An American Aristocrat's Guide to Great Estates

Holdenby House in Northamptonshire was once one of the largest palaces in England and was also a prison for King Charles I in the mid-1600s. Today, it's the home of James and Karen Lowther, who over the years have invested millions on restoring it to its former glory and preserving it for future generations. Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke visits the 2,000-acre estate and 75-room country house, where she gets a lesson in music, falconry, and how to keep an aging home aesthetically pleasing and profitable.

Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke is a little nervous about her visit to Boughton House, and it's no surprise why. Its owner, Richard Scott, holds two dukedoms and is the biggest individual landowner in Britain. Boughton House has been the home of Julie's distant relatives and ancestors dating back nearly 500 years. Witness a unique family reunion, where Julie learns about the colorful Montagus who brought Boughton to life over the centuries, capped by a family supper hosted by Richard.

Doddington Hall is an Elizabethan prodigy house, built for a self-made businessman in 1595. Today, it's the home of Claire and James Birch, who have transformed the grounds into a retail park open to the public. Host Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke discovers how this modern couple maintains their estate, does a little shopping, takes a test-ride on one of the bike shop's new electronic bicycles, and leads a yoga class for the Doddington staff.

Host Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke makes a trip to Gloucestershire to visit Sudeley Castle, England's ultimate fairytale wedding venue. Here, couples wander the same landscaped grounds that Renaissance royalty walked five centuries ago. Julie picks up tips on hosting weddings to take back to her estate, Mapperton in Dorset. She'll also learn about Sudeley's rich history of iconic residents, from Queen Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's final wife, to the estate's current custodian, Lady Ashcombe.

Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke pays a visit to Newby Hall, England's real-life Downton Abbey. Follow her on a tour of this elegant designer show house built in the 17th century, where she meets current owners Richard and Lucinda Compton and witnesses firsthand how they preserve their designer past while finding new ways to showcase their creative heritage. Her visit concludes with the grand opening of a sculpture exhibition in the estate's prized 25-acre gardens.

Eastnor Castle is one of Britain's grandest private residences and an estate that has been home to one family for over 400 years. While the current owners honor the estate's past, they must also look towards its future to stay relevant and profitable in the 21st century. Join host Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke as she visits heiress to the estate Imogen Hervey-Bathurst for an all-access look at the 97-room castle, the history of its past tenants, and the inventive initiatives being taken to meet the financial demands of modern day.

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