Downton Abbey

Show generally

Factual error: There's more PIR's (movement detectors used in security systems) in Hireclere than you could find in a security warehouse! Just look behind the actors in the corners of a room about 8 feet up. White plastic things about the size of a packet of smokes. I think the earliest units on the market started appearing around the early 70's. The PIR's in Downton Abby look to be around the late 80's onward - pretty advanced for 1914.

Episode #2.7 - S2-E7

Other mistake: When the dowager visits Matthew in his bedroom to tell him Mary is still in love with him before he goes through with marrying Lavinia, the curtains hanging behind Matthew are so wrinkled and creased just as curtains are when they come out of a package from the store. The crease lines are terrible! One would think set design would have steamed them as in real life, they would have been custom-made and certainly not folded up like that for shipping, thus never having creases like that.

More mistakes in Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey trivia picture

Season 5 generally

Trivia: Set in 1924, a few publicity shots of the Series 5 cast members, new and old, were rolled out, and one promotional photo in particular was quite revealing. Sitting on the mantelpiece behind cast members Hugh Bonneville and Laura Carmichael, who play the Earl of Grantham and Lady Edith, was a modern-day plastic bottle of water.

Super Grover

More trivia for Downton Abbey

A Moorland Holiday - S5-E9

Question: Lord Sinderby has a painting of Jesus in his library. Would a Jewish leader decorate his rooms with a crucified Jesus? I really don't know, so thanks for an answer from wiser ones.

Answer: Lord Sinderby purchased the house, furnished and appointed, from someone else, complete with staff that come with the home (some of whom aren't happy to be working for a Jewish family). He bought the title, as well. If the artwork featuring Jesus is valuable, he might keep it. Also interesting, his ancestors Anglicized their name, though he is proudly Jewish.

Michael Albert

More questions & answers from Downton Abbey

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.