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The Crawley Family in the Octagon Room at Basildon, which serves as the drawing room at Downton
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Margaret Iliffe as a debutant in the sitting room at Basildon.
Filming in the Basildon Park Octagon Room
amiddleburg connection to Downton Abbey By Dulcy Hooper For Middleburg Life
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or legions of devoted Downton Abbey fans, Highclere Castle, located in Hampshire, England, is well known as the location for the Crawley family’s fictional Yorkshire country estate. Less well known, however, is the setting of the Crawley family’s London residence, Grantham House, at Basildon Park, an 18th century Georgian mansion overlooking the Thames Valley in Berkshire, 20 miles north of Highclere Castle. Long-time Middleburg resident Margaret
Iliffe Gardner, who grew up in Great Britain and is still a British citizen, lived at Basildon Park for several years. After losing her parents at a young age, her cousin Edward Langton Iliffe, 2nd Baron Iliffe, and his wife, Renee Merandon du Plessis, the owners of Basildon, welcomed young Margaret Iliffe. “Living at Basildon gave me a great appreciation for that time of life and for 18th century antiques,” Gardner said. “It was very kind of them to welcome me as they did.” Along with Basildon’s starring role in the Sunday evening Masterpiece production on PBS, a companion piece, Manners at Downton Abbey, was also taped at Basildon. This docu-
mentary delivers an in-depth view of “the world of British etiquette,” including the importance of “laying the table” correctly. “And as far as setting a table, that was drilled into us,” Gardner said. The Crawley family’s dining room is replete with family place cards and a myriad of spoons and forks and knives perfectly placed. The interiors of Basildon Park are notable for the original plaster work and elegant staircase. The Octagon Room, with its ornate molded ceilings with sunken panels, is featured as a drawing room in the series. John B. Papworth who, in 1795, described himself as “an architect, plasterer and builder,” designed it. He
was a founding member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Several pieces from the house were part of the memorable Treasure Houses of Britain exhibition in Washington at the National Gallery from November, 1985 to April, 1986. Basildon’s dining room has been transformed into a Downton Abbey ballroom, and the library doubles as a study/library. The Crimson Bedroom serves as Lady Mary’s boudoir, resplendent with original damask hangings on the state bed. “I remember the Crimson Bedroom from my honeymoon,” Gardner recalled. Basildon Park was built between 1776