Comments on: The Jane Austen Connection to Downton Abbey and Egypt http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/ This Jane Austen blog brings Jane Austen, her novels, and the Regency Period alive through food, dress, social customs, and other 19th C. historical details related to this topic. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:03:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: lacyJ http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-36203 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 08:21:20 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-36203 Vic and Cora,
I enjoyed reading your comments about the number of servants featured on Downton Abbey. My husband ( a doctor and man of “science”) rarely watches “period pieces,” was fairly enthralled with season 2 as it centered around World War I. Of course he had to go back and see season One and is now “hooked!”
Anyway, we are both writers/authors so we pay a lot of attention to the details (set styling, mannerisms, historical accuracy) of the programs we watch.

I noticed right away that a dozen or so servants would have been but a fraction of the staff needed to maintain an estate the size of Downton/Highclere. Then, I began to see glimpses of what I affectionately called the “phantom servants.” A female servant sitting down at the servants’ table next to the featured cast members, a housemaid scampering behind Lady Sybil and Earl Grantham while they are talking about (housemaid) Gwen interviewing for a job with the telephone company.

In season 2 there are quite a few “phantom servants” as the household is crowded with wounded soldiers and nurses, etc. I don’t think that most of these servants are in lower positions as the featured servant characters we’ve come to like (or not like) so well, but more a factor of budget. They had a relatively small budget to work with in season I and still, a conservative budget in season 2, so they saved money by not paying for a lot of indoor ‘extras.”

When you watch Gosford Park, you’ll see a lot more servants running about between the up and downstairs but that probably had a more generous budget since it was a movie.

A lot more writing would be required as well to create storylines for the actual number of servants it would take to run Downton/Highclere and that would mean more paychecks/expenses. It will be interesting to see how many phantom servants will flit through the scenes in season 3! ;-)

]]> By: Highclere Castle Floor Plan: The Real Downton Abbey « Jane Austen's World http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-19493 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:36:52 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-19493 [...] The Jane Austen Connection to Downton Abbey and Egypt [...]

]]> By: Barbara http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-10889 Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:44:35 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-10889 Tony:
My question has been answered, before it was asked, whilst reading this interesting article about the Jane Austen connection to Downton Abbey.
I read that it is your photo of the grave of Howard Carter, and that you live nearby the cemetery, in London.
Interestingly, what first tipped me off to your national origin was your friendly “All the best”, in signing off one of your posts on the King’s Speech discussion. My father often used this phrase in correspondence, but I don’t see it used here in the USA as often.
Once again, I am reminded that language gives us insight into so much!

]]> By: Tony Grant http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9880 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 06:37:22 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9880 “– the first of whom took a long ride in to Lord Carnarvons Park and fainted away in the evening…”

Jane would only have been able to relate this if the two ladies in question had told her. I can imagine the scene, Mrs Heathcote and Mrs Chute hogging the conversation animatedly, in over excited, loud, shrill voices, telling everyone about their amazing day like two pantomime dames.

Hence the sarcastic phrase ,” Heathcote and Chute forever.”

But that’s just my guess.

Tony

]]> By: Watch Downton Abbey Online: PBS Masterpiece Classic « Jane Austen's World http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9864 Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:29:54 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9864 [...] The Jane Austen Connection to Downton Abbey and Egypt [...]

]]> By: Tony Grant http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9858 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:30:40 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9858 Thanks for that, Cora.

Sounds like the sort of thing Vic would find. She’s amazing.

However, in Mansfield Park, isn’t Edmund destined for the priesthood and marriage?

Probably the trend was for second sons not to marry but not necessarily.

]]> By: Cora Harrison http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9855 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 18:32:47 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9855 Tony: It is interesting to speculate that Jane may have had a tendresse for Tom Chute (younger brother of William Chute, the member of parliament). She speaks of playing cards with him and he is one of the few (as well as Harry Digweed) whose first name she uses – when she was grown up and circumspect – without the preface of Mr.

I read somewhere – perhaps it was the erudite Vic – that second sons of the gentry (like Tom Chute) were condemned to be bachelors. After the girls’ dowries were paid, everything went to the heir so Tom Chute, like other second sons, remained a bachelor for all of his life.

]]> By: Vic http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9847 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:49:45 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9847 Cora, I had the same thought as you – 11 servants were not enough to see to this great house. However, upon second viewing, you can see the hustle and bustle of a great many more housemaids, a tweenie or scullery maid sweeping the floor, male servants getting coal or chopping wood, etc. They are there, but they are not front and center like the upper servants.

]]> By: Tony Grant http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9846 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 10:08:16 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9846 Yes, Cora, it was an electioneering slogan. A touch of sarcasm on the part of Jane no doubt. I wonder what the back story is that promoted her comment? We can only imagine.
Tony

]]> By: Cora Harrison http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/2011/01/08/the-jane-austen-connection-to-downton-abbey-and-egypt-pbs-masterpiece-classi/#comment-9845 Sun, 09 Jan 2011 09:38:48 +0000 http://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/?p=14726#comment-9845 I must say that the Georgian mansion was infinitely more dignified and tasteful that the present Victorian Gothic.

I love the quote – Jane was so witty – what a shame Cassandra burned so many letters! ‘Heathcote & Chute forever’ was an electioneering slogan, wasn’t it?

I hugely enjoyed Downton – much better than Gosford Park, I thought, as the amount of servants was (perhaps unrealistically) cut down and each had their own back story as well as ongoing drama.

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