 To make the show more cost @-@ effective , it was principally filmed on specially designed small sets at BBC Television Centre created by designer Tony Thorpe . The sets were de @-@ constructed and rebuilt during the period of studio filming , as was normal for studio series then . In particular , the Queen 's throne room and Blackadder 's front room were featured in every episode , with only two further unique sets per episode , including an execution chamber in " Head " and a Spanish dungeon in " Chains " . Only one outside location shoot was used in the whole series , which took place before principal filming on Thursday 30 May 1985 at Wilton House , Wiltshire . These outdoor scenes were Blackadder 's courting scene in " Bells " and the end title sequences . Studio recordings shot in front of a live audience began on Sunday 9 June 1985 with the recording of " Head " . Subsequent episodes were filmed on a weekly basis in the sequence " Bells " , " Potato " , " Money " , " Beer " and " Chains " . Director Mandie Fletcher was keen for the action to be shot spontaneously and was averse to complex costume changes or special effects which required recording to be halted . She is reputed to have said filming it was " a bit like doing Shakespeare in front of an audience - it 's not at all like doing sitcom . " 
