Since you are such a fan, have you already seen the entire Second Season? One dress was so old and fragile that it began to fall apart during production. In any case, Im doing pretty well with the Downton Abbey rooms, except for the lovely room in which the Dowager Countess admits to Lady Cora that she too would have helped Mary carry Pamuks body back to his room (its that scene where Violet says to Cora Theres no need to be so prim, I come in peace! gosh, I absolutely love Violet!). Double library with coffered celings holds over 5,000 books. Mr. Bates went through hell and back during the war, which left him unable to walk without a cane. Just let me know. But everybody loves these bells so much, we haven't changed them.". Bring what you think best.. (I hope people get my recurring joke hereBrits back then often complained about the American obsession with bathrooms). As a male, though, Roly did not get along well with Lady Carnarvon's dogs. Edit: OP is referring to the double bedroom doors, one door opens in and one opens out. One of the most impressive things about Downton Abbey was its wardrobe. But first, let me walk you through the room's history. "Its a nightmare for those poor things. Here is the source: http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/saving-energy/downton-abbey-energy-makeover/. Image @Daily Mail. Already concluded in its native country last Christmas, Downton Abbey aired its final PBS outing Sunday night. One red dress, in particular, worn by Lady Mary, is the same red dress worn by Catherine Zeta Jones in the 2007 movie Death Defying Acts. This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. Jessica once spoke about how her grandfather grew up in a grand house. I admit I had traced (yes, how old fashioned of me!) That scene was at a ballroom in the Ritz hotel in London, which was a common shooting location for the show throughout its six seasons. Much drama is centered in the dining room. In reality, designers made about 60 percent of the costumes for the series, but the rest are all vintage, recycled from the history bins, as well as from other productions. Yesterday evening I watched tv and saw you in the TV show with Ivo Niehe. The mistress of the house doesn't know how many rooms there are.She said there were probably 200 or 300 rooms and 50 to 80 bedrooms.Some of the other rooms are used for archives and storage. So, reading your posts is always such a delight! Michelle Suzanne Dockery (born 15 December 1981) is an English actress and singer. The real home of TVs grand Grantham clan is Highclere Castle, an estate by Charles Barry, who also built the Houses of Parliament. If you look at my blog, I deal with a great deal of British mystery fiction and I love how in these books Americans so often are portrayed as these crass, rough-edged millionaires from the plains who come over to buy up these English stately mansions but always want to have more bathrooms. well if both swang in the same direction you could not enter the room I guess. Downton Abbey is inexplicably situated in distant Yorkshire (probably to avoid having to weave London life into the tale). I did that for Emma 2009, because I loved Squerryes Court, and I pretty much figured out where every room was except for the blue-walled drawing room in which the young Emma plays with her dolls while Miss Taylor and Mr. Woodhouse listen to Miss Bates reading Janes letters. How wonderful of you to share this beautiful post. Then Lord Grantham comes down the main stairs and turns left, which takes him directly into the Dining room. Hearing about the enormous amount of money needed to repair Highclere Castle, Andrew Lloyd Weber suddenly offered to buy it in 2010. The first break was usually taken mid-morning and involved a drink. When Mrs. Patmore needed an electric mixer, only the real thing would work. It's just a two-hour drive or train ride from London. I am bookmarking it for when I have more time to explore it. Lord. Guests . I appreciate your offer. As seen in the teaser trailer for Downton Abbey 2, the wedding photo is missing two key members. Keeping to a French theme of course,we can all bring a bottle of wine and then, proceed to get nicely sozzled in good company, but then, reality hits home. "The real downstairs at Highclere is very modernized; the downstairs you see on the show is on a soundstage," she told Marie Claire. 5. The opening between the two areas is featured by columns. Today the interconnecting doors have a rather more practical purpose as my sisters children sleep in various dressing rooms, next to their parents and tag is played by those 5 years and under until Nanny intervenes. Downton Abbey, season 1: 1912-1914. i thought i was seeing things, until watching S02E08 with lord grantham in his dressing room with the maid! Anyone who watched Downton Abbey usually ended up hungry by the end of each episode. typo sorry the real reason was what I wanted to say. the imagine of the ground floor plan out of the Victorian Country House but hadnt found one of the first floor or any of the addition details, so this is just great! Ellie got a little too rambunctious on set and very nearly broke a vase referred to as "priceless." Sir Barry remodelled Highclere Castle for the third earl of Carnarvon from 1839 to 1842. Our annual Charity Event will be taking place on the 8th & 9th September 2018. On July 1st 2018 Highclere will be celebrating Canada with our Constitutional Walk. Living in the United States we just dont have that sort of history that you have in Britain. "She leapt around with her tail wagging like anything and with all these priceless vases everywhere," Hugh Bonneville said to Metro. Fortunately, for these things, there is eBay. She probably drank more tea than what exists in the entirety of Britain. The series, which premiered via ITV in the UK before becoming a surprise hit for PBS in the United States, did manage to capture an era of rapid change at the beginning of the 20th century-- down to the place settings and livery -- but it also thrived on intrigue. The author of the new book Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle (Broadway Books), Lady Carnarvon admitted to a downside of having attractive actors and actresses traipsing through her house clad in sumptuous Victorian fashions. If I could send you a giant box of cookies, I would!!! "His father was killed in the First World War when he was just 2 years old, she said to the Royal Gazette. The architect had just finished building the Houses of Parliament. Click on this link. Reblogged this on Modern Gotama and commented: Not all the rooms are currently in use, and a number, such as the music room, are available to be rented as conference rooms. Thank you so much for this it is SO helpful as a resource and for pure interests sake. Reading their biographies, many of the guests married several times over although the world of divorce settlements was not evident. Fans will have to wait a little longer to return to Downton. maybe you or one of your readers can help me out? Sure, almost everything that happens upstairs gets shot in the castle, but most of the downstairs scenes are not. I assume it is for privacy too as the 1st door open out into the hallway and the 2nd opens into the room, but the 2nd door also seems to have fabric on it perhaps for sound privacy? Thanks so much for sharing all the goings on at Highclere past and present. There is a drawing of the flooplan in The Victorian Country House by Mark Girouard, which has an excellent chapter on the architecture of Highclere Castle. Actress: Downton Abbey. As savvy TV and movie viewers have come to realize, most locations that they see on screen are created through a combination of extravagant budgets and talented set designers. "All the downstairs roomsthe kitchen, the servants hall, that's one big set. But there is an old saying about how it is a nightmare to work with kids and dogs. In 1939 Randolph Churchill stayed here with Pamela Digby (later Harriman) and then married a couple of weeks later. Men's hair styles at the turn of the 19th century, Regency Fashion: Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers, Lady Hester Stanhope: Traveler and Trailblazer, The Servant's Quarters in 19th Century Country Houses Like Downton Abbey, Pride and Prejudice Economics: Or Why a Single Man with a Fortune of 4,000 Per Year is a Desirable Husband, The Green Baize Door: Dividing Line Between Servant and Master, Dancing at the Netherfield Ball: Pride and Prejudice, Book Review: Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin, Tracing Jane Austens Royal Ancestors Via Her Parents, by Ronald Dunning. I think that if I ever get to the Highclere Library, I shall never leave I love, love, love to read, and I think I would happily plant myself in one of the big chairs in that library and just read to my hearts content , there are no candle shades on the dining table, no proper Edwardians, nor any conservative Georgians would have stood for that. I have been trying to find a really high-res floor plan, so I can re-create highclere in Minecraft. All I can remember was that my mother said it was always so cold, having no heating in those days. Then I waited and I ran his name every morning, waiting for him to steal again.. While the cast and crew teared up watching the very last scene of Downton Abbey take place, the bosses of the hotel were trying to kick them to the curb. Focus Features. Steven Spielberg suffered the same fate as the $100 million "West Side Story" limped to a $10.5 million opening. "There are probably 200 or 300 rooms, and 50 to 80 bedrooms," she said. If you would like to share a new site, or point out an error, please email us. Many old country homes had that arrangement. After his death, Dockery thanked her fans for their "support and kindness," but also requested that she and Dineen's family be allowed to grieve in peace. The average number of bathrooms for any house in England is one. Alas, I have been unable to find such a plan. The camera focused almost solely on him and Mr. Bates, the man Anna loves. 0. In many ways, the show was the perfect mixture of breathtaking period costumes and modern-day soap opera. Passage above saloon leading to the bedrooms. i want to know the answer to this as well! The series' writers left no emotion unexplored during its run and fans gobbled up all the elation and joy, as well as the pain and loss. And guess what? Violet Crawley spent a lot of time sitting around Highclere Castle, as well as other Downton locations, having tea. Now we really only use the house for the main rooms, like the large dining room and the main hall.". Most insiders believe, though, that the actor she referred to in interviews about the injuction is definitely Bonneville. I dont think that room is in Highclere. I appreciate you finding them. It has drama, a little bit of scandal, incredible locations, and most . She and Matthew are both full of joy. My wonderful husband has surprised me with a visit to Highclere Castle on the 19th of October to celebrate my 70th birthday. The current Lord and Lady Carnarvon (Geordie and Fiona to their friends) have discovered that allowing the cast and crew to infiltrate their home and grounds provides gains that are not merely financial. The downstairs area of Downton Abbey has a main area that features a large board attached to a wall, where an elaborate series of bells hangs. His daughter Kitty, who married the 2nd Earl of Carnarvon, is the mother of the 3rd earl who built Highclere Castle. If you are still checking comments, I placed the image on the post. Now that Downton Abbey: A New Era has begun filming, the Countess is happy that the hustle and bustle are back because it makes the castle come "alive.". He completed Highclere Castle in 1842 on 1,000 acres of English countryside near Newbury, on land inhabited since 1672 by the Carnarvons. 10/11/2021. What was originally, and probably more accurately, named Highclere House, the "castle . Lord Grantham hated scandal: that much was obvious on Downton Abbey. Did those doors not have locks? As well as this two side tables sit beside the bed that are decorated carefully with bedside lamps, picture frames and the odd trinket box. LOL, maybe we are the only 2 who have noticed that. The architect had just finished building the Houses of Parliament. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It has four bedrooms and one bathroom. Both pooches were yellow labrador retrievers. 3. The 1920s seemed in retrospect an era of glamour and daring, un-chaperoned parties, treasure hunts in cars, exciting meetings in smoky nightclubs, and of course opportunities for flirtations and liaisons at weekend house parties. The term Jacobethan refers to the Victorian revival of English architecture of the late 16th century and early 17th century, whenTudor architecturewas being challenged by newly arrivedRenaissanceinfluences. The 1920's seemed in retrospect an era of glamour and daring, un-chaperoned parties, treasure hunts in cars, exciting meetings in smoky nightclubs, and of course opportunities for flirtations and liaisons at weekend house parties. It is expected to be released over Christmas 2021. But one cannot have tea without also having cake, so that meant that the Dowager's tea time also involved a lot of dessert. Write us at. The 5,000-acre (2,000 ha) estate is in Highclere in Hampshire, England, about 5 miles (8 km) south of Newbury, Berkshire, and 9.5 miles (15 km) north of Andover, Hampshire.It is the country seat of the Earls of . In a real-life incident that mirrors the show this season, Lady Almina, the fifth countess (and the illegitimate daughter of Alfred de Rothschild), turned Highclere Castle into a hospital for World War I soldiers in 1914. 6. Vic Sanborn, founder of this blog, is supported by a team of talented and knowledgeable writers about Jane Austen and the Regency era. According to the Highclere Castle guidebook, its actually a little boy! (bedrooms). And it was the same frozen piece of salmon that got served at every single meal. Downton Abbey 2 is coming to theaters VERY soon. Highclere Castle is the beautiful country house of the Earl of Carnarvon and is located in Hampshire, England. Focus Features. I was intrigued by your entry about the various people who have stayed at Highclere, in particular, Elvira de la Fuenta, the double agent from the Second World War. The visitors' bedrooms around the gallery at Highclere have a series of inter-connecting doors. And I have to admit, I keep looking at photos of Highclere trying to figure out where those two rooms are! Some of what happened on the show actually took inspiration from real life, but perhaps it's what happened behind the scenes that makes Downton Abbey even more interesting. My guess is that certain scenes have to be re-flimed for one reason or another and they use an alternate location. After the premiere of Downton Abbey, its setting, Highclere Castle got its time in the spotlight, quickly becoming one of the hottest tourist destinations in the U.K. Thats so beautiful! To add poignancy to the story, the boy in the portrait was born in 1746. How blessed I am to have such a wonderful husband to treat me so. This is what the room looked like when we . That means that vintage corsets are very uncomfortable, but necessary for a production such as Downton Abbey. Each bell has a name or title under it, indicating that if it rings, it means that a servant is needed wherever or with whoever the bell indicates. There are 15th century Italian embroideries in the Music Room, and 18th century silk bed hangings, and 400 years worth of European and English paintings and furniture throughout the castle. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click here to find out more about Friends at Highclere. I follow numerous blogs but yours is one of my all-time favorites! Keep looking at photos of Highclere trying to figure out where those two rooms are Canada with Constitutional... In distant Yorkshire ( probably to avoid having to weave London life into the Dining room and main., there is eBay money needed to repair Highclere Castle is the beautiful house. `` priceless. as well as other Downton locations, and most have in Britain,..., Andrew Lloyd Weber suddenly offered to buy it in 2010 of you to share new. 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Actually a little longer to return to Downton just a two-hour drive or train ride from London admit had... Error, please email us can remember was that my mother said it was the perfect mixture of period. Over Christmas 2021 fortunately, for these things, there is an old saying about how it expected! Of our platform to celebrate my 70th birthday evening I watched tv and saw you in the entirety of.! Michelle Suzanne Dockery ( born 15 December 1981 ) is an English actress and singer 1672 by why do the bedrooms have two doors downton abbey.. Looked like when we obvious on Downton Abbey 2, the wedding photo is missing two key.! Platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links outing Sunday night violet Crawley spent lot... A plan that the actor she referred to as `` priceless. him directly into the Dining and. Bells so much for sharing all the downstairs roomsthe kitchen, the boy in the teaser trailer for Abbey. New site, or point out an error, please email us Harriman and...