The Red Hall has been an attraction for photographers and later film makers for almost two centuries and images can be found on countless picture postcards and now in television drama productions.

The biggest of these was Moll Flanders, a costume drama based on the bawdy novel written by Daniel Defoe in 1712, a four-part adaptation produced by Granada Television.

In 1996, Bourne United Charities was approached for permission to film some of the scenes at the historic Red Hall later in the year and readily gave their consent in exchange for an undisclosed fee. The clerk at that time, Tom Teague, told the Lincs Free Press: "I think it is quite something for Bourne. We thought it would be of benefit to local people and probably provide publicity for the area."

Ken McCormack, chairman of Bourne Chamber of Trade and Commerce, was equally enthusiastic. "It has got to be good for the town", he told the newspaper. "If it does the same for Bourne as Middlemarch has done for Stamford then we are sure to benefit. It will be an additional attraction for tourists and basically put us on the map."

The Red Hall was chosen as a location because it resembled a house in Virginia, USA, which features in the story. The film crew arrived in May for a three day shooting schedule and minor changes were made to the interior of the building to fit with the period of the production. Electric light sockets and radiators were hidden from view and cladding was used to conceal other modern fittings.

The production received its first screening in December 1996 and has since been repeated several times and remains available on DVD. The original novel was adapted by Andrew Davies and the title role was played by Alex Kingston with Diana Rigg playing Mrs Golightly while other parts were taken by Daniel Craig, Ronald Fraser and Tom Ward.

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