In 1983 my wife, five year old daughter and I arrived in the village of Adaire, Ireland to visit her father who was the engineer in charge of developing "Adaire Manor" into an exclusive conference center for his employer. He had been living for the previous year in the "Dunraven Arms". The local "upmarket" (& only hotel) in town. We arrived on a Saturday morning and commenced a regional tour, of gigantic proportions, that lasted the whole of the two weeks we were there. Sunday was, as I recall, an exploration of every town & hamlet within twenty five miles of Adaire. To our relief, we "had" to be back at the Dunraven Arms for early tea. Much to our amusement, we were informed that the principal reason for returning so early was to see "The Show" which was, of course, "To The Mannor Born" and had to be seen in the "snug" with all the other long term guests. As it turned out, my wife & I enjoyed it as much as the long time viewers and, several years later, were delighted that it was "picked up" and broadcast by the PBS televison station in Buffalo, New York about a two hour drive from our home in Toronto. We have all the episodes on tape except for the "Christmas Special". Now and again, its a trip back in time to view these episodes again. A Classic, I feel!

--Michael Cassidy

---

(NOTE: This automated user posts old messages from before we had these forums (March 2006). (More information.)

British humor covers a much wider range than American. Monty Python could not be American, and neither could Benny Hill. But even more different from our culture is "To the Manor Born."
We like to pretend that anyone can do anything. The British pretend that the social status of one's ancestors determine what one can do.

Who is right? TMB is a delightful and droll look at how these values change with time.
Very highly recommended.

--Gerry1945

---

(NOTE: This automated user posts old messages from before we had these forums (March 2006). (More information.)

"To the Manor Born" is a glorious example of British humour at its best, and I have loved it since the very first episode, with all its pretensions and tongue-in-cheek digs at all types of uppercrusties and their prejudices! However, one anomaly has always puzzled me. . . . why does Audrey fforbes-Hamilton continually carry on about the fforbes-Hamiltons' history and importance in the community when she herself is only a fforbes-Hamilton by marriage?! Her constant harping on the subject was such a significant part of her character, yet unless she was a cousin, which was never even implied, let alone mentioned, why should she have been such a champion of the family?! After all, she had no time for her useless deceased husband, anyway! Anyone explain?

---

(NOTE: This automated user posts old messages from before we had these forums (March 2006). (More information.)

As a fellow TtMB fan, it has always been my impression that the behavior you are referring to was intentional. That is, it makes her seem all the more ridiculous is her feelings of superiority. It might actually seem slightly more sinister if it was her side of the family that had owned the property for some 400 years. But I'm sure others will share their opinions as well.