Downton Abbey (2013)

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West in a living room in front of a fire

Joanne Froggatt as Anna Bates, Baby George and Di Botcher as Nanny West © ITV

Starring: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Brendan Coyle, Elizabeth Mcgovern

Production Company:

Production company: ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

Kent Locations:  The Historic Dockyard Chatham

Downton Abbey is the smash-hit ITV drama series about those who live in the grand Downton Abbey. The noble Crawley family and their servants both struggle through family difficulties and deal with the social and political influences on their lives.

Jim Carter as Carson - waiting on the family sat at the table

Jim Carter as Carson © ITV

Following on from the dramatic Christmas 2012 episode, the fourth series sees the family struggling to deal with tragedy, but when Lady Mary’s gives birth to a new generation bringing joy and hope, the family take a step into the Roaring Twenties. 

The ever popular series is created by Julian Fellowes (Vanity Fair, ITV’s Titanic) and boasts a spectacular cast of award winning actors, including Maggie Smith (Room with a View, Gosford Park), Hugh Bonneville (Tomorrow Never Dies, Notting Hill), Michelle Dockery (Anna Karenina, Hanna), Brendan Coyle (The Raven, The Jacket), and Elizabeth McGovern (Once Upon a Time In America, The Handmaid’s Tale).

The Downton Abbey team visited The Historic Dockyard Chatham in February 2013 where they used the Tarred Yarn Store to double as the workhouse where Mr Grigg (Nicky Henson) works in episode 1 and in episode 2, streets at The Historic Dockyard Chatham were used for the scenes where Lady Rose MacClare (Lily James) is at the market with James Kent (Ed Speleers) watching her.

The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a popular film location due to its varied and interesting areas such as the cobbled streets, church and over 100 buildings dating from the Georgian and Victorian periods. Previous productions that have shot here include Les Miserables (2013), Call the Midwife (2012), and The Golden Compass (2007).

Series 4 of Downton Abbey was shown from September 2013 and is now available to buy on DVD.

 

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map. 


Downton Abbey (2010)

Downton Abbey series 1 DVD cover - the cast standing in front of the grand house. Downton Abbey is written on top

Downton Abbey series 1 DVD cover © ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

Starring: Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Brendan Coyle, Elizabeth McGovern

Production company: ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

Kent Locations:  Kent & East Sussex Railway 

Downton Abbey is an ITV period drama charting the lives of the Crawley family and their servants in early 20th Century Britain.

Created by Julian Fellowes (Vanity Fair, ITV’s Titanic), the series stars a host of acting talent including Maggie Smith (Room with a View, Gosford Park), Hugh Bonneville(Tomorrow Never Dies, Notting Hill), Michelle Dockery (Anna Karenina, Hanna), Brendan Coyle (The Raven, The Jacket), and Elizabeth McGovern (Once Upon a Time In America, The Handmaid’s Tale).

Downton Abbey Screenshot - train going through the countryside past trees and water

Downton Abbey Screenshot © ITV Studios, Carnival Films, Masterpiece, NBC Universal, WGBH Boston

The opening shot of Downton Abbey series one, episode one is a steam train going through the countryside and was filmed at Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Kent & East Sussex Railway is a ten and a half mile rural light railway from Tenterden to East Sussex. Kent & East Sussex Railway has previously featured in film and TV productions including Richard E. Grant on Ealing Comedies (2016), Mapp and Lucia (2014) and Last Passenger (2013).

Series 1 of Downton Abbey was shown from September 2010 and is now available to buy on DVD.

For more information about Kent’s Filming History please visit our Movie Map.