A British-American couple shares what it's really like to live in and maintain a historic 16th-century English manor house — check it out

Amanda GohSep 2, 2022, 09:12 IST

The exterior of Mapperton House.Mapperton Estate

Julie and Luke Montagu live in a 16th-century manor called Mapperton House in West Dorset, UK.
The couple says that most people don't realize how much work and money goes into maintaining the home.

Forget "Bridgerton" or "Downton Abbey," living in a historic English manor is not as glamorous as it seems. Julie Montagu and her husband Luke would know — they live in one that dates back to the 16th century.

The Montagus standing outside Mapperton House, their family home.Mapperton Estate

Forget "Bridgerton" or "Downton Abbey," living in a historic English manor is not as glamorous as it seems. Julie Montagu and her husband Luke would know — they live in one that dates back to the 16th century.

It's a story of endless repairs: There are 54 rooms in the Mapperton House in total, and the place hasn't been renovated since the 1950s.

The exterior of Mapperton House.Mapperton Estate

Maintenance is costly and time-consuming: Over the past three years, the Montagus have renovated their kitchen, the bathrooms, and even the pool, but they're far from done.

The Great Room.Mapperton Estate

Maintenance is costly and time-consuming: Over the past three years, the Montagus have renovated their kitchen, the bathrooms, and even the pool, but they're far from done.

One of the earlier renovations was a 17th-century stable block which the Montagus converted into a cafe and events space.

The 17th century stable block has been converted into a new cafe and events space.Mapperton Estate

Apart from making the manor visitor-friendly, the Montagus also wanted to make it family-friendly. They were living in the house after all, and the place had to be updated with modern amenities.

Julie Montagu standing in her kitchen in the Mapperton Estate, in front of the 70-year-old stove.Mapperton Estate

Apart from making the manor visitor-friendly, the Montagus also wanted to make it family-friendly. They were living in the house after all, and the place had to be updated with modern amenities.

There were very few bathrooms in the house originally. To make the place more comfortable for their family and guests, the Montagus added five extra bathrooms.

The oldest lavatory in the house, which uses a pull-up flushing system.Mapperton Estate

The Mapperton House is protected by the government due to its historical value, and the Montagus have to be careful with their renovations because they can't pull down any walls.

A guest room.Mapperton Estate

The Mapperton House is protected by the government due to its historical value, and the Montagus have to be careful with their renovations because they can't pull down any walls.

Apart from restoring the house, the old furniture and decor that's been passed down through generations of Luke's family also need to be regularly maintained.

The entrance hall.Mapperton Estate

While the regular maintenance work was something the couple expected when they first moved in, it's the occasional big repair that catches them off-guard.

The dining room.Mapperton Estate

Although they have a staff of 12 to help them run the various businesses on the estate grounds, the couple say that they are very much involved in the daily operations.

The Mapperton Gardens.Mapperton Estate

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A British-American couple shares what it's really like to live in and maintain a historic 16th-century English manor house &mdash; check it out

Forget "Bridgerton" or "Downton Abbey," living in a historic English manor is not as glamorous as it seems. Julie Montagu and her husband Luke would know — they live in one that dates back to the 16th century.

It's a story of endless repairs: There are 54 rooms in the Mapperton House in total, and the place hasn't been renovated since the 1950s.

Maintenance is costly and time-consuming: Over the past three years, the Montagus have renovated their kitchen, the bathrooms, and even the pool, but they're far from done.

One of the earlier renovations was a 17th-century stable block which the Montagus converted into a cafe and events space.

Apart from making the manor visitor-friendly, the Montagus also wanted to make it family-friendly. They were living in the house after all, and the place had to be updated with modern amenities.

There were very few bathrooms in the house originally. To make the place more comfortable for their family and guests, the Montagus added five extra bathrooms.

The Mapperton House is protected by the government due to its historical value, and the Montagus have to be careful with their renovations because they can't pull down any walls.

Apart from restoring the house, the old furniture and decor that's been passed down through generations of Luke's family also need to be regularly maintained.

While the regular maintenance work was something the couple expected when they first moved in, it's the occasional big repair that catches them off-guard.

Although they have a staff of 12 to help them run the various businesses on the estate grounds, the couple say that they are very much involved in the daily operations.

A British-American couple shares what it's really like to live in and maintain a historic 16th-century English manor house — check it out