walking in the 'Downton Abbey village'

oakapple

oakapple

Senior Member
Location
Oxford England
This will only be of interest to any fans of 'Downton Abbey' on tv. My village is just a 10 minute drive from the village [here in West Oxfordshire] that is used as the village in Downton. Actually, the village is called Bampton, and is a really lovely village, there are a couple of nice pubs there to have lunch at and it's a pleasant walk around the village, so many fine old Georgian houses [like the one used for the Dowager's house, played by Maggie Smith.]Much older buildings too, all made out of grey stone.You may be able to Google the village and see pics of it [I haven't done that yet.] Downton Abbey itself is supposed to be in Yorkshire, but is actually filmed not far away from here in Berkshire [we are near the Berkshire border]at Highclere Castle.Berkshire is pronounced 'Barksher' by the way.Any county that ends in 'shire' is pronounced 'sher'.So, anyone like the programme?
 

Nope I cannot stand it...but there's another thread running about it on here with some fans who are delighted that the new series is coming out.


Interesting that you live close to the village where it's filmed...I should imagine you can't get near any of the pubs for sightseers
 
Well actually Holly, we were there on Sunday lunchtime and there was hardly anyone about! I think it would be different in Summer though.
 

I recently subscribed to Amazon Prime and my first benefit has been streaming video of Downton Abbey. Yesterday I watched Episode #3 and count myself as a developing fan.
When my wife entered the nursing home back in May I gave away the TV vowing never to watch another commercial as long as I lived. I still see commercials when I visit her, but I don't regret giving away the TV.
 
Wow that's really neat OA! It would be so cool just to be close to where Downton Abbey is filmed!

Josiah..I hate commercials so much that I rarely watch live t.v. I record everything and watch later so I can fast forward through the commercials. TCM is nice...no commercials and I love classic movies.
I enjoy watching some shows on my lap top sometimes.
 
The town sounds very lovely and picturesque - I used to enjoy Downton Abbey a few years ago, but got out of habit of watching and now can't get back into it for some reason, especially after reading about what things were really like back then - the class distinctions and mistreatment of servants among other things, I'm now disillusioned with the show.
 
Cookie said:
The town sounds very lovely and picturesque - I used to enjoy Downton Abbey a few years ago, but got out of habit of watching and now can't get back into it for some reason, especially after reading about what things were really like back then - the class distinctions and mistreatment of servants among other things, I'm now disillusioned with the show.
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Things were much worse in the 16th century, but does that mean you don't write historical fiction about that period?
 
oakapple said:
This will only be of interest to any fans of 'Downton Abbey' on tv. My village is just a 10 minute drive from the village [here in West Oxfordshire] that is used as the village in Downton. Actually, the village is called Bampton, and is a really lovely village, there are a couple of nice pubs there to have lunch at and it's a pleasant walk around the village, so many fine old Georgian houses [like the one used for the Dowager's house, played by Maggie Smith.]Much older buildings too, all made out of grey stone.You may be able to Google the village and see pics of it [I haven't done that yet.] Downton Abbey itself is supposed to be in Yorkshire, but is actually filmed not far away from here in Berkshire [we are near the Berkshire border]at Highclere Castle.Berkshire is pronounced 'Barksher' by the way.Any county that ends in 'shire' is pronounced 'sher'.So, anyone like the programme?
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I'll love it, and Maggie Smith is a bonus;) I am getting ready to move, so thank you for the heads up OA. I had heard of Downtown Abbey but now, I'll be sure it's in whatever package I get, or Netflix, whatever;)
 
Some historical fiction is very good, but I think it's a matter of taste and on one's own cultural background. I do like a good WWII movie/book e.g. Casablanca could be classified as historical fiction or British TV show, Foyle's War, which I really enjoyed watching.
 
I cannot stand Downton. It is a high class Eastenders.
Plus they got rid of a white dog because it may upset some one.
 
littleowl said:
I cannot stand Downton. It is a high class Eastenders.
Plus they got rid of a white dog because it may upset some one.
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Well, we are all different littleowl, and like different things. I for one, think that Eastenders is depressing , while Downton is more uplifting all round.Yes, the labrador was called Isis [where the Thames flows through Oxford it is called the Isis river] but the programme makers thought that not everyone would know that [even here in England] so didn't want anyone to think they were making fun of a name like that, now that savages have claimed the name.
 
Cookie said:
The town sounds very lovely and picturesque - I used to enjoy Downton Abbey a few years ago, but got out of habit of watching and now can't get back into it for some reason, especially after reading about what things were really like back then - the class distinctions and mistreatment of servants among other things, I'm now disillusioned with the show.
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Good servants were looked after properly, as the 'masters' didn't want to lose them and have to re-train others. It was an occupation then [and now] and has to be viewed in it's historical context.
 
Historical context or not, mistreatment of servants was prevalent everywhere throughout history, even today...... and servants were considered to be the property of the so-called masters - never mind all that ......I'm aware of the misdeeds of the 'higher ups' towards their 'inferiors..... if I the show was interesting to me I would watch it anyway....... ' -- it just doesn't grab me enough...... inspite of the pretty dresses and fancy tableware... but hey, that's just me ... It's very popular, even here in Canada.....
 
Cookie said:
Some historical fiction is very good, but I think it's a matter of taste and on one's own cultural background. I do like a good WWII movie/book e.g. Casablanca could be classified as historical fiction or British TV show, Foyle's War, which I really enjoyed watching.
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I know I'm talking movies now but Mrs. Miniver was the best, or one of, for me. It partly goes into Dunkirk and how regular people took whatever type of boat they had and went to rescue as many as they could at Dunkirk. It still gives me chills when I think of it, the history, not just the movie that reveals some of it. Just one reason I love England and my ancestry.
 
Mrs. Miniver was an excellent movie, I must have seen it years and years ago - Greer Garson, I think, and I agree it was very amazing what was happening at that time. I watched Call the Midwives, very good period TV show taking place post war early 50's in poor area of London (before birth control and abortions were legal) - enjoyed all the costumes and decor (lots of hand knit sweaters at that time). Lots of great TV coming from UK - right now I'm hooked on Midsomer Murders, detective series with lots of cottages and mansions in small towns in the Midsomer region, scenes of ghastly murders, a wonder there are any people left as each episode has at least 3 killings - a bit tongue in cheek.
 
Cookie said:
Mrs. Miniver was an excellent movie, I must have seen it years and years ago - Greer Garson, I think, and I agree it was very amazing what was happening at that time. I watched Call the Midwives, very good period TV show taking place post war early 50's in poor area of London (before birth control and abortions were legal) - enjoyed all the costumes and decor (lots of hand knit sweaters at that time). Lots of great TV coming from UK - right now I'm hooked on Midsomer Murders, detective series with lots of cottages and mansions in small towns in the Midsomer region, scenes of ghastly murders, a wonder there are any people left as each episode has at least 3 killings - a bit tongue in cheek.
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OMG, I LOVE Midsomer Murders, I can't think of the detectives real name but he, wow, I just thought he was the cutest thing ever. Also, loved the stories, VERY good program!
 
Right! - I watched from the beginning of the series as he gets as the show progresses (John Nettles I think his name is). I don't know what I'll do when it ends (on Netflix) I'll have to find something else to sink my teeth into because I'm very hooked on it. He is very cute and his TV family is sweet, I like their house and the background village life seems so wholesome compared to the grisly murders.....
 
That's where I watched it Cookie, yes, John Nettles. I STILL miss it, but by the time I get Netflix again, I can start the series over. Have you got to see the Sherlock Holmes Series with Cumberbatch?? Omg, that left me crying for more, best ever Sherlock and Watson imo anyway;) Love the guy that plays Watson, they just have GREAT chemistry together;) It's on Netflix too pretty sure?
 
The Sherlock series rocks and Cumberbatch is a good Sherlock - watched til season 2 - I can move on to that - good idea! Yup - on netflix too.
 
Cookie said:
The Sherlock series rocks and Cumberbatch is a good Sherlock - watched til season 2 - I can move on to that - good idea! Yup - on netflix too.
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I was all over the Net trying to find out if they were going to make more episodes, and heard they were, but I don't know, I should check again. Cumberbatch is making so many movies, I don't know if he's tied up too much or what. Hope not:(
 
oakapple said:
This will only be of interest to any fans of 'Downton Abbey' on tv. My village is just a 10 minute drive from the village [here in West Oxfordshire] that is used as the village in Downton. Actually, the village is called Bampton, and is a really lovely village, there are a couple of nice pubs there to have lunch at and it's a pleasant walk around the village, so many fine old Georgian houses [like the one used for the Dowager's house, played by Maggie Smith.]Much older buildings too, all made out of grey stone.You may be able to Google the village and see pics of it [I haven't done that yet.] Downton Abbey itself is supposed to be in Yorkshire, but is actually filmed not far away from here in Berkshire [we are near the Berkshire border]at Highclere Castle.Berkshire is pronounced 'Barksher' by the way.Any county that ends in 'shire' is pronounced 'sher'.So, anyone like the programme?
Click to expand...

Hey Oakapple,

I'm sorry about steering away from your main topic, please forgive. It's a great thread, enjoying it a lot. I do get the bbc channel on my sis's tv so I'm going to look and see by chance, if Downtown Abbey is on there;) ttys, denise
 
I did find it on PBS (OPB which I think is Oregon Public Broadcasting) though.
 

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