Mr Darcy would approve! Regency-costumed Jane Austen fans flock to annual Pride and Prejudice Ball at Chatsworth House

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Women looking for their real-life Mr Darcy flocked to Chatsworth House, home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, for the the annual Pride and Prejudice Ball yesterday. 

Regency costumed men and women forked out £85 for tickets to the themed event, which included a tour of the house a four-course meal and a dancing display. 

Elizabeth Bennett lookalikes flooded the grounds in the empire-waisted dresses, while the men wore 'Wellington boots' - knee-high footwear at the height of regency fashion - perfectly tied silk cravats, waistcoats and dinner jackets. 

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Guests attending the annual Pride and Prejudice themed ball held at Chatsworth House

Jane Austen, who stayed there while penning her famous novel of the same name, is believed to have based her depiction of the fictional Pemberley, Fitzwilliam Darcy's residence, on the stately home.

Guests turned out in stunning regency attire including full length gowns with classic square necklines and short puff sleeves, made from soft muslin fabric. 

Most dresses were fitted tightly under the bust in a period-perfect empire style and paired with long gloves, which ladies always wore when outside the house.

Gentlemen, meanwhile, dressed up as dandies in so-called 'Wellington boots' - knee-high footwear at the height of regency fashion - perfectly tied silk cravats, waistcoats and dinner jackets.

Dr Victoria Campbell from Sheffield enjoys a glass of wine at the ball 

Kris Turkelson, Paula and Scott Jacobs, all from Guildford, got involved in the fancy dress theme 

The ball in Derbyshire staged an evening to remember, celebrating the 202 years since the publication of Pride and Prejudice. 

Jane Austen visited Chatsworth House in 1811 while staying at the Rutland Arms in Bakewell while writing the love story. 

The stately home is believed to be her inspiration for Pemberley, the residence of the novel's romantic hero Mr Darcy.

Austen wrote in the novel: 'The eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of the valley into which the road into some abruptness wound.

'It was a large, handsome, stone building standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills; and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned.'

Susan and John Hitchen from Dronfield, Derbyshire, pose outside the front of the building 

Chris Wrigglesworth, Emma Carlton, Stacey Ireson, and Chris Ireson, all from Nottingham in their Regency finery 

In the book, lead character Elizabeth Bennet meets Mr Darcy for the first time at a similar event to the Pride and Prejudice soiree - but takes an immediate dislike to him. 

The stately home has been the seat of the Dukes of Devonshire since 1549 and is mentioned in Pride and Prejudice as one of the stately homes that Elizabeth Bennet visits before arriving at Pemberley.

Chatsworth also featured in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice movie starring Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden.

Visitors are encouraged to ponder the grand staircase and ceiling of the Painted Hall - where Lizzie and the Gardiners start their tour of Pemberley.

Paul and Shani Winfield from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, play at being a real-life Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett 

Chatswirth House is the probable inspiration behind Pemberley, Mr Darcy's home in the Jane Austen novel

The Sculpture Gallery - which features the beautiful veiled Vestal Virgin sculpture - was used in the scene where Lizzie Bennet sees the bust of Mr Darcy, and his housekeeper describes his many good qualities. 

The scene was originally set to be in a gallery of paintings, but was changed to make use of Chatsworth's collection.

Chatsworth has been used as a setting for other Pride and Prejudice themed outings, from fans coming to see the locations and enjoy 'Pemberley', to themed photography, such as their Pride and Prejudice themed photo shoot.

Known as one of England’s greatest country estates, Chatsworth provided the perfect setting to launch the Peak District estate's Georgian Summer of events (27 July - 29 August 2013) celebrating the bicentennial anniversary of Austen's novel. 

Ralf and Kathy Webber from Bowdon, Cheshire, show off fashion from the era, including empire dresses and Wellington boots 

A group of dancers from the Bath-based Jane Austen Dancers