Wednesday – Dean’s Grange Cemetery

Dean’s Grange Cemetery served as a key exterior filming location for Netflix’s Wednesday Season 2, particularly for scenes involving the character Grandmama, played by Joanna Lumley. This historic site in Dublin, Ireland, brought an atmospheric, otherworldly quality to the series, enhancing its gothic tone. One of Ireland’s largest cemeteries, it features striking historical headstones, tree-lined paths, and a sense of timeless mystery that aligned perfectly with the Addams Family aesthetic. Production shifted from Romania in Season 1 to Ireland for Season 2, marking the largest television production ever hosted in the country, with Dean’s Grange among the standout on-location choices amid studio builds at Ashford Studios in Wicklow.

The Scene

In Episode 4 of Wednesday Season 2, Dean’s Grange Cemetery appears in a pivotal scene starring Joanna Lumley as Grandmama. The sequence leverages the cemetery’s eerie ambiance, with its ancient gravestones and shadowed avenues providing a haunting backdrop for character interactions. Grandmama navigates the grounds, her presence amplified by the site’s macabre beauty, underscoring themes of mortality and the supernatural central to the series. Lumley later described the filming experience to STV News, noting Ireland’s “slightly otherworldly” vibe that enveloped the production, making the cemetery feel like a natural extension of the story’s dark whimsy. This moment highlights Grandmama’s enigmatic role, blending tension and family dynamics against the real-world solemnity of the location.

The Real Filming Location

Dean’s Grange Cemetery is one of Dublin’s largest burial grounds, located in the southern suburb of Deansgrange, County Dublin, Ireland. Established in the 19th century, it spans expansive grounds dotted with ornate Victorian headstones, Celtic crosses, and winding paths shaded by mature trees, creating a picturesque yet somber environment. The cemetery is the final resting place for notable Irish figures, including mythologist Joseph Campbell and singer Sinéad O’Connor, adding layers of cultural significance. Its historical architecture and natural seclusion made it ideal for discreet filming, even as production expanded Ireland’s film infrastructure with new studio spaces totaling 170,000 square feet at Ashford Studios.

Why This Location Was Chosen

Producers selected Dean’s Grange Cemetery for its authentic gothic atmosphere, perfectly suiting Wednesday‘s blend of horror and humor, especially Grandmama’s scenes requiring a moody, historical graveyard setting. Ireland’s relocation for Season 2 capitalized on the country’s lush landscapes and production facilities, with the cemetery’s tree-lined paths and ancient monuments evoking an “otherworldly” feel that Lumley praised in interviews. The site’s scale and accessibility allowed for efficient on-location shooting amid Ireland’s booming film industry milestone—this was the nation’s largest TV production, bolstered by local crews and expanded studios. Its proximity to Dublin hubs like Trinity College and Powerscourt Demesne facilitated logistics, while the natural “green” challenge noted by Jenna Ortega was managed to fit the show’s palette.

Visiting the Location

Dean’s Grange Cemetery is publicly accessible year-round as a working burial ground and historical site, open daily from dawn to dusk with free entry. Visitors should respect ongoing funerals, graves, and signage prohibiting climbing on monuments or littering; photography is permitted but discreetly. Reachable by public bus from Dublin city center (routes 46A or 155 to Deansgrange Road), it’s a short walk from stops, with nearby parking available. The site offers peaceful walks amid its 19th-century sculptures and celebrity graves, best in spring or autumn for milder weather and foliage. Guided tours are occasional via local heritage groups; check Dublin City Council for events. Combine with nearby attractions like Killiney Hill for a full day exploring south Dublin’s heritage.