Does Highclere Castle still have servants?

The jobs of many of the 1920s staff at Highclere castle, which serves as Downton Abbey in the show and film, still exist today, albeit in more modern forms.

How many staff does Highclere Castle have?

While the programme's staff appears to be quite small, the real life Highclere staff numbers some 60 to 150 persons. This includes gardeners, household staff, tour guides, electricians, carpenters, etc. The workers in the tea room during the summer can be as young as 16 and the oldest of the employees in nearly 90.

Does Highclere Castle have a butler?

The present butler at Highclere Castle is Colin Edwards, pictured here in the home's main dining room — another setting that's quite familiar to viewers of Downton Abbey. Mr. Edwards admits to wishing that he had a staff the size of that of his fictional counterpart, Mr.

Do servants still exist in England?

Certainly there are now many people working in service, and there are no shortage of families wanting to hire professional domestic staff—but in London that probably has to do with the sheer number of wealthy people arriving in the capital to set up new homes, and almost nothing to do with Downtown Abbey.

How many servants did Highclere Castle have?

At the top stood the butler and housekeeper. Dowton Abbey, the series, highlights eleven servants who ran the household, but in 1912, Highclere Castle, where the exterior and interior shots were filmed, used the services of 25 maids, 14 footmen, and three chefs.

The Real Downton Abbey - The History of Highclere Castle

How much did a lady's maid earn?

She notes that a housekeeper for a zillionaire may earn up to $60,000 a year (the industry median salary is less than $20,000), but a “lady's maid” can take in $75,000. Full-time butlers can earn $70,000 a year, and some who travel around with a family on yachts or private jets could earn as much as $200,000 a year.

How much does Downton Abbey pay to use Highclere Castle?

In 2013, the New York Times wrote that it costs $1.5 million a year to run Highclere Castle. The Countess has done everything she can to make sure the estate continues to rake in that amount. With the help of Downton, they're on a steady course for being financially stable for years to come.

Do families like Downton Abbey still exist?

But it turns out that modern day versions of Carson, Mrs. Hughes and the rest of the staff at Downton Abbey still exist today. Many of the great houses of England prevail (though they are as likely to be occupied by international billionaires with superyachts as they are by aristocrats).

Does the Queen have a lady's maid?

This particular lady-in-waiting and right-hand woman is Lady Susan Hussey. Baroness Hussey has been a friend and companion to Queen Elizabeth since 1960, when she was employed as the Queen's Woman of the Bedchamber.

Do the rich still have servants?

They do for themselves.

They have dog walkers, maids, assistants, butlers, and drivers to take care of the monotonous chores of everyday life. Contrary to this image, billionaires often do just fine fending for themselves.

Do valets still exist?

Valets, like butlers and most specialized domestic staff, have become relatively rare. A more common, though still infrequent, arrangement is the general servant performing combined roles.

Do butlers get days off?

In that capacity, he's developed a strong sense for what makes a good butler: a solid work ethic, an eye for detail and the ability to put another person's interest ahead of their own at all times. (While butlers do get days off, Sanz notes that other than his two weeks of annual vacation, he was always on call.)

Where are the servants quarters in Downton Abbey?

The interior and exterior shots of Downton Abbey were filmed in Highclere Castle,but because the servant kitchens and bedrooms below-stairs no longer existed as they once were, the servant quarters for the mini-series were reconstructed in Ealing Studios in London.

Are there still Lady maids?

Today this role is still sought after and Marshall Harber have placed many successful lady's maids. The role can encompass so much more, for example a lady's maid can take care of the male and female wardrobes of the house.

What family lives at Highclere Castle?

The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and it is built on the foundation that was once underneath a palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester. It is now used for the filming of Downton Abbey.

How much do the queen's servants get paid?

Britain's Queen Elizabeth is hiring a live-in housekeeper. Max Mumby/ Indigo/ Getty Images. Queen Elizabeth II is hiring a housekeeping assistant to live and work at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle. The starting salary is £19,140.09 ($25,000) and the successful applicant will work full-time for five days per week.

How does the queen treat her servants?

However, “it's well documented that they are generally poorly paid, work long hours, live in small quarters, and many times deal with jealousy and resentment from fellow staff.” In fact, the queen only recently began paying servants a “Living Wage.”

How many bodyguards does the queen have?

When the Sovereign is in residence, the Queen's Guard numbers three officers and forty other ranks, with four sentries each posted at Buckingham Palace (on the forecourt) and St James's Palace (two in Friary Court, two at the entrance to Clarence House).

Why doesn't Lady Edith have a maid?

Maybe Edith's lady's maid is new and she doesn't quite trust her to do her best when she's going to be seeing the King and Queen. So Edith gave her lady's maid time off for the duration of Edith's trip to Downton.

How much did a footman get paid?

His salary was around 30 pounds ($3,200) a year. Many footman's salaries were based one how tall they were rather than how well they did their work. The taller and more impressive they were the more they received.

Did Downton Abbey have toilets?

So the lavatories of even the really grand country houses were as nasty and as uncomfortable as was humanly possibly. Non-absorbant toilet tissue was available, but you were just as likely to get torn up bits of newspaper. Yes, even for the bottom of the Dowager Duchess of Grantham.

How much is the upkeep of Highclere Castle?

Highclere Castle sits amidst 1,000 acres of open space in Yorkshire. It would cost $383,304 annually to maintain the grounds, according to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk. The gardens cost another $670,782 to keep up.

How much is Highclere worth?

mortgage experts say Highclere is valued at about 72 million British pounds, — or about $95 million dollars.

Does anyone live at Highclere Castle?

"The house is the central fulcrum of the series," the blonde, elegant Lady Carnarvon told me during a drive around the Hampshire countryside. She is the wife of the Eighth Earl of Carnarvon, and they are the current residents of Highclere Castle.