PEOPLE AND PLACES: Want to Live like in Downton Abbey:Avail a spare £2.5million

Want to live like in Downton Abbey: Avail a spare £2.5million

If you're feeling flush and are in need of a new place to lay your head, then one of these magnificent castles could be just what you need.

According to the Daily Telegraph, all of the properties are currently being advertised by British estate agents and range from a historic Scottish fortress that once belonged to the earls of Fife to a magnificent hilltop palazzo in Italy.

But you'll need deep pockets to afford one, as even the cheapest of the palatial homes will set you back more than £1 million.

Historic: Parts of the magnificent Castello di Collalto just outside Rome date from the 10th century but if you want to move in, you'll have to cough up more than £7m

Spacious: The nine-bedroom castle sleeps up to 19 people and also boasts seven bathrooms and a separate two-bedroom cottage for staff

Spectacular: The 14th century Thurland Castle has been converted into a number of luxury apartments. The three bedroom Cromwell Wing is yours for £1.1m

Renovated: The two main rooms in the Cromwell Wing are of vast mediaeval proportions and have retained their original fireplaces and cornice fittings

Each of the castle dates from a different period, although Westenhanger Castle, near Hythe in Kent, arguably has the most fascinating past.

The castle, a scheduled ancient monument, began life in 1035 during a period of Danish rule under King Canute. Following the Norman Conquest, Westenhanger was passed to a succession of knightly families, including the de Aubervilles, the de Kiriols, the Fogges and the Poynings.

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Permission to crenellate was given by Edward III in 1343 and a curtain wall built to connect with the earlier round tower. By the 1540s, the castle was crumbling and it was completely remodelled by its Elizabethan owner, Thomas Smythe, in 1581.

Impressive though Westenhanger is, it isn't the only castle with a history to be proud of on sale. Thurland Castle in Lancashire, although split into several apartments, still retains its moat and was owned by Sir Bryan Tunstall, a heroic soldier immortalised in a poem by Sir William Raleigh.

He was a hero of the Battle of Flodden in 1513, and was dubbed the 'Stainless Knight' by King Henry VII. He was followed by his son Marmaduke, who became High Sheriff of Lancashire.

Magnificent: The 16th Century Lickleyhead Castle in Auchleven near Aberdeen was built in 1560 by William Leith and boasts seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms

Imposing: The drawing room at Lickleyhead Castle, which despite it's vast size, is the cheapest of the castles and costs just £1.3m for the entire property

Cosy: Despite it's impressive size, Lickleyhead Castle is cosily furnished with traditional dark wood in the library (left) and romantic four poster beds (right)

Striking: The cream stone Myres Castle near St Andrews comes with two additional properties and has 10 bedrooms, a library, a Victorian kitchen and a billiards room

Comfortable: Myres Castle was begun in 1454 and was the ancestral home of the earls of Fife. It's now on the market at £2.5m

Later, Thurland was sold to Sir John Girlington, who fought on the Royalist side during the English Civil War. During a 1643 siege, the castle was badly damaged by Parliamentarian forces and was left in a 'ruinous' condition before being restored in the 18th century.

But not all of the homes are in England. Scotland too has a wealth of impressive properties including the pretty 18th century Bonaly Tower, which was the venue for frequent meetings of the 'Friday Club', a group of leading Edinburgh literati, hosted by owner Lord Cockburn.

Others include Myres Castle near St Andrews, the former seat of the earls of Fife, and the imposing Lickleyhead Castle near Aberdeen, which was built by William Leith in 1560.

Outside of the UK, there's a magnificent Italian palazzo dating from the 10th century. But the Castello di Collato near Rome doesn't come cheap. Of all the properties, it is the most expensive and you'll have to hand over £7 million before you get to move in and become king of the castle.

Heritage: Castle Gogar is just six miles from the centre of Edinburgh and was built in Scots Baronial style. It has seven bedrooms and is on the market for £2.9m

Eclectic: Castle Gogar has its own battlements, towers and turrets within, while outside, the property boasts a menage and a stable block with room for three horses

Ancient: Westenhanger Castle in Kent dates from 1035 and the reign of King Canute but was modernised during the reign of Elizabeth II. It is on the market for £2.6m

Elizabethan: Most of the interior owes its shape and size to the first Elizabethan Age and includes period diamond-paned windows and inglenook fireplaces

Famous: The 18th century Bonaly Tower was the venue for frequent meetings of the 'Friday Club', a group of leading Edinburgh literati, hosted by owner Lord Cockburn

Sumptuous: A three-bedroom apartment within Bonaly Tower is on the market at £795,000 and includes a separate study and a slice of the extensive grounds

Deepdene in Surrey was once one of the grandest mansions in Britain. Seat of the Howards, the Dukes of Norfolk, from 1483 to 1797, the sprawling estate was surrounded by ornamental Italianate gardens, resplendent with orangeries, conservatories and terraces. But like so many other 'Downton Abbeys', this glorious example of our heritage is no more. In its place today stands a Kuoni Travel office block - and the grounds have now given way to the Dorking bypass. The story of Britain's lost stately homes has been recorded for posterity in a new book that documents the demise of dozens of our country's grand estates.

Deepdene in Surrey. Seat of the Howards, Dukes of Norfolk from 1483, it was bought by Thomas Hope in 1807, who extended its elaborate grounds. It was demolished in 1967 and is now home to the Dorking bypass

Today, a Kuoni Travel office block sits in the grounds of the once great Deepdene

Nearly a third of the nation's magnificent mansions have perished over the decades due to world wars, death duties and changing social landscape.

Author John Martin Robinson has logged examples of our once-great houses that have become increasingly of interest due to TV costume dramas such as Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs.

His new book includes photos of the grand residences, landscaped grounds and the families and staff who lived and worked in them and shows what life was like in this other world.

Cassiobury in Hertfordshire. Demolished in 1927, it has now been swallowed by the urban sprawl of Watford

Cassiobury estate workers on the river Gade in Hertfordshire. Urban sprawl was a factor in the loss of many homes, especially in areas of great industrial expansion

In 1909, the 8th Earl of Essex sold off 184 acres of Cassiobury's parkland - mostly to Watford Borough Council. The grounds where the estate once stood are now bordered by housing

Since World War II, about 1,000 country houses have been demolished across the country.

Others have been turned into flats or have diversified in other ways, but are a far cry from their heyday.

And one badly advised or headstrong member of a family was perfectly capable of ending hundreds of years of traditions. Examples in the book include Beaudesert in Staffordshire, the seat of the Pagets, Earls of Uxbridge and Marquesses of Anglesey from 1546 to 1935.

Henry Paget, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey - known as 'Toppy' - squandered his inheritance in the late 19th century.

Known as the 'Dancing Marquess' for his snake-like dances, he became bankrupt in 1904 - and partly as a result of his excess, the family home was broken up and sold off.

This family had two estates and, after selling off Beaudesert, moved to the more rural one in Anglesey.

Georgian Shillinglee Park in Sussex. The Earl's of Winterton's family seat was gutted by fire in WWII

Edwardian Cricket party at Shillinglee Park including W.G. Grace (second row, centre). The Earls of Winterton were instrumental in founding Sussex County Cricket club

Demolition began in 1935 but was never finished as some of the ruins still stand.

Part of the land is now used by a wildlife trust - and also as a camping ground by Scout groups.

Cassiobury in Hertfordshire, seat of the Capels, Earls of Essex from 1546 to 1922, suffered partly because it was consumed by Watford.

In 1909, the 8th Earl of Essex sold off 184 acres of Cassiobury's parkland - mostly to Watford Borough Council.

The grounds where the estate once stood are now bordered by housing.

Urban sprawl was a factor in the loss of many homes, especially in areas of great industrial expansion.

Gate house to the Beaudesert estate in Staffordshire, former seat of the Marquesses of Anglesey for nearly 400 years

The 'Dancing Marquess of Anglesey', who died bankrupt in Monte Carlo in 1904. His Beaudesert Estate in Staffordshire was sold off in 1932 after nearly 400 years; right, the bill of sale for the Beaudesert, which was the seat of the marquesses from 1546

Demolition on Beaudesert began in 1935 but was never finished as some of the ruins still stand. Part of the land is now used by a wildlife trust - and also as a camping ground by Scout groups

The demise of Lathom, the finest Palladian house in Lancashire, in 1925 was 'swift and destructive'.

Mr Robinson wrote that it was 'entirely due to the unsatisfactory character of the 3rd and last Earl of Lathom, a theatrically obsessed chum of Noel Coward, who failed to produce a son and sold up'.

Shillinglee Park in Sussex had its own cricket ground where W.G. Grace played alongside Indian nobleman Ranjitsinji.

The 4th and 5th Earls of Winterton founded Sussex County Cricket Club, but the family home was gutted by fire when Canadian troops were staying there during the war.

After being restored in 1975, it was converted into three large private apartments.

The book, Felling The Ancient Oaks, has over 20 examples of country estates that are no more.

Also mentioned is Costessey, in Norfolk. It was the seat of the Jerninghams for nearly 400 years until being demolished in 1925, after being requisitioned during WWI. The former estate has now been swallowed up by Norwich. Mr Robinson said: 'In the book, I have tried to give a geographical spread of estates for which there were also good photographs. 'The problems for these estates really started in the 1870s with the agricultural depression. Many of the estates, especially the smaller ones, were based on farming.

'Until the 1870s, we fed our own population and exported food, but then we became overwhelmed with grain from places like Canada.

'Grain from abroad was half the price and there was no protection for the farming industry.

Lathom, the finest Palladian mansion in Lancashire, lost after the 3rd Earl sold up in 1925

An Edwardian garden party at Lathom. The mansion's demise was described as 'swift and destructive'

'And then when refrigerated ships were introduced, we could import meat from around the globe.' He added: 'Farming in England had been profitable since the 1660s and when the agricultural depression came, it was a great shock. 'The Liberals in the late 19th century also wanted to introduce land reforms, to tax land and make compulsory purchases.

'Many people felt it was time to sell up. Then in the 1890s, death duties were introduced and these got as high as 80 per cent in the 1950s.

Costessey, in Norfolk, was the seat of the Jerninghams for nearly 400 years until being demolished in 1925, after being requisitioned during WWI. The former estate has now been swallowed up by Norwich

'In the 19th century, estates were generally sold to another family but in the 20th century they were broken up. They were essentially stripped of their assets.

'In the first three quarters of the 20th century, these estates were worth more dead than alive.

'Other factors included the wars when taxes were raised to pay for them - and some families died out when sons were killed.

Author John Martin Robinson has logged examples of our once-great houses that have become increasingly of interest due to TV costume dramas such as Downton Abbey (left) and Upstairs Downstairs (right)

'Urban sprawl has also been a factor especially between the wars when there was no planning laws.

'And there are always some individuals from a family who are responsible for the loss of the estate through personal incompetence - through gambling for example.

'After the war, planning restrictions and the National Trust meant that many were saved. And with farming coming back, people are starting to buy estates again.'

When the largest home in Wisconsin went to auction last year, its sellers must have thought they had a real zinger on their hands.

But fast forward 12 months, and Ellison Bay Manor, in picturesque Door County, is still on the market.

Perhaps given the state of the sluggish US economy, an $8.75million (£5.4m) price tag is too much for even the wealthiest prospective buyers.

For that money, they'd get a mansion with three grand guest suites, 10 bathrooms, and a massive 5,000sq ft master suite.

Larger than the average American home, the master suite alone has two dressing rooms, two bathrooms, a sitting room and a fitness room - which can even be reached by elevator.

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Ellison Bay Manor in Door County, Wisconsin, is back on the market for $8.75m

Last October, the 43-room property - which has been empty for almost a decade - was known as Sur la Baie and was put up for sale for $19m

The 35,000 sq ft French-inspired estate, built by Chicago philanthropist Judith Blazer in 1993, is one of the largest single-family residences in the state

The house features a two-storey library designed in the style of the Vanderbilt mansion

Last October, the 43-room property - which has been empty for almost a decade - was known as Sur la Baie and was put up for sale for $19million.

But clearly its new name has not been enough to entice a new owner.

'We had at least half a dozen offers. 'We had some who were fairly interested and basically they indicated that it was really a full-time residence, it was not really a vacation type property and they were not prepared to live year-round in Door,' realtor Kurt Penn told Fox 11.

The 35,000 sq ft French-inspired estate, built by Chicago philanthropist Judith Blazer in 1993, is one of the largest single-family residences in the state.

Ellison Bay Manor is currently owned by realty group Jameson Sotheby International Realty, based in Chicago - who have managed the property for six years

The house even has its own big screen movie theater complete with concessions stand and ticket booth

The house also features sitting rooms, an entire wing dedicated to a pool and spa including tropical plants, and a floor made of Jerusalem quarry stone

The house was sold to an unnamed couple from California in 2005, but the pair became ill before they could move in and never lived there

Blazer built the house to mimic 19th century homes on the East Coast.

She sold the house to an unnamed couple from California in 2005, but the pair became ill before they could move in and never lived in the house.

Ellison Bay Manor is currently owned by realty group Jameson Sotheby International Realty, based in Chicago - who have managed the property for six years.

The new deal includes the beach house, guest house and 80 acres of land.

Luxury Wiconsin mansion up for grabs overlooking beach

Penn said that the owners will pay the first five years of real estate tax, and will also donate 4 per cent of the sale proceeds to charities such as the Door County Humane Society, Midsummer Music Festival, the Medical College of Wisconsin, and another charity chosen by the buyer. Given the downturn in the real estate market since that 2005 sale, real estate agents expect buyers with enough cash on hand could make a killing on the sale. Last year, Hilco Real Estate Michael Fine described the house as a mixture of classic style and modern amenities with a breathtaking view of Green Bay.

The luxury property has lain vacant for almost a decade

Last year, Hilco Real Estate Michael Fine described the house as a mixture of classic style and modern amenities with a breathtaking view of Green Bay

Judity Blazer built the house to mimic 19th century homes on the East Coast

'Spiral staircase, leaded glass stained window,' Fine said. 'An entrance from the balcony above into the owner's bedroom.' The house also features a two-storey library designed in the style of the Vanderbilt mansion, sitting rooms, and an entire wing dedicated to a pool and spa including tropical plants, a floor made of Jerusalem quarry stone, and several waterfalls including one connecting to a 14-person whirlpool.

The indoor pool also includes its own fully-functional kitchen, guest locker room, steam shower and bathroom. The house even has its own big screen movie theater complete with concessions stand and ticket booth. Realtors told Fox that the problems in the housing market are not limited to shifting huge mansions. Less expensive holiday homes, such as another valued at around $1.5million has also proved hard to sell.

'This is probably an average upscale vacation home in Door County. It's been for sale this time for about seven months,' said Scott Bader, from Coldwell Banker.

'Right now I think there are only about 40 to 45 for sale. So that's a fairly long market time.'

Scott Bader, who specialises in homes valued at more than $1 million, said just seven such properties have been sold annually in the county.

Ellison Bay Manor has been rented out for private events but is classed as residential, so cannot be converted into a hotel.

A historic castle once owned by Henry VIII has been put up for sale for £2.6 million. The notorious monarch exchanged the stunning Westenhanger Manor in 1523 for other lands with Sir Edward Poynings, who served as a diplomat under Henry VII. There he entertained guests, held meetings of state, threw lavish feasts and brought his mistresses for weekend breaks, away from the watchful eyes of his six wives. It remained a royal palace until 1581 when Queen Elizabeth I gave it to her Collector of Customs, Thomas Smythe. The fortified property dates back as far as 1045 AD when it was occupied by King Canute.

King's rule: Henry VIII exchanged Westenhanger Manor in 1523 for other lands with Sir Edward Poynings, who served as a diplomat under Henry VII

Rich history: Parts of the fortified property date back as far as 1045 AD when it was occupied by King Canute. Under Henry VIII the tower was converted into a dove cote, housing birds for the king to eat

Hunting ground: Henry VIII carried out minimal works to the manor and in 1542 ordered the laying out of a deer park so he could hunt in the castle's grounds

In recent years the Grade I listed home, regarded as one of Kent’s greatest historical houses, became little more than a ruin.

But the current owners, the Forge family, have spent the past 16 years setting about saving Westenhanger Manor.

Graham Forge, 75, who owns the property, said: 'Henry VIII effectively used Westenhanger as his private B&B when visiting the south of England on state affairs.

'He certainly would never have brought any of his wives here but is known to have taken his mistresses to the house instead. 'He made many large improvements to the house because he was concerned about an invasion and wanted a permanent castle on the south coast.' Very little else is known about what actually happened when Henry VIII visited Westenhanger because next to nothing was written down, said Mr Forge. 'He also developed the gardens for his daughter Mary who he hoped would move in,' he added. 'Although there's no evidence she ever even visited the manor.' It was Elizabeth instead who used the property, often entertaining more than 300 guests at any one time with lavish feasts that could last for days. But in 1581 she was forced to give the castle up to Thomas Smythe.

In the Royal hands: Henry VIII exchanged other lands for the manor in 1523 and it was held as a Royal palace until his daughter, Elizabeth I, gave it away, probably to cover her debts

Grand courtyard: Under Henry VIII's rule, this part of the gardens would have been a vast courtyard where Henry would have rode into followed by dozens of soldiers as he visited the southern corner of his realm

Fit for a king: This would have been Henry VIII's banquet hall where he entertained guests with lavish feasts of pigeon, deer, boar and lots of wine

'Elizabeth didn't like Smythe at all,' says Mr Forge. 'In fact she was most probably intimidated by him... not least because he stood at a giant 5'7".

'His job was to collect customs in the south of England and raised more than £30,000 - a whopping sum in those days. Given her dislike for Smythe, she most likely gave it to him because she owed him money. What we do know is that no cash ever changed hands between them.'

The Forge family, a family of engineers, bought the castle from the Ministry of Transport and started carrying out millions of pounds of sensitive restorations with the help of English Heritage.

They are now selling Westenhanger Castle with estate agents Jackson-Stops & Staff for £2.6 million.

The house currently comprises three bedrooms, three reception rooms and two bathrooms.

The main reception room has a fine inglenook fireplace and splendid oak beams while a second reception room boasts a brick fireplace and flagstone floor with underfloor heating.

There is also the central living accommodation which is currently incomplete and set over three floors. A replica medieval kitchen is also under construction.

Grandiose: The roof of the hall is built in signature Tudor style. It dates back to around the 15th Century though it was repeatedly refurbished by Henry VIII

Living room: This room would have served as Henry's living room where he relaxed in front of the fire with courtiers, mistresses and entertainers

For £2.6 million, any buyer will also get a wedding venue set in the 14 acres of grounds. This includes an outbuilding with kitchen, bar and toilets joining a large marquee.

But there are significant running costs involved with the upkeep of the grand property, with maintenance costing around £100,000 a year.

However, the manor is a money maker, hosting around 25 weddings each year.

The bridal suite comprises the exquisite bedroom with an exceptionally fine stone mullioned leaded light window believed to date from around 1500.

It has ancient “graffiti” to the inner left side jamb of the window said to depict James II.

The grounds of Westenhanger Manor also boast two remarkable 16th century Grade I list barns which are being offered separately.

One of these has one of the finest hammer beam roof structures in the UK while the other is needs to be restored.

Graham Forge bought the castle from the Department of Transport for £330,000 in 1996.

The DoT had taken possession of it a couple of years earlier when the previous residents had fled. Mr Forge, a retired engineer, has now decided it is time for someone new to take on Westenhanger Manor.

Wedding room: This room, to the front of the house, also served as living quarters. It is now used to hold wedding ceremonies

Party house: Elizabeth I used the property more than Henry, often entertaining more than 300 guests at any one time with lavish feasts that could last for days. But in 1581 she was forced to give the castle up to Thomas Smythe

Grand: These stairs lead up to the bedrooms where Henry held meetings with both his courtiers and his mistresses He said: 'When we bought it we thought about turning it into a hotel but it is too special for that so we spent 16 years restoring it. 'All the essential work is done, we have never had any archeology work carried out because of the huge cost, instead we saved our pennies for the restoration. 'My wife, who I have been married to for 52 years, loves the property. You try hard not to fall in love with it but it's hard. 'We've had so many special times here from parties and birthdays to family weddings. I think it is the best place in the world but I'm 75 now. It has been a great experience, we love it but it is time to move on.' The castle was under Henry VIII's ownership from 1523 until his death in 1547 at the age of 55. During that period the property was extended with separate suites of rooms for the use of royalty and at one point it had 126 rooms. In 1552, Thomas Smythe, a Collector of Customs, moved into the castle with his wife Alice following their marriage. Queen Elizabeth I visited the castle on a number of occasions and stayed there with her entourage of 300. It remained a Royal Palace until 1581 when Elizabeth I handed it to Mr Smythe. Customer Smythe, as he became known, died a wealthy man in 1591, owning 12 manors including nearby Leeds Castle in Kent. Mr Forge has been hosting weddings at the property for eight years, which he describes as 'very successful'.

He added: 'Originally it covered three corners and was three storeys high but in the 18th century it was damaged by a number of fires and they decided to pull a lot of it down, only leaving one corner. 'Henry II kept his mistress here and when King Canute was dying, he drew up a charter to pass the property on to the Archbishop of Canterbury. That charter still hangs in the British library. 'English Heritage value the property enormously and we hope it will find the right owner who can carry on the work.'

Inside America's Downton Abbey: Life 'downstairs' in 1900s coal magnate's Rhode Island mansion is revealed in fascinating collection of photos and documents

'The Elms' was opulent holiday home built by wealthy New York family
Rhode Island estate boasted team of servants including footmen and maids
Guided tours shed new light on lives of staff who lived there
Privileged lifestyle likened to that featured in TV series Downton Abbey

With its grandiose facade and manicured grounds The Elms could easily pass for a magnificent English country estate.

But this picturesque mansion was actually built on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in Newport, Rhode Island in the 1900s by a wealthy New York family as an opulent holiday retreat.

Newly discovered photographs and documents have shed light on the lives of the army of servants who used to live and work in the great house - which has been likened to that owned by the fictional Crawley family in the hit British TV drama, Downton Abbey.

Impressive: The Elms mansion as seen through an opening in an iron fence, in Newport, Rhode Island. The house was built in 1901 as an opulent holiday retreat

Luxury: Rear view of The Elms mansion, facing the sea

Wealth: The Elm's owner was coal merchant Edward Berwind (left). However, he only tended to have time to visit his beautiful holiday home (right) on weekends due to his business commitments in New York City

Opulent: This 1920s photograph shows butler Ernest Birch (centre), surrounded by footmen next to the terrace of The Elms mansion in Newport

Wealth: The nation's wealthiest families built Newport 'cottages' in the 19th and early 20th centuries like The Elms, viewed from its great lawn

The US success of the British period drama about English aristocrats and their live-in help has piqued interest in the life of servants in the Newport mansions. The nation's wealthiest families built Newport 'cottages' in the 19th and early 20th centuries and would move their households there from New York and elsewhere in the summer to enjoy the ocean breezes and society scene.

Just as the servants in Downton Abbey develop relationships with each other, household staff in the Newport mansions carried on a lively social scene of their own. Many of their stories have begun to emerge through research by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which owns and runs several of the houses.

The newly discovered photographs, documents and family histories have inspired the creation of a guided tour of The Elms which focuses on the lives of the servants who once worked there.

History: The Newport homes were They were built during the so-called 'Gilded Age' in American history which was the period roughly from 1877 to the turn of the 20th Century

No expense spared: The Elms' interior is covered with classical paintings and hung with delicate crystal chandeliers

Decorative: The mansion boasts toilets and bathrooms which were state-of-the-art in their day, and ornate fixtures and fittings, like this elegant staircase (right)

Parties: The house was designed for entertaining and showing off to friends so its decoration was suitably extravagant. This room boasts a roman style marble bust and an impressive marble fireplace

The Elms was built in 1901 by architect Horace Trumbauer for the Berwinds and features stunning bronze sculptures and fountains The guided tour allows visitors to view rarely seen parts of the mansion, including servants' quarters, the kitchen and the massive boiler room, where coal would be brought in through a tunnel that goes under the garden wall.

The Berwind family had begun to spend their summers in Newport during the 1890s but it soon became clear that their original residence was too small for their party lifestyle.

Edward Julius Berwind, a wealthy New York coal merchant considered at the time to be one of America's most powerful businessmen, hired the renowned architect Horace Trumbauer to build the much larger house that still stands today.

It was the first home in Newport to be completely electrified, boasted modern amenities such as an ice maker and telephone, and was even featured on the cover of Scientific American. It continued to be used as a residence until 1961.

Social: The ladies of the mansion would groom and beautify themselves for their countless engagements in the wealthy enclave

Decor: The bedrooms at the sprawling mansion were furnished with the finest materials

Scale: The Elms is surrounded by landscaped gardens, which feature manicured hedges and trees and sweeping lawns

Staff: This undated photo shows Grace Rhodes Birch, left, a cook at The Elms mansion, with her husband Ernest Birch, the mansion's butler. The couple married in 1918

Mr Berwind counted powerful public figures from America and Europe as friends, including Theodore Roosevelt and the German Kaiser Wilhelm II among his friends.

A self-made man - he was the son of German immigrants - he was considered one of the most important people in Newport's high society.

In Downton Abbey, the Crawley family's own American grandmother, played by Shirley MacLaine, owns homes in New York and Newport. The city is even mentioned on the show from time to time, including by Lady Mary Crawley, who considers fleeing to America to wait out a scandal involving the death of a Turkish diplomat in her bed.

'It'll be dull but not uncomfortable,' she remarks to her lady's maid, Anna, who asks to come with her.

Popular: The British TV series Downton Abbey, starring Hugh Bonneville as Earl of Grantham (left), and Jim Carter as his long serving butler Mr Carson (right) depicts what life was like in the past for servants on a country estate

Similar: The wealthy lifestyle of the family who owned the magnificent estate has been compared to that of the Crawley family in the British TV series Downton Abbey (pictured)

Stars: Shirley MacLaine (pictured) plays Martha Levinson, widowed American heiress and mother of Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham in the hit show

One servant's bedroom featured in the guided tour of The Elms is furnished as it might have been at the time, while another displays census records that show the names, occupations and countries of birth of the Berwind household's domestic staff.

This includes around a dozen maids, footmen and others from countries including England, France, Germany and Sweden.

The mansion's entire staff were dismissed in 1902 after they asked for more time off, said John Tschirch, director of museum affairs for the mansions, who did much of the research for the tour.

Memories: This 1940s photo shows maid Nellie Lynch on the roof of the mansion outside the servants' quarters

The Berwinds simply hired in new staff from New York to replace them.

Other bedrooms display photos of servants, as well as journals and other documents, many provided by descendents of those who worked there.

One shows a maid standing next to a rocking chair on the mansion's roof. Next to her are flowers in pots displayed on a window ledge.

In another photo, the Berwind household's longtime butler Ernest Birch, who married the family's cook, sits on a chair outside the mansion surrounded by footmen.

Census records from 1895 show that around 10 percent of the population in Newport were domestic servants.

Staff in the different mansions would have 'kitchen ratchets,' - or parties - in the kitchens.

Mr Tschirch said all kinds of family stories have surfaced, including a tale about the cook, Mrs Birch, whose finger was clawed by a lobster and had to be removed.

'The descendants,' Mr Tschirch said, 'are beginning to feel that these houses are part of their family histories, too.'

Downton Abbey has received critical acclaim on both sides of the channel, and has won numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Mini-series or Television Film and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Mini-series.

The series, screened on the PBS channel in the US, has become one of the most widely watched television shows in the world.

THE GLAMOUR AND OPULENCE OF NEWPORT'S FAMOUS 'COTTAGES'

Grand: The Breakers (pictured) was one of the finest of the holiday 'cottages' built by wealthy families in Newport during the late 19th and early 20th Century

Wealthy families from New York and Boston built huge houses with sprawling gardens in Newport in which to holiday in the summer and to entertain guests.

They were built during the so-called 'Gilded Age' in American history which was the period roughly from 1877 to the turn of the 20th Century.

Among the families who began to build in Newport in the late 19th and early 20th century, were the very wealthy members of America's east coast high society - including the Vanderbilts, Astors and Wideners.

Glamour: The Marble House was built between 1888 and 1892 for Alva and William Kissam Vanderbilt. Its construction is credited with helping to transform Newport into a holiday destination for America's wealthiest families

Picturesque: Chateau-sur-Mer was built as a French-style villa for William Shepard Wetmore, a merchant in the China trade. It is now open to the public as a museum

The buildings became key symbols of status within New York high society, with families trying to outdo each other with the expense and beauty of their homes.

The mansions, which were known, ironically perhaps, as 'cottages,' costs tens of thousands of dollars to build (millions of dollars in today's money) and boasted features such as marble floors and fire places, palladian columns, electricity and other luxuries of the time.

Perhaps the finest of these houses was The Breakers which was built in 1895 and the Miramar.

The grandiose Marble House, which was built between 1888 and 1892 by the Vanderbilts, is credited with helping to attract other wealthy families to follow suit by building holiday homes in Newport.

Design: Built between 1881 and 1883, The Isaac Bell House, Newport, is considered to be one of the finest Shingle Style houses in the US

Finery: Built between 1898 and 1902, Rosecliff was built by Theresa Fair Oelrichs - a 'silver heiress' from Nevada

Families came to Newport for the social season holding grand parties. However, for all their grandeur, the houses often had relatively few bedrooms, as the guests were expected to have their own property nearby.

Many of the mansions were designed by the renowned New York-based architect Richard Morris Hunt, who had a house in Newport himself.

Many of the mansions remain in private use, although a number are now card for by the Preservation Society of Newport County. Others were converted into academic buildings for Salve Regina College in the 1930s.

Decorative: Kingscote is one of the first summer 'cottages' to be built in Newport. The house is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County and is open to the public

Fall from grace: Pictures of fascinating and eerie crumbling mansions from around the world. Once the symbols of wealth and power, blighted, burned and decaying mansions still tower from Belgium to New York as the last haunting vestiges of a bygone era, reminding visitors that nothing lasts forever.

Pidhirtsi Castle built in Ukraine in the mid-17th century suffered the first blow during World War I when Russian soldiers destroyed its lavish interior.

After World War II, the once grand estate reopened as a tuberculosis hospital. But in 1956, the ramshackle castle caught fire that raged for three weeks, obliterating the last remnants of its beauty.

Distant memory: Kasteel van Mesen in Lede, Belgium, was a royal house until 1796 and in 2010 it was razed after the Ministry of Defence in Belgium let it fall into disrepair

Behind the scenes: The once great Kasteel van Mesen, Lede, Belgium was left in a dilapidated state until it was demolished in 2010

The Kasteel van Mesen, Lede, Belgium was used as a gin distillery, a tobacco factory, and a boarding school before it fell into ruin

Château Miranda was built in Celles, Belgium, in 1866 by the prominent and wealthy Liedekerke-Beaufort family. During World War II, the grand building was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium, according to the site io9.com. It has stood empty since 1991, its facade and interior slowly crumbling, in part because the family refuses to turn it over to the municipality.

Kasteel van Mesen, Lede, Belgium was built in 1628 and has functioned as a castle, a gin distillery, a tobacco factory, and a boarding school for girls financed by the Belgian aristocracy

Window to the past: Images of the interiors of Kasteel van Mesen, Lede, Belgium show how the building had deteriorated

Overgrown: The Kasteel van Mesen, was left to be taken over by weeds before it was demolished three years ago

Also in Belgium, the long-abandoned nearly 500-year-old Kasteel van Mesen in Ledes met a worst fate when it was razed to the ground in 2010. In the course of its long history, the castle housed a gin distillery, a tobacco factory, and in the beginning of the 20th century a boarding school for girls.

Lillesden Estate Mansion in the U.K. built between 1853 and 1855 by banker Edward Lloyd also housed a school for girls, but the red-brick mansion has been abandoned since 1999 when the institution closed its doors.

Ravaged beauty: Pidhirtsi Castle built in Ukraine in the mid-17th century suffered the first blow during World War I when Russian soldiers destroyed its lavish interior

Status symbol: A Scottish immigrant, Francis Bannerman, purchased a small island on the Hudson River, New York, in 1900 and built a castle to advertise his military surplus business

Fiery end: Tragedy struck Bannerman Castle on the Hudson River, New York, in 1918 when 200 tons of ammunition exploded, destroying a part of the structure

Across the pond in New York, a Scottish immigrant, Francis Bannerman, purchased a small island in 1900 and built a castle to advertise his military surplus business.

But tragedy struck the ornate building in 1918 when 200 tons of ammunition exploded, destroying a part of the structure. Then in 1969, a fire ravaged the floors and roofs of the castle.

Blighted building: Château Miranda was built in Celles, Belgium, in 1866 by the Liedekerke-Beaufort family, but during World War II, the grand building was taken over by the National Railway Company of Belgium

In Limbo: Château Miranda has stood empty since 1991, its facade and interior slowly crumbling, because the family refuses to turn it over to the city

English architect Edward Milner built the castle for the Liedekerke-Beaufort family, who left Vêves Castle during the French Revolution. It remained in use until 1980

Chateau Miranda was used as an orphanage by the National Railway Company of Belgium during the Second World War

The damaged castle has been vacant since 1950 after the only ferryboat that serviced the island sank in a storm. In 2009, a third of the remaining structure collapsed.

In Millbrook, New York, the once impressive Halcyon Hall, which housed a luxury hotel at the turn of the last century and later served as a campus for the prestigious Bennett School for Girls has been standing empty since 1978.

Forgotten: Lillesden Estate Mansion in the U.K. built between 1853 and 1855 by banker Edward Lloyd housed a school for girls, but has been abandoned since 1999 when the institution closed its doors