For millions of viewers, Downton Abbey was a vision of aristocratic elegance. But for the cast, the reality of filming in the historic Highclere Castle was a far dirtier, and more dangerous, affair than anyone could have imagined.
Kevin Doyle, who played the unfortunate footman Joseph Molesley, has pulled back the velvet curtain on the show's less glamorous secrets. In a startling revelation, he admitted the cast and crew were genuinely concerned about the potential health hazards lurking in the ancient estate.
'We were convinced we were being slowly poisoned,' Doyle confessed, highlighting the palpable fear that hung in the air—quite literally—along with the dust of centuries.
A Castle Full of Cautions
The primary worry wasn't the script or the demanding filming schedule, but the very environment they worked in. Doyle described the castle as being caked in a thick layer of grime and dust, a consequence of its immense age and size making it nearly impossible to keep clean.
'There were actually signs up saying, ‘Please do not touch the walls because your hand will be covered in black soot’,’ the actor recalled. This wasn't just for the preservation of the artefacts; the crew were warned that the dust contained lead paint particles from the old décor.
Lunch with a Side of History
The hazards extended beyond the air they breathed. The cast often ate their meals on set, surrounded by the very contaminants they feared. Doyle painted a vivid picture of the bizarre day-to-day experience.
'We’d be sitting there having our lunch and we’d be brushing dust off the food,' he said, acknowledging the grim irony of dining in such opulent yet unclean surroundings.
Despite the modern-day health and safety concerns, the authentic, lived-in feel of Highclere Castle was undeniable. This grimy authenticity, Doyle conceded, was a key ingredient in the show's magic, creating the palpable sense of history that audiences adored.
His co-star, Michael Fox, who played Andy, agreed, noting that the sheer scale and authenticity of the location were unparalleled compared to other film sets.
Ultimately, the cast survived their dusty ordeal, and their on-screen chemistry, forged amidst the soot and lead paint, helped propel Downton Abbey to become a global television phenomenon. It seems a little potential poisoning was a price they were willing to pay for art.
