What is the entail in Downton Abbey?
Earl Robert’s family has an entail, so Matthew gets the earldom, the farmland, and Downton Abbey. The show throws in another complication. Lord Robert married a rich American, Cora, and her money is vital to the family.
Who are the real owners of Downton Abbey?
Last week, the real owners of the Downton Abbey castle, George Herbert and his wife Fiona, the eighth Earl and Countess of Carnarvon—who at first sight bore a striking resemblance to the Crawley couple in the TV show—appeared in New York City for the release...
What happens to the Downton family after Matthew dies?
At the end of Downton Abbey Season 3, Matthew dies, and if he’d left no son, the Earldom of Grantham could go extinct. We don’t know if the Downton family has some more distant male-descended cousin. Happily, the family faces no such trouble. Matthew married Earl Robert’s eldest daughter, Mary, and fathered a son.
How did Robert get his title in Downton Abbey?
Downton Abbey reveals that Earl Robert inherited from his father, who presumably got the title from his father — in a line of succession stretching back to the first Earl of Grantham, based on a strict male-only version of primogeniture. The system keeps Robert from leaving the title to one of his daughters.
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Who inherits Downton Abbey at the end?
Lord Robert has no sons, and an “entail” keeps any of his daughters from inheriting his great estate and mansion: Downton Abbey. Robert's heir is Matthew Crawley, a distant cousin. Matthew will someday inherit both the earl's title and his real estate, thanks to the entail.
Does Thomas inherit Downton Abbey?
Thomas inherits the estate. His first act as the new Lord Grantham is to change the family's coat of arms to a picture of a maroon leather glove.
Does George inherit Downton Abbey?
Background. George is heir presumptive to Robert's title and estate and the Crawley family fortune. Although he is Robert's grandson through his mother, his claim comes through his father's line, as Matthew's paternal great-great-grandfather was a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Grantham.
Does Mary inherit Downton Abbey from Matthew?
Mary was made Matthew's heir, she would get half the estate and whatever remained of the Swine fund but still no title. Also she's responsible for Matthew's death taxes but the new earl would be required to pay Robert's.
Does Cora ever find out about O Brien?
Cora ends up miscarrying the only male heir to the Crawley/Grantham fortune. Cora never suspects O'Brien's treachery, and somehow the lady's maid lasts a few more seasons.
Who is Lord Grantham's heir?
Because Lord Grantham has only daughters, the heir presumptive to Downton Abbey is his cousin, James. Since this is a British period drama, naturally James and his only son died on the Titanic during the first episode.
Why does O'Brien leave Downton?
I talked it through with my family and it was the right decision for all of us.” Finneran said: “I had great fun doing it but I just didn't want to do it any more.” She added: I decided this before we even did the last series. When I stop loving something, I stop doing it.”
How did Lady Mary inherit Downton Abbey?
Even without one, the surviving spouse would generally inherit.) Mary, then, shares half ownership of Downton Abbey with her father, Robert, so long as he lives. When Robert dies, all rights transfer to Baby George.
What happens to Mary's baby in Downton Abbey?
She was married to Matthew Crawley and with him had a son, George Crawley, in 1921. Shortly after their son's birth, Matthew was killed in a car accident.
Does Lord Grantham lose all his money?
Don't put all your money in 1 stock: Downton's patriarch, the Earl of Grantham, needs a little Investing 101. He loses the entire family fortune at the start of Season 3 by betting on a Canadian railroad company that goes belly up. "It wasn't just me. Everyone said we couldn't lose," he protests.
What happens to Cora's fortune?
As part of their marriage contract, Cora's fortune was entailed to the family estate to prevent it from going bankrupt. While their marriage was initially one-sided in love, after a year, Robert fell in love with her and their marriage was perfectly happy.
Who does Edith Crawley marry?
Bertie PelhamAfter six seasons of troubles, Lady Edith finally finds happiness. In the last episode of the series, the middle Crawley daughter marries Bertie Pelham to become the Marchioness of Hexham, a position which outranks everyone else in her family.
What happens to Thomas Barrow in Downton Abbey?
Does Thomas Barrow leave Downton Abbey? Yes, Thomas Barrow (Robert James-Collier) resigns as a butler at Downton Abbey and leaves. Despite finding love with Richard Ellis (Max Brown) in the previous film, Thomas reveals that Mr Ellis has married and he himself is resigned to not finding personal happiness.
What happens to Tom in Downton Abbey?
Tom Branson Tom returned to Downton from Boston after deciding that raising his daughter Sybbie away from her family was a bad idea. The chauffeur-turned-estate-agent surrendered most of his agent duties to Mary, who had them well in hand, and opened up a car shop with his brother-in-law Henry Talbot.
What was Miss O Brien's secret?
O'Brien has never had children of her own, and that may have something to do with how protective she becomes of Alfred. In February 1922, she sneaked away in the night to travel to India to be a lady's maid to Susan MacClare, Marchioness of Flintshire.
Does Mrs Patmore get married?
Mrs. Patmore (the Mrs. was a courtesy title used for all housekeepers and cooks, despite their being unmarried) was the long time cook of Downton Abbey. As such she was often in charge of her own domain in the kitchen, which didn't allow frequent interaction with the rest of the family.
Who saved Downton's life?
In the end, the hero who saved Downton was Mr. Swire, the man who had the foresight and courage to confront his own mortality, and put his feelings about his life and wealth in writing for his heir. A loving will saved the Crawley family home, and maybe the marriage of the man who jilted his daughter. Now that's high drama!
Why is inheritance so simple?
In fact, inheritance rarely is simple because of unexpected emotions that can crop up when money suddenly falls into your lap due to a loss. This was the case for Matthew, who inherited a huge sum of money from Mr. Swire whom he felt he had wronged.
What is Downton Abbey about?
Downton Abbey is a story about how an old-money aristocratic family struggles to cope in the modern age. And the real story of Highclere Castle is similar in a sense. In an interview with Observer, Lord Carnarvon likened running his family heritage to “running a small business.” “You have to work hard and make things happen,” he said. ...
Who owns the Downton Abbey house?
Last week, the real owners of the Downton Abbey castle, George Herbert and his wife Fiona, the eighth Earl and Countess of Carnarvon—who at first sight bore a striking resemblance to the Crawley couple in the TV show—appeared in New York City for the release of Highclere Castle Gin, a spirit named after their now world-famous home in North Hampshire, England.
What is Highclere Castle Gin?
The Highclere Castle Gin is the second brand partnership the Carnarvon family has formed with entrepreneur Adam von Gootkin since last year’s Highclere Castle Cigar. Lord Carnarvan said the gin, inspired by botanicals from the castle’s herb gardens such as juniper, lime flower, orange peel and lavender, was a form of paying homage to ...
How many books has Lady Carnarvon written?
Over the past eight years, Lady Carnarvon has also authored three books, two on the history of the Highclere estate and one on modern-day life inside the castle.
How many seasons of Downton Abbey are there?
I’ve watched every episode of the six seasons of Downton Abbey. But I have to admit, after a certain point, the only character that kept me watching was not any ladies or lords, but the magnificent mansion in which all the Crawley family’s drama unfolded located on the TV series’ fictional Yorkshire country estate.
Where does Lady Carnarvon relax?
Lady Carnarvon relaxes in the music room of Highclere Castle. Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images
What is the biggest misconception Americans have about the British aristocracy?
Asked what the biggest misconception Americans have about the British aristocracy: “That we sit around doing nothing!” Lady Carnarvon answered with a laugh.
What did the Downton brothers do after marrying?
The two Downton men, who both sought a higher calling after marrying into the Crawley family, opened a used car shop.
Who played the Countess in the movie "Downton Abbey"?
Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess, and cousin Isobel. Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess Grantham in "Downton Abbey.". The Dowager Countess teamed up with cousin Isobel and helped her rescue Lord Merton from his evil son and daughter-in-law, who Isobel announced she’d finally marry.
How many seasons of Downton Abbey are there?
Downton Abbey closed its doors to fans on Christmas 2015, after six seasons unfurling the story of the Crawley family. Over the years, the characters have struggled through death, disease, war and imprisonment — and the audience has been right there with them. But the show’s finale took a delightfully happy turn, with an ending that even left the Dowager Countess smiling. Now, with the release of a feature film of the same name due to be released on Sept. 20, written by series creator Julian Fellowes, here is a refresher on where everyone from the Crawley family — including those who kept the Abbey in order — ended up in the series finale.
Who played Thomas in Downton Abbey?
Robert James-Collier as Thomas (far left) on Downton Abbey. Nick Briggs—Carnival Film & Television Ltd/PBS. Barrow showed a softer side (finally!), moving on from Downton with handshakes and warm wishes for both those from upstairs and downstairs.
Who is Bertie's mother on Hexham?
Edith finally told Bertie’s mother the truth about Marigold (that she is, in fact, her own daughter with her late lover Michael Gregson). The show’s final shots saw Edith exchange vows with Bertie, making her the Marchioness of Hexham.
Did Edith get her happy ending?
Edith finally got her happy ending. Mary slyly arranged for Edith to have dinner at the Ritz with Bertie, who professed his love for the unlucky sister. Edith finally told Bertie’s mother the truth about Marigold (that she is, in fact, her own daughter with her late lover Michael Gregson). The show’s final shots saw Edith exchange vows with Bertie, making her the Marchioness of Hexham.
Who was the king's footman in Downton Abbey?
With the Royal Staff out of the way, Carson led Downton's footmen, including Andy and Mr. Molesley (Kevin Doyle) into the dining room to serve dinner. However, when the King and Queen offered their compliments to Mr. Courbet, Molesley shocked everyone by announcing that Mrs. Patmore cooked the meal and Downton's staff was serving it.
Who plays the Crawleys in Downton Abbey?
The drama upstairs involves several of the key members of the Crawleys: Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith ) is incensed that her cousin Lady Maud Bagshaw (Imelda Staunton) plans to leave her estate to her maid Lucy Smith (Tuppence Middleton) instead of naming Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham (Hugh Bonneville) her heir. Additionally, Edith, Marchioness of Hexam (Laura Carmichael) reveals that she's pregnant to her husband Bertie Pelham, Marquess of Hexam (Harry Hadden-Paton) but the King has asked him to tour Africa when their baby would be born. Meanwhile, downstairs, Downton Abbey's servants are supplanted by the Royal Household and ordered by Mr. Wilson, the Royal Butler (David Haig) to do nothing while his staff serves the King and Queen at dinner. Instead of bearing this insult, Anna Bates (Joanne Froggatt) and her husband John Bates (Brendan Coyle) unite their fellow servants to bamboozle the Royal staff so that Downton's staff handles the dinner, which goes off (nearly) without a hitch.
What happens if Tom Branson and Lucy marry?
If Tom married Lucy, when she inherits the Brumpton estate, control of it would go to Tom as her husband - which is a roundabout but still an effective way to secure the estate for the Crawleys. If there's a Downton Abbey Movie 2, this could involve the wedding of Tom Branson and Lucy Smith.
What is the theme of Downton Abbey?
The film continues the theme of Downton Abbey the series, which is about the Crawley family embracing change and progress and adjusting to the inevitable forward march of time, while still finding a way ...
How did the servants trick the royal family?
How The Servants Tricked The Royal Household And Served The Royal Family Themselves. In the Downton Abbey movie, Anna and Mr. Bates spearheaded a complex scheme to turn the tables on the Royal Household that even Mr. Carson, the Butler (Jim Carter), went along with to defend the honor of Downton. First, Anna placed a double dose ...
When was the Downton Abbey movie set?
The film is set in 1927, 18 months after the Downton Abbey series finale, and involves the Crawley family hosting King George V (Simon Jones) and Queen Mary (Geraldine James) at Downton.
Did Lady Violet die in Downton Abbey?
At the Royal Ball, Lady Violet privately confessed to Lady Mary that she's dying; Violet mysteriously vanished to London during the Downton Abbey movie and returned with a prognosis that she doesn't have much longer to live. Violet touchingly named Mary her true successor, predicting that Mary will one day take her place as the "scary old lady".
When will Downton Abbey season 6 air?
It strikes me that rumours of Downton Abbey’s demise are much exaggerated. It was reported today that series six – due to air in the UK in September (series five is currently on PBS in the US) – will be the last gasp of the Crawley dynasty.
Who is Lady Edith's daughter?
Lady Edith’s imposter daughter, Marigold, becomes the first child spy for the Germans when she receives a series of invisible-ink telegrams from Berlin. Mrs Patmore intercepts the telegrams and, using a unique steam-iron method, gets Daisy (bound for Harvard after securing the first Open University degree*) to help her read them. Edith is forced to choose between the Traitor Ginger Impostor Child and her burgeoning career as the next Rupert Murdoch (a job for which she never does any work but occasionally mentions over breakfast).
Why did Anna and Bates die in series 6?
Though jilted, Baxter is happy as she now replaces Mrs Hughes as Downton Abbey’s housekeeper. Anna and Bates die in a suicide pact motivated by frustration that no one seems to want anything good to ever happen to them. In the last moments of series six, we see the final wedding, the one that should have happened in series one.
Who poisoned Lord Grantham?
Lady Grantham poisons Lord Grantham (already nearly dead anyway after contracting a rare form of slow-acting rabies from Isis) and on his deathbed he acknowledges Thomas as his son. Thomas inherits the estate.
Who inherited Downton in fee simple?
Matthew would have inherited Downton in fee simple, so by marrying him and producing a son, Mary can do the same now.
Who controlled half of Downton?
Thus, essentially, Robert would control half of Downton, Mary one-sixth of Downton (i.e. one-third of one-half), and George's trustee would control two-sixths (two-thirds of one-half).
What happens to Downton Shell after Matthew's death?
So the Downton shell company would have been one-half owned by the family trust of the Earl of Grantham, and one-half owned by a new trust that controls Matthew's estate. This new trust would be owned by George, with Mary directly controlling one-third of it as a life estate, and two-thirds of it would be controlled by whomever becomes George's guardian. Thus, essentially, Robert would control half of Downton, Mary one-sixth of Downton (i.e. one-third of one-half), and George's trustee would control two-sixths (two-thirds of one-half). However, if Robert were to be appointed George's trustee, Robert would then effectively control five-sixths of Downton, and therefore become majority owner of Downton, effectively writing off any power that Mary would have in her one-sixth controlling interest. This is why Violet encourages Mary to come out of her mourning and ensure that Mary is appointed George's trustee and therefore control (as trustee of two-thirds of Matthew's estate) George's two-sixth portion of Downton. Then Mary would have effective control of half of Downton, and effectively become the half-business partner of Robert.
What is the idea of a legions of domestics?
The idea of having an army of domestics began to die out after the First World War; too many men died on the front and too many women filled in places where men formerly worked. The crash of 1929 destroyed fortunes rendering the upkeep of domestics (they were paid little but had to be housed, clothed and fed) impossible for many except the very richest. By 1950 the domestic servant was almost extinct.
What happens to Matthew in Season 3?
However, in Season 3, via a will, Matthew inherits the entire estate of Lavinia's father, meaning that the money is transferred to him in fee simple and it is completely his to spend as he likes. At the same time, the Downton Abbey estate is in financial trouble as the trustee of the family trust (Robert) invested so much of the capital within the trust on a failed investment that it could bring down the entire trust. So Matthew would have recapitalized the estate by creating a shell company, half-owned by him and half-owned by the family trust, and the family trust would have sold the estate to the new shell company that it owns half of.
Why did Matthew stand to inherit?
That's why Matthew stood to inherit. He was the heir presumptive. If Cora had not lost the male fetus she was carrying, that fetus would have been Cora and Robert’s son, the heir apparent, and would have cut off Matthew’s claim on the estate.
Why does Violet encourage Mary to come out of her mourning?
This is why Violet encourages Mary to come out of her mourning and ensure that Mary is appointed George's trustee and therefore control (as trustee of two-thirds of Matthew's estate) George's two-sixth portion of Downton. Then Mary would have effective control of half of Downton, and effectively become the half-business partner of Robert.
When did Mary give birth in Downton Abbey?
Mary becomes pregnant around January 1921. She gives birth three weeks early, in September 1921, and only moments after Matthew meets his son (George Crawley) for the first time, dies in a car accident racing back to Downton Abbey to tell the entire family about their new heir. Lavinia Swire.
Who is Matthew's mother?
Matthew's mother Isobel has mostly been by herself at Crawley house, with a slightly different wedding photo of Mary and Matthew on the mantle. Edith goes to visit her, and she urges her to come to the house to visit her grandson. Isobel said when you lose your only child, you are nothing really.
Why are Matthew and Tom so close?
In series three, after Tom and Sybil's wedding, Matthew and Tom become close friends, because Matthew wanted to help him to fit in with the Crawleys and even asked him to be the best man at his wedding with Mary. After Sybil's death, Matthew and Tom become best friends and start to develop plans for a new management for Downton Abbey. Matthew teaches Tom to play cricket and the two bond with their father-in-law, Robert Crawley.
What caused Mary to decide to head home?
An outing in a carriage and a dance at a ball caused Mary to feel unwell and decide to head home. Matthew insisted upon coming with her, but Mary promptly refused because she said it would be rude to Hugh and Susan to leave, and she wanted Matthew to enjoy himself before fatherhood arrived. Upon arrival at the train station, Mary goes into labor and Anna and the driver take her directly to the hospital. Anna informs Carson, who gets word to Duneagle to return home as soon as possible by train. While Matthew's mother Isobel Crawley was comforting her during labour, Mary told her "she only feels half herself without Matthew there." Carson informs the chauffeur to bring Matthew's car to the train station and to leave it there, so when he gets off the train, he can drive himself directly to the hospital. Although the baby was three weeks early, Mary safely gives birth to their son, later to be named George Crawley. While Mary was holding their still unnamed baby, Matthew appears at the door asking her if a "hot and dusty traveller" could come in. Matthew is overjoyed with happiness, telling Mary that "he's dancing a jig" and felt as though "he's swallowed a box of fireworks." He tells Mary she will be a wonderful mother, and that she would be "his Mary for all eternity" and that he "loves her more and more every day."
Where does William marry Daisy?
William is then transferred to one of the Abbey's bedrooms to rest, rather than in hospital, where he marries Daisy on his death bed. Matthew is transported to the Downton hospital upon arrival where Sybil Crawley and Mary were waiting. After being cleaned, dressed, and rested, his mother Isobel returned from France to see him.
Where did Matthew meet Lord Grantham?
He met Lord Grantham once in London before being invited to move to Downton. Heir of the Downton Abbey Estate. Matthew was a middle class lawyer from Manchester until he got a letter from Robert Crawley in 1912 that informed him that he was the heir to Robert's estate and would, eventually, be the 6th Earl of Grantham.
Why did Mary not answer Matthew?
Mary couldn't quite do this, and admitted to Matthew all the advice she had received, but her lack of an answer hurt Matthew, and he believed her lack of an answer was only due to his status as a middle-class country lawyer, and possible displacement of being the heir.
