Secrets of Britain's Historic Houses

In this episode of American Countess, Julie Montagu visits the magnificent Carlton Towers, a grand Gothic Revival house in North Yorkshire steeped in history and transformation. Originally built as Carlton Hall in 1614 and later remodelled in the 19th century by Edward Welby Pugin, this Grade I listed house stands as a testament to centuries of architectural splendour and family legacy.

Julie sits ...

In this episode, Julie Montagu, American Countess, visits the remarkable Birdshall House to sit down with Lady Cara Willoughby, whose family has lived in this house for over 500 years.

Together, they explore Birdshall’s exceptional collection of antique furniture and paintings, many of which have been passed down through generations of the Willoughby family. From an unbroken line of family por...

In this episode, Julie Montagu, American Countess, sits down with Mrs Georgina Berkeley, who has lived at Berkeley Castle for over 50 years, and Daisy Berkeley, who—alongside her husband Charles Berkeley—helps manage the castle and its historic estate today.

Together, we explore the remarkable story of Berkeley Castle, one of the few great English castles to have remained in the same family for ove...

In this episode, Julie Montagu, American Countess, visits Muncaster Castle, one of England’s most historic and atmospheric castles, to sit down with its custodians, Peter and Iona Frost-Pennington, and Hugh Frost-Pennington. Together, they discuss what it’s like to work as a family to preserve and manage this 900-year-old estate, balancing heritage conservation with the realities of modern-day upk...

In this episode, Julie Montagu, American Countess, sits down with Sarah Troughton, the custodian of Blair Castle, to explore the fascinating history, royal connections, and enduring legacy of this iconic Scottish stronghold.

Nestled in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Blair Castle has stood for over 750 years, serving as the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Atholl and home to the Atholl High...

Julie Montagu, American Countess, sits down with Nicholas and Victoria Howard, custodians of the magnificent Castle Howard, to explore the realities of living in and preserving one of Britain’s most iconic stately homes. They discuss the challenges and responsibilities of heritage stewardship, how they navigated the unprecedented period of lockdown, and their vision for ensuring Castle Howard’s legacy for future generations.

Wi...

What Defines a Manor House? A Conversation at Owlpen Manor

In this episode of Secrets of Britain’s Historic Houses, Julie Montagu, American Countess, visits the enchanting Owlpen Manor in the Cotswolds to sit down with Sir Nicholas Mander, Lady Karin Mander, and Hugo Mander, the dedicated custodians of this Tudor manor house with a story as rich as its architecture.

Together, they explore the fundamental question: What truly make...

Join Julie Montagu, American Viscountess, for an intimate conversation with Rodrica and Jack Straker, the custodians of Burton Constable Hall, a magnificent yet often overlooked country house set in the flat plains of East Yorkshire.

For Rodrica, Burton Constable isn’t just a historic house—it was her childhood home, a magical yet eccentric place filled with hidden history. But for her father, John Chicheste...

Join Julie Montagu, American Viscountess, as I visit Hugh and Lara Crossley, Lord and Lady Somerleyton, for a fascinating conversation at Somerleyton Hall—one of the finest Victorian stately homes in the country.

With its Jacobean origins transformed into a breathtaking Italianate masterpiece by Prince Albert’s star sculptor John Thomas, Somerleyton Hall is steeped in history. The&nb...

In this episode of *Secrets of Britain’s Historic Houses*, I sit down with Lady Henrietta Spencer-Churchill in the private apartments at Blenheim Palace to explore the extraordinary life of her great-grandmother, Consuelo Vanderbilt. From her opulent beginnings as a Gilded Age heiress to her transformative years as Duchess of Marlborough, we delve into family stories, fascinating insights, and the enduring legacy of one of history’...

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a VERY special episode – a visit to the parish church in Cambridgeshire were generations of the Montagu family have been laid to rest. Here I uncover a family tragedy which leads me to the archives and a meeting with my Father-in-law, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, to try and solve a 100 year mystery!

Please support the production of American Viscountess and in particular our high production quality of the Historic Houses by becomin...

Athelhampton House in Dorset is the focus of this NEW episode of historic house visits here on the American Viscountess channel. Living in and maintaining these homes is both a wonderful privilege and an enormous challenge. And one of the greatest tasks every house owner faces is heating a centuries old building in a sustainable and economical way. Giles Keating at Athelhampton has faced this challenge in a totally pioneering and ...

In this episode, I’m visiting Bucklers Hard on the Beaulieu estate – just a short distance from Palace House, Beulieu Abbey and the National Motor Museum. The first Earl of Sandwich, the branch of the Montagu family which I married into, is known worldwide because he was head of the Admiralty and brought King Charles II back from exile. But it’s now wonderful for me to visit Beaulieu and discover the rich maritime links of another ...

Not only is Beaulieu home to the National Motor Museum, but also to the extraordinary ruins of Beaulieu Abbey, which date back to the foundation of the monastery here in the thirteenth century. The more I visit historic houses around Britain, the more I realise how many of them have monastic roots. In this episode, Lord Montagu guides me around some of the surviving buildings and shows me the exquisite wall hangings, stitched by hi...

If you love classic cars, you’ll love this episode. In this second instalment of my visit to Beaulieu in Hampshire - I explore the National Motor Museum, founded in 1952 by the present Lord Montagu’s father and home to the most spectacular collection of vintage cars charting the history of motoring. During my visit I also explore the autojumble sale.

To find out more about Palace House, Beaulieu: https://www.beaulieu.co.uk

Pleas...

In a new series of films, I explore the historic home of Lord Montagu of Beaulieu. In 1952, Beaulieu was one of the first historic houses in Britain to open it's doors to the public - and with the family passion for the motor car at its heart, interest soon grew and the National Motor Museum was born. Today, the collection includes 285 vehicles and thousands of objects relating to the history of motoring. A highlight for me was a v...

In the final instalment of my visit to Deene Park, I get stuck in and see all that goes on in preparing for a big wedding by the lake - one of three wedding venues on the estate. These historic houses rely on visitor income, the tours, the events, but weddings are a huge part of that income – which all helps with the restoration and repair, to preserve this part of Britain’s heritage. I’ll be exploring the beautiful gardens with Ch...