Harry Potter art director reveals intricate set that was never seen on screen

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Even though many people have watched the Harry Potter movies repeatedly, there are still small details that most viewers, even dedicated fans, haven’t noticed.

This is thanks to the incredible attention to detail from the dedicated, often uncredited, team working behind the scenes, such as Art Director Gary Tomkins, who contributed to all eight films.

In an interview with TopMob celebrating the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and a new exhibit at the Warner Bros Studio Tour, set decorator Roger Tompkins shared that he created some detailed sets – like Bill and Fleur Weasley’s Shell Cottage – that never made it into the final films.

“Shell Cottage, we built on the seashore in Pembrokeshire,” Tomkins recalled.

We constructed a complete house, including both the inside and outside, and added a garden. The walls were uniquely built from shells. A sculptor carefully shaped each shell to resemble stone, giving the house the appearance of a stone building, but it was actually made entirely of shells.

The miniature shells were incredibly detailed, each one carefully hand-painted and covered in tiny barnacles. Surprisingly, the roof wasn’t made of slate, but of shells – we figured out how to arrange them perfectly. We also created a small garden with fences, and even included interior details like curtains. It was all about adding those little touches.

When watching the finished movie, you notice Shell Cottage in the background during Dobby’s death scene, with the actors performing in the front. Shell Cottage is intentionally blurred in the background.

Honestly, the cottage was almost hidden on screen – you’d really have to look for it, let alone notice the little things! But we knew it was there, and we built it anyway. We were lucky enough to have the budget for fantastic sets, which gave the director so much freedom to film around it and really bring the scene to life.

Everyone always focuses on Dobby, and completely overlooks my gorgeous house in the scene!

Although Shell Cottage wasn’t prominently featured in the films, Tomkins’ work on Hogwarts Castle was a definite highlight.

He explained that Stuart Craig, the Production Designer, created a detailed initial sketch, almost like a blueprint. From that sketch, the team – like architects designing a house – developed the full design for the castle.

We filmed in real locations – Gloucester and Durham – and the footage blended seamlessly with our vision for the project, just as we’d hoped.

As the series continued, the castle’s design had to be updated. This was because the scripts evolved, introducing new elements that weren’t in the original plan. As a result, the castle looks different in each film.

This is one of the few times in my career where we didn’t have to worry much about things staying consistent. Whenever anything didn’t quite match up, we could just explain it away with magic!

Tomkins sees the Studio Tour as a way for fans to get a closer look at how things are made and learn about the work that goes on behind the scenes.

He explained that he loves the Studio Tour because it’s a great way to show people all the incredible work that goes into creating the sets, props, costumes, and everything you see on screen.

It’s easy to miss the intricate details on screen, but here you can get right up close and truly appreciate the incredible amount of work and detail that went into everything.

It makes me so happy to see people enjoying the tour, and I continue to feel that way every time I visit.

JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, has received criticism for her opinions on transgender rights. In 2020, she published a detailed explanation of her views on sex and gender, but this was challenged and refuted by LGBTQ+ organizations like Stonewall.

I have to say, I was really troubled by some recent comments J.K. Rowling made online. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, she expressed the view that the concept of transgender children isn’t valid, and specifically stated she doesn’t believe a child can be born with the wrong gender. It’s a position that feels deeply insensitive and frankly, quite harmful, and it’s hard to separate it from the work I once enjoyed.

In May 2025, J.K. Rowling created the JK Rowling Women’s Fund to provide financial support for legal battles focused on protecting women’s rights as defined by biological sex.

The main actors from the Harry Potter films – Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson – have publicly disagreed with J.K. Rowling’s views and voiced their support for the transgender community. However, some other cast members, like Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, and Jim Broadbent, have come to Rowling’s defense amid the criticism she’s faced.

You can buy tickets to The Warner Bros Studio Tour now.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin edits the Sci-Fi & Fantasy section at TopMob, where she writes about popular franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, Marvel, House of the Dragon, and Good Omens. Before TopMob, she was a Senior Entertainment Reporter at Metro and holds a degree in English Literature.

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2026-05-17 13:35