![What a piece of Downton Abbey would cost you (1) What a piece of Downton Abbey would cost you (1)](https://i0.wp.com/bdc2020.o0bc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/da.jpg)
By Legacy User
Do you have Downton dollars?
The estate that the Crawley clan calls home is the real-life Highclere Castle, and is estimated to be worth $400 million, according to Movoto LLC. One estimate found it would cost more than $8.3 million annually to pay for life at Downton Abbey.
The backdrop for the international drama is also the real home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.
Take a look at what it could cost to live like the Earl of Grantham.
Staff
It would cost $634,050 annually for all those ladies maids, Carson the butler, valets, and more, says 4DX Media Ltd., which runs the website NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.
Take a tour
The castle is open to visitors at certain times of year. Tourists can see the castle, garden, and an Egyptian exhibit located in Highclere’s cellar.
The Egyptian exhibits includes a collection of antiquities dating back 4,000 years and a recreation of the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922.
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon famously discovered the Tomb of the Egyptian Boy Pharaoh with his archaeological colleague, Howard Carter.
Tickets for adults range in price from about $8 to $33 depending on how much you want to see.
Wedding tiara
The Georgian Diamond Floral Tiara worn by Mary on her wedding day to Matthew Crawley, from Bentley & Skinner London, is being offered exclusively on 1stdibs.com for $208,750. The tiara is in the form of a garland spray of leaves and floral clusters with pave-set old-cut diamonds throughout. It weighs an estimated total of 45 carats and dates to approximately 1800.
Clive Kandel, curator of fine jewelry and silver for the website 1stDibs said the tiara can be rented for $2,000 a day with a $200,000 deposit.
Wedding dress
The gown that Lady Mary wore to marry Matthew Crawley cost $6,000 and took eight weeks to produce. It featured delicate rice pearls and Swarovski crystals.
Grounds
Highclere Castle sits amidst 1,000 acres of open space in Yorkshire. It would cost $383,304 annually to maintain the grounds, according to NetVoucherCodes.co.uk.
The gardens cost another $670,782 to keep up.
Cleaning
Keeping Downton in top shape costs a bundle. NetVoucherCodes.co.uk puts annual cleaning costs at $1.7 million. Keeping the chimneys clear costs $38,330 and maintenance is pegged at more than $2.8 million.
Pictured: Rose Leslie as Gwen and Siobhan Finneran as O’Brien.
Have your wedding Downton
Highclere Castle is available for weddings, private dining, corporate events, receptions, engagement parties, and private tours, its website said. The venue fee listed on the castle’s wedding page is about $25,000, plus value added tax.
Pictured are the Crawley sisters on Lady Edith’s wedding day. Sadly, Edith was left at the altar.
Tea
World Market sells an Earl Grey black tea blended with bergamot, orange oil, and vanilla. The Republic of Tea Downton Abbey Tea Tin inspired by the Masterpiece Classic show costs $11.99. World Market also sells a red and white wine with Downton Abbey branding.
Pictured: Dame Maggie Smith as Violet, the dowager countess of Grantham.
Utilities
Downton cannot live on candlelight alone.
NetVoucherCodes pegged gas and electric costs at $479,130, oil costs at $958,260, and water costs at $124,574. You can also expect to burn through $45,997 in logs.
Pictured: Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary.
Security and insurance
To keep the Crawleys safe, you’d have to pay $95,826 on security, according to NetVoucherCodes. On the insurance side, the annual bill would be $335,391.
Pictured from left to right: Iain Glen as Sir Richard Carlisle, Michelle Dockery as Lady Mary, and Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley .
From the PBS gift shop
PBS offers tote bags, a puzzle, jewelry, scripts, DVDs, onesies, and more for sale online. The merchandise costs between $13 and $95.
Pictured from left: Elizabeth McGovern as Lady Grantham, Hugh Bonneville as Lord Grantham, Dan Stevens as Matthew Crawley, Penelope Wilton as Isobel Crawley, Allen Leech as Tom Branson, Jim Carter as Mr. Carson, and Phyllis Logan as Mrs. Hughes.
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