PBS BritishAristocracy Overview

I am like a lot of others. I am fascinated with Downton Abbey. So last night I made it a point to turn from the football game to UNV-TV to watch the 8PM show about the Manor Houses of the British Aristocracy and then Downton Abbey (I did turn back to the game between shows).

The show must have been added after the schedule was printed. I had seen the advertisement earlier in the week. It advertised as explaining the aristocracy and the manor houses. It did NOT disappoint me. I am glad that I watched.

The show told the history of those manor houses. It explained the ranks of the king, dukes and earls. It also showed the ranks of the workers on the estates. It explained that the entail kept the estate together so that it would survive. It also explained how it was dependent on the land.

Then it talked about the problems that started showing up in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. This brings it into Downton Abbey’s time. The show talked about the American girls marrying to get the title. The British needed the money for the manor house. Cora is the character on Downton Abbey. In real life one was Winston Churchill’s mother.

The 8 PM show also told how this class kept trying to hold onto the power and money. Throughout I could not help but think about the struggles that we are talking about – the taxes, wealth, etc. It gave a new perspective about what is happening now.

By the way, Downton Abbey ended in time for me to see the end of the regular time and the overtime of that football game.