The English Home September 2019

Cherishing Britain’s manufacturing skills and home-grown talents is top of mind for many consumers. Some might frame this in the context of three years of Brexit talks, others might feel that seeing closures of big employers, such as those in the car industry or on the high street, has made them think more closely about supporting British-based brands. These are undoubtedly important factors, but I take a much longer-term view. For me, the growing interest in indigenous ‘making’ is a completely natural extension of the rediscovery and appreciation of slow food, organic produce and local independent businesses, aligned with thoughts of carbon footprints and low-air miles. And like these movements, I believe it exemplifies a desire to feel a human connection with the things we choose to buy. In my…

Being a journalist should demand an insatiable level of curiousity, and that goes for interiors journalists, too. “It’s not all fluff and cushions,” as I’m fond of telling my husband. Sometimes, I’m shocked to think that I have amassed some 25 or more years of being nosy! Yet those years have afforded me the incredible opportunity of gleaning a basic understanding of a wide range of makers’ skills. I’ve seen kitchen cabinetry created, range-cooker panels hand-sprayed, taps sand-cast, tableware painted, carpets woven and mattresses hand-stitched. I’ve also seen paint mixed, tiles baked, loos glazed, glass mouth-blown, wood steam-bent, and wallpaper and fabric printed. And still there is so much to learn. I highly recommend visiting a factory if you get the chance – it’s a fascinating education.…

Whatever drama may be unfolding in Lady Mary’s life, she can rest assured her bedroom will always be an elegant oasis of calm where even the flowers never fade (the Downton Abbey film crew use faux flowers for continuity). The maids busily keep the mahogany furniture and accessories pristine, plump the pillows, air the newly introduced eiderdown and provide a ready supply of tea.…

Mrs Patmore runs a tight ship in the kitchen at Downton Abbey, not just creating delicious treats for Lord and Lady Grantham, their family and guests upstairs, but also keeping a close eye on all the kitchen staff. Whilst deeply suspicious of any new gadgets and inventions, preferring instead to stick to her trusty copper pans, jelly moulds and mixing by hand, Mrs Patmore has had to acquiesce to having electric lighting fitted.…

Designed for the 4th Earl of Carnarvon (1831–1890), The Library (below left) at Highclere Castle contains 5,650 books, the earliest dating from the sixteenth century. It is where Downton Abbey’s Lord Grantham deals with correspondence at his desk, has meetings with the estate manager and also where Lady Grantham and other family members gather on the red sofas on either side of the fireplace to discuss family matters or have pre-dinner drinks.…

PURSUITS Baking authentic sourdough Sourdough September is run by The Real Bread Campaign to celebrate authentic sourdough, encourage amateur bakers to make it at home and help avoid expensive imitations (or ‘sourfaux’) with events, classes and participating bakeries across the country. Believed to date back to ancient Egypt, sourdough is made using a mixture of water, cereal flour and a culture of naturally occurring yeasts and lactic acid bacteria. It is known for its depth of flavour, longevity and potential health benefits. To make sourdough, a ‘starter’ is needed – a mixture of flour, water and wild yeast – to make the bread rise. This can be bought ready-made from an expert source, such as Hobbs House Bakery in Gloucestershire, or made by hand at home over two days. As…