THE final series of ITV’s hit drama Mr Selfridge will finally show the famous retailer’s home at Highcliffe Castle, it has emerged.

The show tells of the turbulent life of the American-born entrepreneur Harry Selfridge, who built up the famous department store but lost his fortune again.

Its fourth and final season has included filming at Highcliffe Castle, which Selfridge used as a weekend retreat, and where he laid plans to build the biggest house in the world on Hengistbury Head.

Highcliffe Castle’s manager David Hopkins said: “We were delighted to host ITV for location filming at Highcliffe Castle for Mr Selfridge. We look forward very much to seeing the results.”

It is not clear how Highcliffe Castle figures in the new series. Selfridge – played by Jeremy Piven – lived in the Castle from 1916-22, whereas the first of the new episodes begin in 1928.

Star Katherine Kelly, who plays socialite Lady Mae Loxley, has said it is right to end the series and that “you can just go out with all guns blazing”.

Selfridge, originally from Wisconsin, spent £400,000 building his hugely successful department store in Oxford Street.

He rented Highcliffe Castle fully furnished as a safe home for his family amid fears of Zeppelin raids during the First World War.

His wife Rosalie established a convalescent camp for American soldiers at what is now Highcliffe Recreation Ground, while their daughters, another Rosalie and Violette, became Red Cross volunteers working at Christchurch Hospital.

Mrs Selfridge died of influenza in 1918 and was buried in St Mark’s churchyard.

Selfridge continued to live in the castle, welcoming 5,000 people to a fete on Whit Monday, 1926.

He bought a large area of Hengistbury Head and began work on plans for a castle of his own, which would have been the biggest home in the world and would have cost up to £90 million in today’s money.

But the plan was never carried out and the high-living Selfridge frittered away his fortune, living in a flat on Putney Heath by the time of his death in 1947. He is buried along with his wife and mother at St Mark’s.

Mr Selfridge is broadcast on ITV at 9pm on Friday, January 8.