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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
<sup id="note-a">a</sup> As Thirsk and Ripon are in fact 14 miles apart by road, it can be deduced that Downton must be a little off the direct route between the two. Thus, if Downton is to the south of the direct route, it is in the vicinity of Topcliffe, while if it is to the north of the direct route, it is in the vicinity of Sandhutton.{{Cite}}
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<sup id="note-a">a</sup> As Thirsk and Ripon are in fact 12 miles apart by road, it can be deduced that Downton must be a off the direct route between the two.
 
The main road through Sandhutton runs in a north-south direction (Northallerton - Topcliffe), and both Thirsk and Ripon would be reached by leaving the village heading south on the same road and then turning either left for Thirsk or right for Ripon (on either the A61 or the old A168 route). Topcliffe high street (A168) runs NE-SW, and prior to the opening of the A61, it was the main route between Thirsk and Ripon and such a sign with the two conurbations in opposite directions would be feasible here.
 
   
 
[[File:Routes500.jpg|right]]
 
[[File:Routes500.jpg|right]]

Revision as of 19:30, 15 February 2020

Downton is a small village in North Yorkshire, England.

Downton contains a post office, a village shop, two public houses (the Grantham Arms and The Dog and Duck) and a railway station. There is also a cottage hospital, the main doctor of which is Dr. Richard Clarkson. There is also a large church, Church of St. Michael of All Angels, with a cemetery beside it.

Located a few minutes walk from the village rests Downton Abbey, the seat of the Earl and Countess of Grantham and the latter and the former's main residence. Lord and Lady Grantham's two eldest daughters and two youngest grandchildren live at Downton Abbey.

In the village are also two mansions, the Dower House and Crawley House. The Dower House is the residence of Lord Grantham's mother, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Crawley House is the residence of Lord and Lady Merton, and was also the residence of Lady Merton's son Matthew Crawley until he moved to the Abbey following his marriage to Lord and Lady Grantham's eldest daughter (also Matthew Crawley's fourth cousin).

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The village is located between the towns of Ripon and Thirsk. A signpost in Downton village shows that Thirsk is 6 miles in one direction, while Ripon is 9 miles in the other direction.[1]a

Known Locations

Behind the scenes

  • The village of Downton is depicted by Bampton, in Oxfordshire.
  • There is no village of Downton in the real Yorkshire, but the Yorkshire press have attempted to find where it might be.[2]

Notes

a As Thirsk and Ripon are in fact 12 miles apart by road, it can be deduced that Downton must be a off the direct route between the two.

Routes500

OpenStreetMap data was modified to reflect the roads in 1920. Distances to all road junctions on the map by the shortest route were found from Thirsk and Ripon.

The most likely location for Downton is Eldmire, 5.6 miles from Thirsk and 9.2 miles from Ripon. Holme (6.7 and 8.9), Catton (5.7 and 8.4) and Dalton (5.1 and 9.2) are not quite as good a match. There are also possible locations in Sinderby.

Given the references to Easingwold, Eldmire in the south-east of the area is the best overall fit. There was a nearby station at Sessay on the North Eastern Railway to Kings Cross. Neighbouring Dalton may have given rise to the name Downton.

The route from Eldmire to Thirsk turns north just before Topcliffe and passes Thorpefield; to Ripon it goes through Topcliffe and Rainton

References

  1. Episode 3.01
  2. So where is Downton Abbey? 9:27am Friday 15th October 2010