The giant model standing at a spectacular 50 foot was used in every Harry Potter movie for the exterior shots showing how amazingly realistic this model actually appears. The attention to detail on the model is simply breathtaking with around 2,500 lights that represent lanterns and torches that give the notion of the students of Hogwarts strolling along the corridors. Also painstakingly added to the model are realistic owls in the Owlery, hinges on the doors and if that was not enough the design also includes real plants for all the landscaping!

The model was the brain child of the BAFTA award winning Stuart Craig and his vast team of 86 artists and crew members, with all the man hours combined between the team it had taken them around 74 years for the model to be made.

Stuart’s inspiration for the mysterious Hogwarts castle is something slightly less impressive it is mostly based off two British institutions rather than something paranormal, Durham Cathedral and Alnwick Castle; however he states that there are some rather obvious differences, “The profile has been changed so that there are tall, pointy spires so there’s plenty of theatrical exaggeration”.

After first being created in the soundstage of the studio at Leavesden in the year 2000 the model is now seeing the light of day and being revealed to the general public in the Warner Brothers studio tour as the grand finale, ensuring that tourists will be lining up for potential photo opportunities with this magnificent piece of Harry Potter history.

Stuart Craig however remains grounded about his model claiming that it is just “made from a thin skin of molded plaster applied to bits of MDF” and that “The materials are quite simple”, however this will not deter numbers of fans being made awestruck by its beauty.

Photo credit: EG Focus (CC BY 2.0)

Warner Bros Studios Leavesden has already been using a large 31,000 sq ft soundstage in the complex that was being used to re-film scenes for an unknown film. The fact that the studio is already being used before the opening date can only be considered advantageous for the long term prospects of the studio, Josh Berger the president and managing director of Warner Bros Entertainment UK was quoted as saying, “The fact that we’ve made the move and are investing money and resources to build world-class studios will only have a positive effect in terms of attracting more production to the UK”.

When the complex is totally complete it will be home of nine stages with four of them being the largest in Europe being larger than 30,000 sq ft each, with four being slightly smaller measuring in at 20,000 sq ft and the last one measuring around 10,000 sq ft thus ensuring the soundstage cater to any perspective directors needs, Warner Bros emphasise this point when they state that the stages will represent about one third of the UK’s total filming stage space.

Everyone involved in the project is excited about the possible long term affects that it will have on the future of British film industries, Warner Bros Studios Leavesdean senior vice president and managing director Dan Dark was full of praise for the future of the studios and their potential, “Leavesden has always been known as a place for big productions, People want big sets, and when you marry that with our back log of 100 acres – no other facility in the UK has that kind of space”. He also goes on to state that interest in the studios are great and that they are already in discussions with three other large feature films to use the complex and have yet to discuss the potential with TV productions.

With the vast amount of interest in the studios already before it being officially ready to open the future is looking bright for Leavesden and the studios.

Joining the brothers for the 6pm switch on of the festive decorations were members of the cast from Watford Palace Theatre’s Christmas pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

“When we were filming we were based in St. Albans or at the Grove hotel down the road so we have a lot of good friends in Kings Langley and Watford” Mugglenet reported the boys as saying.  Filming for the Harry Potter series took place at Leavesden Studios which is located just outside the town.

The event at the hotel which is adjacent to Leavesden Studios attracted “scores of people” according to the local newspaper who came to find out details of jobs on offer at the site.

When Warner Brother’s purchase of Leavesden Studios was first announced it was believed that around 300 jobs would be created at the visitor attraction which is to be opened at the site where Harry Potter has been filmed for the past decade.

The tour around two newly constructed sounds stages at Leavesden Studios will enable Hogwarts fans to get up close and personal with behind the scenes magic.

Visitors will be able to walk through sets used during production of the most successful film series of all time including those of the Hogwarts Great Hall, Dumbeldore’s office and Hagrid’s hut.

The three hour experience will enable Potter fans to see incredible set detail, original costumes, and some of the magic behind the special effects in the movies.

Tours will be by advance booking only to ensure that high visitor levels do not spoil the experience. Tickets will be priced at £28 for adults and £21 for children with the first Leavesden Studio tours taking place in Spring 2012.

From 4:30-5:15pm holders of Empire Presents diamond tickets will be able to find out further details of the behind-the-scenes Harry Potter attraction which is due to open at Leavesden, just north of London, in Spring 2012. Also attending the live event at Greenwich Peninsula will be members of the cast and crew from the Harry Potter film series.

A Warner Brothers spokesman said “The unique tour will give visitors the first ever chance to visit the real Harry Potter film sets to learn more about the workings of the breathtaking special effects and the incredible animatronics, as well as experience the sheer scale and incredible detail of the sets used by the cast and crew on all the films.”

“The event will culminate with an exciting announcement that both film and Harry Potter fans will not want to miss.”

It is no longer possible to obtain tickets to the event.

All companies attending the jobs fair which is to be held at the Langley Banqueting and Conference Suites, Watford High Street on 30th June will be offering at least one vacancy, apprenticeship or internship at the event. With over 50 companies already booked up to attend job hunters will have plenty of options to consider.

Speaking to the local newspaper Watford MP Richard Harrington said “I am particularly excited that Warner Brothers have agreed to attend, as the redevelopment of Leavesden studios will provide thousands of new jobs for local people.”

The Harry Potter Experience Leavesden, due to open in Spring 2012, will offer visitors the opportunity to tour selected sets used during filming.

An embargo placed on information relating to the second film must be just about to end as a number of sites have started to trail future posts about their Leavesden Studio tours.  Collider have posted a series of on-set interviews with actors from Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 2 conducted on set at Leavesden Studios whilst Harry Potter fan site The Leaky Cauldron have announced that they too will soon be posting their full Deathly Hallows: Part 2 set report.

The final film in the series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 will be released on July 15. The Warner Brothers Leavesden Studios tours which will enable ticket owners to see sets and drops from the film as well as other Hogwarts memorabilia is due to open in Spring 2012.

Adverts posted online at the end of last month show the film studio is looking to hire a “Director of Retail & Commercial” for work at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden. The candidate must learn from experiences at NBC Universal Wizarding World and maximise sales including ancillary revenue from audio tours, guidebooks and photography.

Studio management are also looking for a Food & Beverage Director who will be responsible for setting up and overseeing the operation of a film production kitchen, canteen as well as the Leavesden Studio Tour café and public coffee points and kiosks.

On the production side the search is also underway for a new Health & Safety Manager as well as a Facilities Manager to ensure that the 9 sound stages and visitor attraction are safely operational.

Just 8 days later on Friday 18th March a second fire destroyed a set from the upcoming Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part Two film. The set, which was located outside, started to burn at 9pm whilst it was being used to film a battle sequence from the Harry Potter movie.

Speaking to the local newspaper a spokesman for Warner Brothers downplayed the incident stating that there had been “no damage to Leavesden Studios at all”. He added that the fire, which took place when none of the main cast members were on site, was extinguished quickly and caused only limited damage.