Downton Abbey 10 Things Only DieHard Fans Know About The Show

Downton Abbey: 10 Things Only Die-Hard Fans Know About The Show

There are many things that only true fans of Downton Abbey know and appreciate about one of the most popular period dramas in recent years.

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There are few costume dramas that have achieved quite the level of success and international renown as Downton Abbey. Created by Julian Fellowes, the series provides all of the pleasures that one would expect from the genre, focusing in particular on the Crawley family and their servants as they navigate the turbulence of the advent of the modern age, from the sinking of the Titanic to the Spanish flu.

Given that it is such a complex and layered show, it’s unsurprising that there are quite a few things about it that only die-hard fans really know or appreciate.

10 The House Is A Real Stately Home

As the title suggests, the actual setting of the story, Downton, is as much a character as any of the people. There’s no mistaking its grand profile, and it has a power and an aura that cannot be denied. A great deal of this stems from the fact that the filming location is, in fact, a stately home in the UK, called Highclere Castle. The fact that it is a real building rather than just a set grants it a level of authenticity not always seen in period dramas.

9 The Below Stairs Were A Soundstage

While most of the scenes that take place upstairs were filmed in the actual interiors of Highclere, the same cannot be said of the scenes shot in the servants’ quarters and kitchen. In that case, they were on a soundstage. The original quarters and kitchens of Highclere Castle were in too rough of a shape to be used for filming. Space was an additional concern- the cramped quarters weren’t meant for all of the production crew and equipment for repeated filming.

8 Highclere Has Been The Setting For Other Movies And TV Shows

In addition to being the setting for Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle has also been used as a filming location for a number of other movies and TV series over the years. Unsurprisingly, many of these are series that are set in the past, including the mystery series Marple, the television adaptation of The Secret Garden, Jeeves and Wooster, and even Eyes Wide Shut (directed by the very famous Stanley Kubrick). In each case, its edifice conveys the nobility and authenticity of the setting.

7 The Turkish Diplomat Story Was Based In Reality

One of the most important Downton Abbey storylines in the first season involves Lady Mary’s indiscretion with the Turkish diplomat Kemal Pamuk, who ends up dying in her bed. It’s one of the most fascinating storylines in the show, and it’s one that casts a long shadow over Mary’s life and her future as a member of the nobility. In an interview, the show’s creator Julian Fellowes revealed that this was actually based on a true story that he had been told by a friend, granting the entire affair a bit more dynamism and intrigue.

6 Impoverished Nobles Really Did Marry Wealthy Heiresses

Before the series begins, it’s made clear that Earl Robert married Cora for her money, since she had a lot of wealth as an American heiress. Though they gradually fell in love, it’s clear that at first, this was very much an alliance of money. While this might read as very cynical to those living in the twenty-first century, it was actually a very common occurrence at the time.

Given that members of the nobility had titles and land but little wealth, they frequently looked to rich Americans to give them the cash they needed to support their estates.

5 Maggie Smith Didn’t Watch The Show

There’s no question that Lady Violet is one of Maggie Smith’s best roles, and there are few episodes in which she doesn’t make an extraordinary appearance. Smith manages to imbue the dowager with both heart and wit, and though she is often sarcastic and inflexible, she clearly loves her family. As it turns out, however, Maggie Smith wasn’t a fan of watching the series, or at the very least she didn’t want to watch it while it was still on the air- she didn’t want it to change the way she played the character.

4 Homosexuality Was Illegal In England During The Series’ Setting

Thomas is one of the series most fascinating, if often reprehensible, characters – and responsible for many of Downton Abbey’s iconic scenes. It’s repeatedly made clear, however, that a lot of his bitterness stems from the fact that, as a gay man, he lives in a country that sees him as a deviant criminal. This has a basis in reality, as romantic and sexual relationships between men were illegal in the UK until the middle of the 20th century.

3 Much Of The Costuming Was Real Clothing

One of the major pleasures associated with the period drama is the costuming, and that is certainly the case with Downton, which features some extraordinary outfits (particularly among the noble members of the family).

Hard-core fans know that this isn’t just for show. In fact, some of the costumes were from the actual period–even if just a scrap of it–all of which gives the series an authenticity that grounds it and that allows it to explore the way that the various events of the 20th century–including World War I–impacted the family and their way of looking at the world.

2 The Costumes Were Never Washed

Unfortunately, there was an unpleasant side of the series’ commitment to authenticity. It turns out that the costumes were almost never washed. Instead, there were pieces of fabric sewn into them in order to absorb the worst of the sweat. While this no doubt made for very pungent working conditions, it was done in order to make sure that the costumes weren’t damaged or lost their authentic look. Given that the conventions of personal hygiene taken for granted in the 21st century weren’t as dominant during the early years of the 20th, this adds yet another layer of authenticity.

1 Julian Fellowes Is A Real Lord

One of the things that Downton does very well is to capture the outlook of the aristocratic class, most of whom look on the changes to the modern world with suspicion and sometimes hostility (this is especially true of the Dowager). In part, this no doubt stems from the biography of the creator, Julian Fellowes who is a member of the House of Lords (he was elevated to the peerage in 2011).

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/downton-abbey-facts-trivia-die-hard-fans/

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