It has occurred to me that many people on Arachne who love the Downton Abbey TV series, may not be aware that it is really Highclere Castle, and it has a strong relationship to Waddeston Manor where this Summer's lace celebrations are taking place. If you are traveling, Highclere Castle tours may be fully booked, in which case Waddeston Manor would be a nice alternative. In 1895, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon married the illegitimate daughter of Alfred de Rothschild, Almina. She then moved to Highclere Castle. Her father, a famous industrialist/financier, lived at Waddeston Manor. Her wealth was used to preserve Highclere and to finance the 1922 discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun. The Earl and Howard Carter were close friends. Just that brief introduction should be enough to convince that the real families who occupied these two places lived fascinating lives during the Edwardian Era and the First World War, surpassing the story being told on Downton Abbey. For your Summer reading, I recommend "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey", written by Lady Fiona Carnarvon. It is available in paperback - ISBN 978-0-7704-3562-2. For lace content, on pages 3-4 there is mention of Almina wearing a gift from the bridegroom: a piece of very old and extremely rare French lace that had been incorporated into her dress. Has anyone seen this historic piece of lace? If you've already read the above, you might like to follow-up with "Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey". Catherine was an American. She married Lady Almina's son, who became the 6th Earl of Carnarvon. This covers the period between the World Wars and after. Another paperback - ISBN 978-0-385-34496-8. Lady Fiona Carnarvon (author) is married to the 8th Earl, Geordie. In a few years, it would be very interesting to read about their lives - after the excitement of filming at Highclere. (Maybe she will find more lace in the many storerooms in the Castle.) Suggest you do a computer search for both sites, and do a Lace at Waddeston search, as well. Please, may we hear more about visits by our lace makers to Waddeston? Jeri Ames in Maine, USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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