Episode Description: In this episode, the Duchess meets Alice Kennard of Forde Abbey. Alice describes the fascinating monastic history of Forde Abbey, and why it was so important in its time. We also hear from Alice about the beauty of her award winning gardens, and we learn all about the famous Mortlake tapestry that used to hang in the Abbey. Top Quotes: “I feel there is a pressure to produce that clinical visitor experience the National Trust do, which I’m determined not to do. Here, they...

Episode Description: In this episode, the Duchess meets Lady Inglewood of Hutton-In-The-Forest. In the episode, we learn about Hutton's incredible architecture, Lady Inglewood takes us through her exceptional gardening pedigree, and she also discusses with Emma the serendipitous origins of Hutton's world famous Potfest. Top Quotes: “Living in this house, and getting older yourself, you realise a hundred years isn’t very long. Time is a telescope.” - Lady Inglewood “To preserve this place for...

Episode Description: This week, the Duchess meets the brilliant Virginia Grant of Kingston Bagpuize House. In this episode, the Duchess learns about the perfect architectural symmetry of Kingston Bagpuize, we are taken on a tour through the rare fauna on the estate, and Virginia reveals what it’s really like to have Maggie Smith in your home. Top Quotes: “My guidance to future generations would be don’t ignore what your predecessors did. It’s so important you preserve the estates. It’s so...

Episode Description: In this episode of Duchess, Emma Rutland meets the wonderful Sarah Troughton, custodian of one of Scotland’s most enchanting stately homes - Blair Castle. In the episode, Sarah reveals how the Dukes of Atholl, who once called Blair their home, inherited the title of Lord of Mann - head of state of the Isle of Man. The Duchess is given the background on the Atholl Highlanders - Europe’s last private army, and we’re introduced to a former custodian who was not only the...

Episode Description: On this exciting episode of Duchess, Emma meets the custodian of one of Britain’s greatest stately homes: The Marchioness Townshend of Raynham Hall. In this episode, we learn about the fascinating story of how the city of Sydney was named after a Townshend. The Duchess hears how Lord ‘Turnip’ Townshend ushered in an agricultural revolution at Raynham, and we are given the full story behind the world’s best known ghost photograph! Top Quotes: “You can not dictate the...

Episode Description: Listen in as the Duchess meets Claire Watson-Armstrong of the magnificent Bamburgh Castle. In this epsiode, we learn why Bamburgh is considered one of the greatest archeological sites in Great Britain, we are introduced to the many ghosts that are said to still walk castle halls, and Claire explains why Bamburgh Castle has been a centre for innovation. Top Quotes: “I love the interiors of Bamburgh Castle. Bits of the castle are Norman, are victorian, are more modern. But...

Episode Description: In this episode, our host travels to Cirencester Park to meet the Countess Bathurst. In this episode, Lady Bathurst explains to the Duchess how the Earl Bathurst was instrumental in the Battle of Waterloo, the Duchess is introduced to the ‘tornado of a woman’ who called Cirencester home, and Lady Bathurst tells us about the amusing encounter between the late Henry, Earl Bathurst and Prince William. Top Quotes: “These estates, these houses, are a way of life. It’s not a...

Welcome back to Season 3 of Duchess! - the podcast where the Duchess of Rutland explores the historic homes of Great Britain and Ireland, and meets the inspiring women who lead them today. Have you ever watched Bridgerton, The Crown or Downton Abbey and wondered what it's really like to be a Duchess? If so, this is the podcast for you. Stately homes are manors, palaces, and castles of great historic significance. They were built by the finest architects, adorned with the finest treasures and...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. This week, Lady Derby of Knowsley and the Duchess discuss the unforeseen challenges, and even some of the surprising benefits, of running a stately home during the pandemic. In the full episode, Lady Derby speaks to The Duchess about the impressive Stanley family lineage, the ladies discuss the estates astounding connection to Shakespeare, and we are given insight into the equestrian...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. This time we are revisiting Kinnaird Castle, where the Duchess met Caroline Fife, Duchess of Fife, to talk about the history of empowering women at the estate. In the full episode, the Duchesses speak extensively about the estate’s rebellious history, listeners catch a glimpse of the magnificent art collection in the castle, and we learn about the many groundbreaking conservation...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. On this week’s Memory, we look back to when the Duchess met Catherine Maxwell Stuart of Traquair House and spoke about the 1000 years of Scottish History at the estate and the future of Scotland going forward. In the full episode, we learn what it’s like to be the first Lady Laird of Traquair, we hear the tale behind the famous ‘closed gates’ of Traquair (and why tradition states they...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. On this week’s Memory, we revisit when Emma met Hollywood actress and Countess of Devon, A.J. Devon, where the Countess opened up about the initially challenging adjustment to life with a title and an estate. In the full episode, the Duchess learns about the splendid history Powderham castle, why LGBTQ rights are at the heart of the estates mission, and The Countess reflects on her...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. This week, we revisit Blenheim Palace where the Duchess and Lady Henrietta Spencer Churchill discussed the challenge of modernising stately homes. In the full episode, we hear how the Palace came to be against all odds, the ladies talk about Henrietta’s distinguished lineage and her memories of Winston Churchill, and we are taken on a tour of the incredible architecture and interiors...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. On this week’s Memory, we listen back to when The Duchess met to Lady Mansfield of Scone Palace and heard the moving story of one of Britain’s first black aristocrats: Elizabeth Dido Bell. In the full episode Lady Mansfield and The Duchess speak about the incredible contributions the first Earl Mansfield made to racial equality, we learn about the Stone of Destiny and how central...

In these ‘Memories’ episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. This week we look back to when Emma met Her Grace, The Duchess of Argyll, and we heard the story of the iconic 20th century beauty Ethel Margaret Campbell. In the full episode, The Duchess of Argyll takes us inside her fabulous home: the historic Inveraray Castle. We learn all about the ghostly history that lives inside the imposing 15th century walls, we learn of Inveraray’s...

In these special bonus episodes, Emma has selected some of her most treasured memories from the Duchess podcast. This week, we have Demetra Lindsay of Hedingham Castle and the Duchess discussing some of the friendly ghosts that enchant their estates. In the full episode we learn about the incredible history of the UK’s greatest preserved Norman Keep, we hear a beautiful love story that challenged the social norms of it’s day, and we take a tour down the wonderful gardens of Hedingham. Listen...

Episode Description: On this very special festive episode of the podcast, our Duchess is joined by her daughter Eliza to speak about their historic home: Belvoir Castle. In the show, the Duchess reveals all about her own background, we learn about Belvoir’s ‘forbidden place’, the ladies discuss the chilling ghostly encounters they’ve had in their home, and we hear why it's so magical to spend Christmas in a castle. Top Quotes: "I've felt, from every woman I've met through making this...

Episode Description: In the final episode of season 2, The Duchess of Rutland meets Lady Karen Spencer of the historic Althorp House. In the episode, we are introduced to the many extraordinary women in the Spencer family, Lady Karen regales some of the ghostly activity they have experienced in the home, and the ladies muse over their shared love of cows! Top Quotes: "It takes a long time to understand these houses. I think the danger in a place like this is to come in and change things...

Episode Description: On this week’s episode, the Duchess of Rutland speaks with Lady Northampton who is a custodian of two historic homes: Compton Wynyates and Castle Ashby. In the show, the Duchess learns how one of Henry’s VIII’s closest confidants helped build the Spencer family line, Lady Northampton elaborates on why Compton Wynyates is such an architecturally unique place, and we are introduced to the unpublished female poet that was admired by Wordsworth and Sir Walter Scott. Top...

Episode Description: On this week’s special episode, the Duchess of Rutland speaks to Catherine Fitzgerald of Glin Castle in Ireland. In the show, Catherine regales some of the wonderful and amusing legends associated with her family, we catch a glimpse of the ghosts of Glin, and Catherine opens about the unexpected nature of her custodianship. Top Quotes: "Glin Castle is part of an architectural golden period in Ireland. It was built when most of Georgian Dublin was built. There was a...

Episode Description: This time on Duchess, our host the Duchess of Rutland meets with Julie Montagu online to talk about her historic home - Mapperton House and Gardens. In the episode, Julie details how the Montagu’s invented the sandwich, the Duchess is taken through Mapperton’s beautiful interiors, and the ladies discuss the exciting re-wilding projects that are being initiated on the estate. Top Quotes: "David Attenborough said we must re-wild the world and, at Mapperton House...

Episode Description: In today’s show, the Duchess visits the beautiful Constable Burton Hall and Gardens to meet the current chatelaine, Imogen Wyvill. In the episode, Imogen introduces the Duchess to the chess grand master who courted Florence Nightingale, we learn about the Wyvill family’s important hand in the abolition of slavery, and the ladies discuss the famed and fabulous Tulip festival that is hosted at Constable Burton annually. Top Quotes: "Living in homes like these, you fall in...

Episode Description: Today on the podcast, the Duchess travels to the magnificent Carlton Towers to meet Lady Gerald. In the show, Lady Gerald opens up about her daunting start to life in heritage, Lady Gerald explains how Carlton became ‘the greatest of all Victorian homes’, and the Duchess is introduced to Carlton’s ‘happy harp playing’ ghost! Top Quotes: "In heritage, there is a sense of duty and a sense of burden." - Duchess "I'm fearfully proud of being a custodian and whenever we leave...

Episode Description: In this week’s episode, the Duchess speaks to Lady Ailsa of the historic Stonor Park. In the episode, Lady Ailsa tells the Duchess about the mysterious story of Hollywood’s lost aviator, we get the backstory on Stonor Park’s mystical foundations, and the ladies discuss the estate’s fascinating history of Catholic martyrdom. Top Quotes: "When living in these homes you do really reflect on how extraordinary it is to have this great tapestry of hundreds of years...

Episode Description: In this week’s episode, the Duchess journeys to the beautiful Birdsall House to meet Lady Cara Willoughby. In the show, Lady Cara tells the Duchess about the incredible, swashbuckling life story of Britain’s most reckless naval officer, Lady Cara reveals how Jane Austen was influenced by Birdsall in her novels, and the ladies explore more ghostly-goings-on in heritage. Top Quotes: "Living in heritage you become extremely aware through portraits on the wall, and the...