Is Downton Abbey Based on a True Story? Ending Explained
by Mathelene
Updated Apr 21, 2023
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey is a historical drama series of epic grandeur that includes 6 series. This was written by Julian Fellowes and directed by Michael Engler. The film is produced by Carnival Films and Perfect World Pictures. The story of the Crawley family and their servants in 1910s and 1920s England captured viewers of all stripes who remained invested in the show despite some questionable storytelling decisions.
Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, Dan Stevens, Lily James, and Dame Maggie Smith starred in this film, which ran from 2010 to 2015. Downton Abbey grossed $96.9 million in the United States and Canada and $97.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $194.2 million. Deadline Hollywood calculated the net profit of the film to be $88 million when factoring together all expenses and revenues.
The original television series, Downton Abbey, ended in 2015, after 52 episodes with its final episode set at New Year's Eve, 1925. That was not the end of the series, however, as it also returned in a film continuation in 2019, with a second film, titled "Downton Abbey: A New Era," subsequently announced.
Is Downton Abbey Based on a True Story?
No, Downton Abbey is not based on a true story but it is inspired by real-life events. Downton Abbey was written by Julian Fellowes, Shelagh Stephenson, and Tina Pepler. He said he needed a central story that would bind everyone together for the film, and he just so happened to be reading about a trip King George took with his wife in 1912 to Wentworth Woodhouse in Yorkshire.
Fellows told Vanity Fair: “Downton is also in Yorkshire, and so it seemed to me quite a good parallel, that the servants and the family would be equally as excited about.”
Is Downton Abbey Based on a Book?
Devoted enthusiasts will be eagerly tuning in to discover the destiny of the Crawley family and the Downton estate, and undoubtedly, to witness the clever dialogue of the Dowager Countess of Grantham, portrayed by Maggie Smith. What some may not realize is that the Emmy-winning British drama, which debuted in the United States in 2011was based on a book published in 1989, titled "To Marry an English Lord" by Gail MacColl and Carol Wallace.
The book recounts the period when American heiresses would journey to Britain and exchange their wealth for titles, much like the character Cora Crawley in "Downton Abbey." Carol Wallace, the author, was surprised to discover during an interview with WTOP's Dean Lane that the screenwriter for "Downton Abbey," Julian Fellows, had read "To Marry an English Lord" prior to creating the show.
Downton Abbey Plot
Given below is the summary of the plot of each season of Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey Season 1
At the start of the first season, Lord Robert Grantham receives the devastating news that the heir of his estate has perished aboard the Titanic. As per the law of the land, Robert must pass on Downton to a male relative, leaving him with the options of handing over his wealth to an unfamiliar male or arranging a marriage between his eldest daughter, Mary, and a distant male relative, Matthew, to ensure his fortune remains within the family.
Initially, the Granthams are displeased with Matthew's working-class background as a lawyer. Meanwhile, Mary's sisters, Sybil and Edith, also seek their own romantic interests, with Sybil developing feelings for Tom Branson, the family's chauffeur.
Many of the household staff also pursue their own love interests, notably housemaid Anna and valet Mr. Bates. The season concludes with Mary coming to terms with her love for Matthew, just as Lord Grantham announces that England has entered into a war with Germany.
Downton Abbey Season 2
Season two of Downton Abbey takes place against the backdrop of WWI, which has greatly impacted the estate. Matthew, as well as house staff members Thomas and William, are called upon to fight in the war. The Granthams agree to transform Downton into a convalescent hospital for wounded soldiers.
However, there is conflict between Matthew's mother, Isobel, who is trained as a nurse, and Lady Grantham over the management of the hospital. When Matthew visits Downton while on leave from the war, he introduces his fiancée, Lavinia Swire, to everyone, which shatters Mary's romantic hopes.
Meanwhile, Bates proposes to Anna, but their happiness is short-lived when his ex-wife, Vera, reappears. Sir Richard Carlisle, a wealthy newspaperman, begins pursuing Mary, but she isn't interested. Mary agrees to marry him in exchange for his help in preventing Vera from exposing a scandal at Downton.
In the war, William dies, and Matthew is severely injured, leaving him unable to have children with Lavinia. He calls off their engagement, but eventually regains the use of his legs and falls in love with Mary, just as Lavinia succumbs to the Spanish flu.
Sybil confesses her love for Tom, the chauffeur, and Bates's wife dies under suspicious circumstances. Mary breaks things off with Richard and accepts Matthew's proposal as the snow falls, providing a perfect romantic ending to the season.
Downton Abbey Season 3
The aftermath of the war brings new challenges to Downton. Lord Robert discovers a failed investment has left his family almost bankrupt. Despite this, Mary and Matthew plan their wedding which serves as a final celebration for Downton. H
However, Matthew inherits a fortune from Lavinia's father, which he uses to save the estate from financial ruin, and becomes a co-master of the estate. Sybil and Tom return to Downton and become more politically vocal. Sybil becomes pregnant but dies tragically in childbirth. Edith's hopes for marital bliss are dashed when she is jilted at the altar. She finds solace in becoming a newspaper columnist and writing about women's rights.
Meanwhile, the servants also face their own dramatic situations: Bates goes to jail but is later released, Thomas and Daisy compete for the affections of the new servant, and O'Brien continues to stir up trouble. The season concludes with the birth of Mary and Matthew's child, but their happiness is short-lived when Matthew suddenly dies in a car accident. The season ends on a melancholy note, just in time for Christmas.
Downton Abbey Season 4
Six months after Matthew's tragic accident, season four begins with Mary grieving for her late husband and focusing on raising their child, George. However, she realizes that she has spent too long in mourning and decides to pick herself up and move on.
Robert informs Mary, as Matthew's widow, that she owns half of Downton, leading her to involve herself in the estate's financial matters. Mary also attracts the attention of two new suitors, Lord Gillingham and Charles Blake. Meanwhile, Edith falls in love with a married man named Gregson, leading to the birth of their child, Marigold.
However, Gregson flees the country, and Edith has to give up her child to be raised by farmers. The servants at Downton are also affected by Matthew's death, with Molesley taking a demotion to become a footman. Anna is raped, and Bates vows to avenge her.
Anna's rapist dies under mysterious circumstances, and Bates is suspected of killing him. In the meantime, other servants develop romantic feelings for each other. In one of Downton's most touching moments, Carson and Mrs. Hughes walk into the ocean while holding hands.
Downton Abbey Season 5
The show is undoubtedly a deliciously contrived melodrama, characterized by sentimentality and overwrought emotions. Creator Julian Fellowes himself has acknowledged this, describing his series as an exploration of characters pushed to their limits.
According to him, "Downton" is centered around putting a couple of characters through difficult situations each season, eliciting powerful emotional responses from viewers. Despite the outdated ideas that the show occasionally presents, James Parker argues that this is part of its allure. In an article for The Atlantic, Parker examines why the series continues to be so popular.
Downton Abbey Season 6
In an interview with People, Fellowes was asked about the absurd character deaths on Downton Abbey, to which he replied that when a character dies, "it is because the actor wanted to leave." This suggests that the responsibility for such deaths does not entirely fall on the writers.
Over the years, Downton has seen the departure of several fan-favorite characters, most notably Sybil and Matthew. Both of these characters were written out of the show after their respective actors expressed a desire to leave. Unlike American television shows, which often sign actors to long-term contracts, British series generally offer three-year contracts to their stars.
Jessica Brown Findlay, who portrayed Sybil, shared her reasons for wanting to leave Downton in an interview with The Telegraph. She explained that she was concerned about being typecast, stating, "I didn't want to play Sybil for years and then discover it was the only thing I could do. That was a much more terrifying prospect than unemployment."
Downton Abbey Ending Explained
In the eighth episode of the final season of Downton Abbey, the storylines of several beloved characters come to a satisfying conclusion. After a tumultuous courtship, Lady Mary finally agrees to marry Henry Talbot, and viewers are treated to a lovely wedding scene.
The storyline surrounding Mr. Carson's health issues also reaches a resolution, as he steps down from his position as head butler and is replaced by Mr. Barrow. In a heartwarming moment, Mr. Carson proposes to Mrs. Hughes and the two decide to spend their retirement together.
Elsewhere, the storyline involving Lady Edith's love life comes to a bittersweet end, as she decides to end things with Bertie Pelham due to a miscommunication. However, Edith finds happiness in the form of her daughter Marigold, and viewers are left with the sense that she will continue to thrive as a single mother.
The final episode delivers on the show's promise of tying up loose ends and providing satisfying conclusions for the characters viewers have come to love over the years. It's a fitting end to a series that has captured the hearts of fans around the world.
Is Downton Abbey based on a True Story - FAQs
No, Downton Abbey is not based on a true story
The story is somewhat inspired by the book called To Marry an English Lord.
The book was published in January 1989.
Downton Abbey was written by Julian Fellowes.
Downton Abbey was directed by Michael Engler.