Secrets of the Manor House
Each episode concentrates of the history of a grand stately home in Britain. Its fate was often linked to that of one or more great aristocratic families, yet most now need a modern function, such as tourist attraction or setting for movie or TV drama.
- 2012-2013
- 1 season
- PBS
- Documentary
Each episode concentrates of the history of a grand stately home in Britain. Its fate was often linked to that of one or more great aristocratic families, yet most now need a modern function, such as tourist attraction or setting for movie or TV drama.
Season 1 Episode Guide
5 Episodes 2012 - 2013
Episode 1
Secrets of the Manor House
Sun, Jan 22, 2012 60 mins
Secrets of the Manor House will look beyond the fiction to explore the background of the British titled class in Edwardian times.
Episode 2
Secrets of Highclere Castle
Sun, Jan 6, 2013 55 mins
The earls of Carvarvon build Highclere House and live in the grand estate since their peerage was created, which was re-dubbed castle after splendid Neo-gothic remodeling by the architect of Westminster Parliament. The present earl and countess testify how real life there literally inspired the BBC series Downton Abbey about a fictitious aristocratic family, shot on location. Reality is even more impressive, as the lord who married a rich wife to avoid bankruptcy also funded the archaeological dig which unearthed Tutanchamon's fabulous treasure, some artifacts even remained on the castle. History forced huge transformations, due to war, expensive labor, rising taxes etcetera.
Episode 3
Secrets of Henry VIII's Palace
Sun, Jun 30, 2013
Hampton Court was built as extravagant renaissance castle by Henry VIII's trusted chief minister, chancellor cardinal Wolsey, yet often used as a favorite among the Tudor king's over 50 castles along the Thames, even before it was signed over in a vain attempt to prevent utter disfavor after his eminence's failure to obtain papal dispensation to divorce the Spanish queen Catherine of Aragon. Henry kept remodeling it for his five successive wives. * After Henry's death, it was neglected for a century and a half, until William and Mary commissioned Christopher Wren to rebuild it in modern style, luckily left half-way due to budget restraints. James Stuart also favored it . The Hanoverian 'Georgians' again resided there, until queen Caroline fell in disgrace after abused prince of Wales Frederic sneaked out his pregnant consort to give birth in London.*
Episode 4
Secrets of Althorp: The Spencers
Sat, Aug 29, 2026 54 mins
History & secrets of the Althrop Mansion owned by the Spencer family.
Episode 5
Secrets of Chatsworth
Sun, Jul 14, 2013 54 mins
Chatsworth, in Derbyshire, is among England's largest and grandest estates. It served to demonstrate to wealth and status of the Cavendish family, its earls, especially after their elevation to dukes, the highest non-royal peerage rank. Its size generated enough agricultural revenue to survive the modern age, more recently supplemented with tourism. In its Victorian high-day it featured the grandest hothouses for a then unsurpassed collection of tropical plants, the most excessive of various dazzling displays. The 2008 movie The Duchess portrays its most famous inhabitant, Georgina, gambling-addicted wife of the duke, both of which were seduced by the scheming upstart Bess Foster. Later it was the site of a transatlantic minor Kennedy love affair.