The real Downton Abbey- WI Meeting

On Thursday evening the Audlem W.I. had a very interesting speaker who entitled his talk "The Real Downton Abbey".

He spoke about Oulton Hall which had been a manor house in Tudor times but after a fire was rebuilt as a majestic hall in the 18th century.

He spoke enthusiastically about the motor racing which now takes part at Oulton Park, but the audience was more interested to hear about the house and the Egerton family and servants who lived at the Hall.

Mark Bevan's photographs showed the hall and grounds as well as family and servant photographs.

The hall was used as a hospital during World War One, similar to Downton Abbey

Sadness engulfed the Egerton family during World War 1 when the twin sons of the family were killed.The house was rented out to a another family after the war and on Valentine's Day 1926 fire broke out and destroyed the house and killed six people.

American troops were also billeted in the grounds during the Second World War. There were many stories about the American troops during their stay !
Further bombing in The Second World War completed the devastation of the house.

As the American troops had put roads into the park motoring enthusiasts were keen to begin a motor racing track – and it remains so to this day.
An amazing story of wealth, war drama and tragedy which has ended up a real life "Downton Abbey.".

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