How modern-day Downton Abbeys are still running, with every comfort going except for dear Carson

Britain’s grand estates are less hierarchical and more eco-friendly than they were in Downton days, finds Cheryl Markosky.

With the release of the feature film Downton Abbey on September 13 in the UK, ardent fans can celebrate the continuing saga of sex, servants and shenanigans at the country seat of the 7th Earl of Grantham. But why does the notion of living on an estate still hold so much appeal? Dawn Carritt of Jackson-Stops notes that the great estates saw the building of some of the greatest houses, with money lavished on landscape and architecture on an unbelievable scale.

‘Estates offer a degree of escapism,’ she explains, ‘a look into a bygone era where everyone knew their place in the pecking order of society – squire looked after servant and servant looked after squire.’

As well as the Downton-nostalgia factor, the fact that estates rarely come up for sale makes them highly attractive to domestic and foreign buyers. Mark McAndrew of Strutt & Parker says only 28 estates were sold in England last year.

Of those changing hands, 23 went on the open market and five were sold privately. ‘Some owners would rather avoid the glare of publicity, so if the sale doesn’t go through they can withdraw the property quietly,’ he points out. However, Mr McAndrew encourages clients to put their houses on the open market ‘so they don’t risk missing Mr Big, who doesn’t know he wants their estate until he sees it’.

Prices range from £5 million to £125 million plus, which can represent good value when compared with some homes in Mayfair and Kensington, costly due to higher land prices in London, Mr McAndrew adds.

Crispin Holborow of Savills notes that there can be ‘price creep’ in the estate sector. ‘Keen purchasers up their budgets because they can. They realise they have to pay the price for a country estate that isn’t blighted by rights of way, flight paths and other conditions that cause concern.’

So how does the life of the Crawleys a century ago differ from that of estate owners today? Knight Franks’s Angus Harley suggests that landowners in the 21st century want to ‘truly indulge in pleasing pastimes, such as fishing, shooting, riding, tennis and cricket (the latter on a specially built private pitch). They also want to make their mark for the future by planting trees and establishing green schemes’. One of Mr Harley’s clients has created a wildlife habitat on his estate, while another landowner has introduced renewables to light and heat his house and other buildings in an energy-friendly way.

‘Greater efficiencies with tools and equipment are in evidence now, compared with tasks being undertaken by hand and horse in the early 20th century,’ remarks Mr Harley. Downton Abbey was stuffed with staff such as Mr Carson and Mrs Patmore, but, today, our estates employ far fewer people who perform multiple roles.

Rupert Clark of Savills offers support and advice to estate owners, including the Carnarvon family at Highclere Castle, the primary location for Downton Abbey.

He believes the Downton world would have been more feudal, contrasting with a more collaborative and business-oriented approach today. ‘Estate owners have to derive income to manage and maintain large houses by opening them to the public and giving a nod to leisure pursuits. It’s a costly exercise and substantial houses need to earn their keep.’

The use of buildings has altered over time, too, argues Robert McCulloch of Strutt & Parker in Scotland where 22 estates sold last year for a total of about £57 million. ‘Traditional grooms’ quarters and bothies are now deployed as home and farm estate offices and holiday accommodation.’

In addition, the social fabric of the countryside has changed, Mr McCulloch adds. ‘Downton Abbey-style estates had 40 or 50 families depending on owners for their livelihoods, which is not the case today.’

Despite the shift, Clive Hopkins of Knight Frank holds a list of prospective buyers eager to be lords of their own manors. ‘Many wait until the right house in the right setting within two hours of London or Edinburgh comes along,’ while others will make compromises in order to buy their very own Downton Abbey.

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