! In spite of the Hollywood Foreign Press’ oversight, step inside some of the amazing versions of Wayne Manor throughout the Batman moves and TV shows. […]
I just drove by the San Rafael house to show my husband and it’s not there anymore. Demolished. So sad. The gate house is still there, and the gate, but the house is gone and it’s for sale. My childhood is gone :O(
There was another large brick mansion that burned years ago, located at 160 S. San Rafael Ave in Pasadena. It was often incorrectly attributed as the Batman House. The actual home at 380 S. San Rafael was designed by Stiles O. Clements and is still there, but not visible from the street. http://othersiderainbow.blogspot.com/2005/10/fire-destroys-famous-pasadena-mansion.html
whos the actual owner ?