The Portraits and Paintings Hanging in the Staircase Hall - Behind the Scenes at Mapperton Episode 6

Because you're the only tourists we have 'visiting' this year, we've put together this little tour so that you can enjoy the amazing portraits hanging in the Staircase Hall at Mapperton House. These include the 1st and 4th Earls of Sandwich, the 'original American Aristocrat' Alberta Sturgess, and hear the tragic story of Martha Ray, mistress of the 4th Earl, who was murdered by her stalker in 1779. Plus we cross the Pavilion lawn and I try my hand at tennis on our rather wonky court!
Access these episodes, ad-free, one week earlier, by joining us on Patreon: / mappertonlive - you'll also get exclusive content, posts, photos, recipes, wellbeing tips, yoga practices and merchandise on there!

[@eileenmeenagh3900]

I am very impressed at your knowledge of Mapperton and its history. Not many Americans would even bother to learn the heritage.

[@CB-nm8jv]

Hi from Newport Beach CA. Always enjoy your tours. Please keep doing them and go into as much detail as you wish. Well done and really enjoyable. 😍

[@AmericanViscountess]

Wonderful to read this and yes I will def. continue. x

[@lizzykasza]

I could listen to her talk all day!

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you 🙌

[@adventurebabyboomer7318]

Its a big expense maintaining a castle. You guys are doing great and should be commended!

[@naschelletaylor8440]

Love the videos with explanation of changes and life of the house.

[@robertschiavone5095]

Julie I love your video's on KZbin. Your cute. It's your mannerisms and voice I love. Plus I feel like you are down to earth. You have now made me think about yoga. The VA clinic I go to offers yoga for chronic pain. You also speak of that cold water immersion therapy. I prefer warm water though. I take hydrocodone for pain. Neuropathic pain started after a tick bite while building a log home. Sept 2008. 15 yrs ago I was building high rise towers. I could carry a 100 pound on my shoulder up ten flights of stairs. Mostly bank towers. But I have built many schools and also installed medical gas ( oxygen pipe )in hospitals. Construction is hard on the body. As I said I prefer warm water swimming. It's easier on the joints. Low impact.

[@rhondamartin3575]

So much history you've learned and you can tell how much you absolutely love it and your family! You've done a great job!

[@mayradell3953]

I love the video on thatching. I love thatch roof cottages. They are awesome. I like to see how they do the haircutting on the roofs.

[@mayradell3953]

Thank you for the opportunity to see that Beautiful roof.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@timothyj1966]

House is so beautiful! England is so old! Hope to visit again from Canada where its all ashphalt and concrete Walmarts here.

[@rondabeal5204]

Love it

[@pizzafries]

Hopefully one day,someone will be able to restore some of those paintings. A few of them seem quite dirty.

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

With old doors, trying taking your hand off the knob to close them.

[@rose2fame1]

Interesting that you like the Alberta Sturgess Montagues painting the best.

[@janetrogers5429]

Love watching Julie from peoria illinois

[@Laura-qk3or]

Very interesting! I would love to visit some day!

[@vickynay9863]

Thank you for this video! It was very good and very interesting!

[@adventurebabyboomer7318]

Yes I remember when M. Markle claimed she got married on her "back yard" away from the public eye. The chaplain then responded by saying it would not have happened, because in England the location of a wedding needs to be registered.

[@livingthegoodlifechannel]

I knew that it was a cachepot but I didn't pronounce it correctly. : ) Thank you for the tour.

[@wanderer1343]

I think you should use the money to restore the entire estate. The tennis court is part of that. Make it all grand.

[@AmericanViscountess]

The list of things to repair is so long, we have to do the important things first! Thank you for the comment and support 😊

[@bernadettecrawford3656]

Informative as ever thank you

[@Magpieme98]

Thanks for the tour and the history lesson! Greetings from Florida ☺️

[@coniwatson9512]

Really enjoy your show cant wait to visit before I go to Home/Hume gathering at Wedderburn in Scotland. just found you. From Alabama.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you Coni! I'm about to head to Scotland next week for a Staycation! xx

[@Rick_Hoppe]

It’s very interesting to hear about the people portrayed in the paintings, but I’d also be most interested in finding out who the painters are. I especially love the portrait of Alberta. The artist is quite accomplished. I couldn’t identify who the artist is, but from the style of painting I would put it’s execution between 1890 and 1910. The looseness of approach suggests very early 20th century. Beautifully done! Thanks for the tour!

[@ashleyknight4122]

I love the history!

[@jartotable]

Where the old tudor door was makes sense of the layout of the original garden now because the pathway leads straight to the orginal door.

[@lisaharrington6488]

Always love seeing the paintings in the Staircase Hall and hearing their history but I would also like to know about the other paintings in the Hall that you never seems to mention at all. Living there and being a part of all the history, you may feel that the other paintings are not interesting but I would enjoy hearing about them. I think others would as well.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Will do for sure as there are some v. interesting paintings!

[@lucydych9474]

I really enjoy your videos. They are full of wonderful history!!!♥️

[@AmericanViscountess]

Glad you like them!

[@Mislandlife]

Martha Ray is buried in the churchyard of St Nicholas Church, Elstree.

[@victoriaprulipko8126]

I am from Ukraine. I don't understand all you said but l like your videos very much

[@tabithatatum4988]

Absolutely love and enjoy all of your videos. No matter how serious or quirky or funny some are. It's just so interesting. BTW, suggestion if maybe you guys could propagate and sell some of your original plants. Many times people who love historic houses with Gardens love to take a piece home with them. Just a suggestion. I've bought some from Middleton Plantation in Charleston, SC.

[@tabithatatum4988]

I thought of this whilst trying to figure out if that was a camelia in front of the old Tudor door.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thank you so much!

[@tamiwallace7572]

Love this! So interesting!

[@Linda-dx4bt]

Awesome! Open that room! lol

[@AmericanViscountess]

I know! I need to....

[@napsan00]

Very cool insight, thank you. Starting / some of your words are sounding slightly"British" accent, lol. Looking forward to seeing more. Have a great day.

[@AmericanViscountess]

Thanks for watching!

[@miriamwallace5530]

Hey Julie - thanks so much for all your tours- love them 😊 I also love your shirt in this video - where is it from? Xx

[@melissaramos8020]

Greetings from Chicaho

[@wanderawaywithsirikay3522]

ok the drone view of the old garden is soooooo cool! I absolutely adore the BTS...IMO way more interesting to see how you really live in the house than just a paid visit (though i never mind those either!) Have you ever entertained turning the house entrance back around and/or reinstalling the parterre gardens there?

[@AmericanViscountess]

More to come!

[@pattimessenger6214]

You keep talking about the Dottington episode. But what show? Is it on KZbin, so we can watch it?

[@jartotable]

I'd be quite happy that you spend any KZbin money to the court refurb. Your money your choice. All the the other producers on here can have that choice to choose where they spend there money. No-ones business. You give your time and that's not free. 😘

[@mail4dodi]

Julie! You left me hanging…what is in that little room? I am dying to know. 🙂

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

That’s strange my comment isn’t showing up ugh

[@jenjem5810]

Could it be unkind perhaps?

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

@@jenjem5810 no it wasn’t unkind at all

[@Grahzzyhardcore]

Harry Potter room

[@ursulaclarke6066]

Julie, I’ve seen a painting in some of the videos of a little girl with a blue sash, it’s a charming painting. Who is the little girl?

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

See people think when your a lord or lady you have a butler and maids just waiting on you hand and foot when there’s a long list of things that need to be done that stretches down the drive and you worry where the thrash is going to come from and it’s sad the generations before WW1 didn’t think of the future and how it would have a toll on there family’s where the money was going to come from to keep it all going that’s why the millionaire arises came over they had the money and the family got the title when you have a listed building it stinks since all the materials have to come from the city’s or county’s where they were originally purchased from like the tiles in the stair hall if on brakes and let’s say they came from Wheals well that’s where you have to get them from yah just can’t go to Home Depot I feel if the family puts there minds on the prize of this beautiful place as a working living estate again I can see them making it

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

Jen Jen here’s my original comment I’ve been having issues like someone is controlling everything I do on here

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

@ Jen Jen here’s my comment

[@user-qz5dq8kn4p]

@Jen Jen see here’s my comment it’s here now so strange

[@Oliver-Can]

Here is the question ! why King Charles the second made the Edward Montagu an Earl ??? I mean he made a really important thing and ı probably would make him a duke , ı think that what he deserves

[@barrymoore4470]

Holding the dignity and rank of an Earl was and is still a considerable honor; at the time of Montagu's elevation, an Earl could be referred to as "most noble and puissant prince". Dukedoms were still relatively rare in 1660, at the time Montagu was created Earl of Sandwich, and tended to be reserved for members of the Royal Family or persons closely linked to the sovereign by sanguinity or marriage. And at the time of the creation, the first Earl of Sandwich could still hope to possibly be elevated even further in the peerage, or anticipate one of his successors to be so honored.

[@Oliver-Can]

@@barrymoore4470 thank you for lovely explanation 😀 it makes quite sense pretty logical 👍

[@barrymoore4470]

@@Oliver-Can You're most welcome!

[@jasonpetersen6116]

Love the history, love the House! Are you Trans?