My very Downton childhood: A silver staircase, 109 rooms, and servants tending to every whim – just what was like to grow up in the stately home that’s the backdrop for Julian Fellowes’ new drama?

My first memory of Manderston was crouching near the top of the stairs in 1960 with my brother and peering through the silver balustrades as guests glided into the hall for a white-tie ball. Turkish cigarette smoke, expensive scent, music and chatter wafted our way — and I remember my brother Adrian whispering: ‘I would love to live here one day.’ The same thought never crossed my mind because Adrian was three years older than me; even at the age of six I was subliminally aware of a pecking order and have never once questioned it. But I did wonder why other houses didn’t have silver staircases. Manderston in the Scottish Borders where filming has just finished for new period drama Belgravia RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 Next Donald Trump denies using a SHARPIE to alter official map to… Boris Johnson’s bid for snap election is CRUSHED: Corbyn… Share this article Share In fact, it’s the only such staircase — with a solid brass rail and swirling Vitruvian scroll motifs — in the world. It was inspired by Madame de Pompadour’s staircase at the Petit Trianon in Versailles. Extravagant? Just a touch, and it might even be described as ‘bling’, as the… Read full this story

My very Downton childhood: A silver staircase, 109 rooms, and servants tending to every whim - just what was like to grow up in the stately home that's the backdrop for Julian Fellowes' new drama? have 321 words, post on www.dailymail.co.uk at September 4, 2019. This is cached page on Vietnam Dance. If you want remove this page, please contact us.