I just found a bit of background info on the wonderful place that is used as "Downton Abby"....it is the Victorian Highclere Castle, home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, in Berkshire England (click "about us" to see them )
http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/index.html
There are some gorgeous pictures on the site. I really enjoyed looking around the website and getting some of the history