The 17th-Century Teenage Countess Who Fought For Her Survival | Historic Britain | Absolute History

Ham House is an opulent 17th-century mansion that tells the epic story of intimate royal relationships, civil war, political brinkmanship, and the woman who triumphed over it all. This is the home of one of the most outstanding women of the 17th century.
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[@megb9700]

1700’s-What an old fashioned house. 2023-What a lovely piece of history!

[@pjschroder8533]

17th Century equals 1600’s

[@patrickpierce1635]

I'm a Murray...yes, one of those Murrays. I have a condo outside of Orlando, nowhere near the opulence of Ham. Life happens sometimes...

[@andiarrohnds5163]

im something similar to you... and i also think your great great great great grandmother was beautiful

[@juliblued]

We have an incredibly prolific family.

[@levigriffith3324]

Funny, we have an Orlando over across the pond in the United States too!

[@andiarrohnds5163]

@@juliblued yes i should imagine... though our family name is much more reserved. its a name which no one else shares. kudos on the condo life though... from los angeles :)

[@patrickpierce1635]

@@levigriffith3324 Yes, thats where I live...a tale to be told as to why...

[@nicolawebb6025]

Mosley Old Hall is a couple of miles from where my parents grew up, it's a fantastic house and the gardens are beautiful.

[@parsleypalace3272]

I visited this house last time I was in London. Beautiful. And thanks for posting.

[@barbarajoyce4737]

Fabulous review of history … the intrigue and complications of political maneuvering brought to light from the past and made so in a very interesting fashion. Thank you.

[@beckymeyer1639]

36:54 36:54 ❤LOVE English history!

[@Sara-vn2kz]

I loved this and would love to see the next episode in the series!

[@karenakelly2526]

Why do they continually allow the man to handle precious objects without gloves?

[@catofthecastle1681]

That’s only paper made from trees, vellum and calfskin get better with touch!

[@jamesjohn834]

@@catofthecastle1681 He was handling the brass fittings on a trunk where the curator was wearing gloves also. Whats your answer there?

[@AvalonDreamz]

@@jamesjohn834 He is of higher status than the curator so he didn't have to wear gloves. Isn't that how crap works there? 🤣

[@Garbeaux.]

@@jamesjohn834 Brass is a metal. It can be handled too.

[@jamesjohn834]

@@Garbeaux. That makes no sense. Metals tarnish. Obviously the fellow curator knew this AS SHE WAS WEARING GLOVES!

[@jillwanlin9558]

I love the chance to see inside these beautiful homes, view the grounds and pick up bits of history. Much appreciated AH! ❤

[@muffin6369]

I'm an American lady who loves British history and the great British historians and archaeologists. Sarah is one of my favorites. I've read several of her books and love her on documentaries.

[@chucku.farley3927]

who cares

[@robertd.carver6240]

I find it incredible that one of this series has made an error. Neither Charles I nor Charles II were Catholics, though the son may have converted on his deathbed. At the time of the Civil War, he was a staunch member of the C of E. Otherwise, he would never have been accepted by the essential Protestant element of the population which assented to his restoration, particularly insistent on his being a non-communicant with the Church of Rome.

[@truthseeker1954]

Thank you for your marvellous documentary!

[@chachadodds5860]

I love this show. Does anyone else see the striking resemblance of contemporary actress, Alex Kingston, to Elizabeth Murray?

[@judeirwin2222]

Oh, sure. And she looks so much like Eddie Murray, too!

[@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752]

Admittedly only the hair and the face but the vibe? Not really... Alex feels sharper and brighter... Elizabeth Murray feels sharp, but far gentler than Alex...

[@chunellemariavictoriaespan8752]

7:02 =Alright... You win... The older Alex looks similar...

[@TheBioExplorer]

I would never want to own such a house as it would be too much responsibility... but if I had the funds, I would love to spend a month in one to really experience, explore, and understand it... and then go to another. I would gladly volunteer to do some chores at each to help offset the costs.

[@forsetifamiliaran9759]

Wild Extravagance , to FinanciaL Ruins ! Was The Song Sweet Caroline Taken From The Letters Of Wesley thé Wall Painter 👩‍🎨 ?

[@elizabeths4371]

Very Interesting how 3 different women were tied together into this one story

[@soniasonia2518]

I want to hear more about code stone. Why on earth would Hamm House not have more of it?

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@be5952]

They say *_"...cold stone...colt stone.....coh stone....cohn stone...."_* and a few other variations about a dozen times, yet we only have the faintest idea what the heck they're saying if we just *_happen to notice_* at 22:39 the actual factory name on the wall / roof of the illustration on the left. A British (as well as other cultures with strongly accented English) bad habit (to put it mildly) that only those 'in the clique' know what the heck's being said. This, in particular, when saying words that nobody outside of a rarefied small group will have ever heard before.

[@denisadellinger4543]

Full of excitement and intrigue. I want to visit Ham if I go to England. I want to see the ghost of Elizabeth. I wonder if King Charles 2 is wondering around the house?

[@akal8775]

I love how she's wearing the white gloves and And hes just going hands in no gloves.

[@GigiStar01]

It's killing me. I almost fainted.

[@teresastillabower8361]

That always blows my mind too.

[@svenjaj.3520]

More and more conservators prefer not using gloves, especially when one is not used to handling goods with them. You feel way less, cotton can be rough on some material, especially if bleached or can leave trace amounts of the bleaching agent. For short handling, well washed hands can be less threatening to the material. It really depends on the situation

[@amberkat8147]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that.

[@cruisepaige]

Modern times people are saying clean dry hands fo less damage than gloves

[@charlottemuller2233]

Thank You!

[@hollyevolving]

You can still get Malmsey today. Blandy's is a brand that gets imported to the US, and runs the range from sweet to dry.

[@braeburn2333]

People are just people. There is nothing special about these aristocrats, except for their large egos. Humans love putting a few people on pedestals and thinking of them as if they deserve their wealth and power when they don't. If this house and all the other properties of the aristocrats were owned or had been owned by truly remarkable people (like Ghandi for example) then such wasteful opulence would make sense. As it is, it makes no sense because the ones put on pedestals are just average humans who happened to be born into wealth. Why should we respect them more just because they are rich? I don't.

[@judeirwin2222]

They brown nosed those higher up, who rewarded their sycophancy with property and money. Much the same thing as being a member of Trump’s staff or arse-licking GOP sheeple.

[@MegCazalet]

Well, these people did have more influence on history because wealth equals power. The poor rarely have their history preserved, so much of what we have to study is because it’s related to wealthy and influential people. For example, the few governesses we have much *firsthand* accounts from are known only because they worked for wealthy or influential people, or, in a rare case, became influential, like the Brontës, and so their papers, correspondence, journals, etc., were preserved for posterity, or survived tucked away in a random desk drawer in an aristocrat’s family seat.

[@HistoryFirst]

Would you ever consider doing a video on the contemporary Roman Scottish tribes?

[@patriciawagstaff6302]

OMG. ...wouldn't that be so very interesting. To actually have access to the turbulent times of Scotland's history of the various tribes ,upperclass households and the parliamentary crisis history during their Civil war.. And here I always thought that the history of the Kennedy's and the murder of JFK , Cuban missle crisis etc. was and is still is of great American history ! Thank you

[@MarrisaPlays]

so something ive always wondered about old paintings. Where the subjects eyes actually protruding that much? here you can see it in the women which is honestly where i have seen the protruding eyes the most.

[@AlexS-oj8qf]

It looks more like a City House rather than Country Estate.

[@roberttelarket4934]

Why does the Trust's Sarah Meekins first pronounce not like knot(knaht) and then later noht?

[@clementmckenzie7041]

Was this the same Murray family that the black Aristocrat Lady Elizabeth Dido Murray was a member of?

[@annfisher3316]

Ham House reminds me a bit of Hardwick hall and her tenacity a bit like Bess's! 🤭

[@astardustparade]

I love British history and am proud to have British ancestors 🥰

[@HosannaReign]

The gardens are so beautifully manicured

[@roadcone76]

Why did the ghost scream at the end of that segment? Why didn't she say 'hello'.

[@amberkat8147]

That wasn't really the ghost, it was a sound effect they added for drama. And a scream is so much more dramatic than a simple "hello".

[@roadcone76]

@@amberkat8147 But the ghost whispered hello to the lady. It would have tied that segment closed very nicely.

[@ixoraroxi]

Don't you think places like this that survived turbulent times are great for time travelers? If the time and space fabric is disturbed in that house, it's a doorway for paranormal to manifest.

[@judeirwin2222]

The idea that Pinot Grigio could be a substitute for Malmsey Madeira wine is ludicrous!

[@cdfdesantis699]

An incredible house & female.

[@patriziaantony8242]

Can't understand why the lady is using her gloves while Mr. is not and they are touching the same historical items...

[@kathleenbouldin103]

Thanks!

[@CharliecatII]

Her, wearing gloves, him, hands all over the long box

[@teresastillabower8361]

Some people are such clods.

[@sr2291]

There was no concept back then of what "teenage" means today.

[@eunicestone6532]

I think women were considered teenagers until age 21 then from 21-29 marriageable. Then from 30- OLD Spinster. ON the shelf. Lol.

[@MegCazalet]

@@eunicestone6532 They married much younger than 21. In the Restoration 21 was even getting up there in age amongst the wealthy.

[@rjlchristie]

My ancestors plundered this fortune fair and square!

[@teresastillabower8361]

😅🤣😂

[@marvwatkins7029]

A bit silly in the dialog at times. Nice homes though.

[@mrsleysclass1012]

20:55

[@grammasgardenofideas5081]

no no no. smash all the herbs with a mortar and pestle then add honey soak at least overnight in alcohol. keep on hand use drops side of temples.

[@chucku.farley3927]

when you're living high on the hog, you need a ham house.

[@sarahraisingmyvoice]

Why aren’t we still using coade stone?? It’s clearly far superior to concrete, which crumbles within a few decades. And with modern technology, they could surely manufacture it cheaply in massive quantities…

[@suziecreamcheese211]

I agree, but concrete may be cheaper to use initially and the fact that it has to be replaced frequently makes it more of a cash cow through planned obsolescence.

[@sarahraisingmyvoice]

@@suziecreamcheese211 the corporate morons strike again!

[@janettelouden4967]

Why do all these women and men look soooo homely !!!! Is it the paintings????

[@alanle1471]

He addresses a Countess as your Grace. That is incorrect even in jest.

[@lisapop5219]

What an interesting name choice

[@pran7003]

So many people slaughtered !

[@mishaross9412]

What is the host’s name??

[@lizzy66125]

Alan Titmarsch

[@amypfister6173]

Anyone else think the letter is an obvious fake? Repro? Not aged, brittle, etc?

[@naomidavis1879]

Someone needs to start a lotions and potions shop. It needs to compete with bath and bodywork. But mainly tailored for the dark goth girls lol.

[@suziecreamcheese211]

Ham house could open a gift shop and sell lotions and soaps etc…

[@uncatila]

Purgatory can last hundreds of years the ghost requires prayer to liberate her.

[@judeirwin2222]

So. If the “ghost” of. King Charles Spamiel frequents Ham House, does that mean that the Church will have to reconsider its teaching that animals do not possess souls?

[@judeirwin2222]

Spaniel. Although I love “spamiel”. A dog crossed with tinned pork.

[@manda4480]

🤔 Depends if it's a residual haunting or an intelligent/interactive haunting? Personally, I absolutely believe animals have spirits/souls

[@ShearedJoy]

@@judeirwin2222 😂

[@HBADGERBRAD]

Would still not be standing. 🤓

[@judeirwin2222]

Wtf? Where do they dig up their interviewees? The silly bint at Moseley House said that Charles - soon to become Charles I, was escorted down to Bristol, where he hoped to “catch a ferry over to France”. DUH. A ferry!

[@MegCazalet]

Ferry doesn’t have to mean the modern ship. It’s just a word that refers to the purpose of the vessel. They has several terms for the ships that regularly traveled across the channel. They had ferries in Ancient Greece. Ever heard of Charon, who ferried souls across the River Styx to the Underworld?

[@taniagarciaduenas48]

good evening abode in absolute I send you my best regards hoping that everything goes well I promise they are marvelous works not to be left aside but to be recited on the internet God boils your work

[@leafiddick2976]

What are you talking about???

[@lisapop5219]

@@leafiddick2976 I had the same thought

[@vickyabramowitz2885]

Tania Garcia Duenas. Sorry, but you've reached your meth limit for the day

[@NinjaGrrrl7734]

@@lisapop5219 it's rather poetic

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Which God?

[@zenpigs8024]

Making abuse a joke is never funny. #neverpaystobethewhippingboy

[@mapples007]

From the thumbnail I can see she had some health issues. Yikes!

[@gleann_cuilinn]

the parliamentarians should have won!

[@miriammaciulis5488]

This dude needs to stop probing everything with his fingers!

[@flygirlfly]

Jeez - the *Pronunciation* *Police* are out in full force in these comments. Lots of snippy Karens. Chill. Really.

[@PHAD-rf3oe]

I am not impressed. I expected a special lady and she was as self-serving as any aristocrat.

[@OstblockLatina]

You know, there is an American KZbin channel called PBSEons, which is dealing on short videos and podcasts on the subject of archaeology, paleontology and related subjects. Everytime at the end of every material there is a screen to be seen, informing the viewers that many of the aforementioned discoveries were made on the native lands of various indigenous nations, with the research not always conducted with their permission and sometimes to their harm etc. I am wondering if and when are you going to add similar information as to the fortunes of the people you speak of here and the origin of their fortunes being owed to colonial wars, robbery, exploitation and impoverishment and subjugation of the lands and nations that England colonized on the way to obtain those riches, and to triangular trade and forcing millions of people into lifelong slavery.

[@ericreativecuts]

I was wondering the same thing. Also some of that art belongs back in their native countries. You can display replicas in the houses and add a plaque saying that the original is in the country of origin's museum

[@judeirwin2222]

The same thoughts are in my mind as I watch. For one family to become rich, dozens, hundreds, must be kept poor and working at all the unpleasant but necessary tasks required for the top family to live in luxury. The idea of luxury itself is an obscenity for this reason, and these celebrations of hugely privileged, spoiled people makes me feel quite ill. But forelock-tugging Brits love this stuff.

[@suziecreamcheese211]

You will be paying them through your tax dollars soon enough so, you need not fret.

[@judeirwin2222]

Ffs. It’s not “ hung, drawn and quartered”, it’s “ hanged,mdrawn, and quartered”. A man may be well hung, but being hanged is different. In Britain, it’s HANGED. In the US, where the language has gone to hell, hung.

[@amberkat8147]

British English and American English have a lot of differences. Please be less judgemental about it.

[@judeirwin2222]

@@amberkat8147 One of the marks of an educated person is his ability to discriminate between what is valid or correct and what is not. Being judgemental is a negative when applied to other people. But a positive when used to reinforce the sagging standards of language and ethics. People who were not sufficiently judgemental about values and truth helped to put Trump and his gang of knuckle-dragging th

[@judeirwin2222]

Knuckle-dragging thugs in power, and see how well THAT turned out!

[@suziecreamcheese211]

@@amberkat8147 I think a man should be hanged if he’s not well hung.

[@madiantin]

I really wanted to watch and enjoy this but: a) If you're inviting experts on to talk, for goodness sakes let them talk! Don't talk over them, and don't explain about the item yourself. Mansplaining at its finest. b) If the expert is handling an item with gloves DO NOT TOUCH IT WITH YOUR BARE HANDS! What is wrong with you? Anyway, it got so annoying that these things happened time and time again that I can't watch anymore. Moving on.

[@mrh4900]

First