It must be coded into our genes: New money is funny and old money is fascinating — even though old money was once new money.
On Sunday night, PBS feeds our old money curiosity with another installment of its terrific iconic-homes series, “Secrets of…” This week, it’s “Secrets of Chatsworth,” a 15th century estate that makes “Downton Abbey” look like Downton shabby.
Built by the Earl of Devonshire (the family name is Cavendish), it has 300 rooms, a half-acre of corridors and a history of such fantastic affairs that it’s more like a cat house than a manor house. The home is still occupied, after 500 years, by a Cavendish — Peregrine Cavendish, to be precise. I swear.
We learn that the ancient English tradition of primogeniture (oldest son gets everything) still exists, and has preserved the joint from being divided between the siblings. Even so, these places do shrink — especially over half a millennium.
Chatsworth is now roughly the size of DC, which is down from its heyday when it was roughly half the size of Rhode Island.
The Cavendish’ family is nothing if not humble. For example, Peregrine explains that when Regular Joes meet titled people, “They are bound to be disappointed because we’re just regular people like they are.” (But with crowns.) What I love best about this episode, however, is not what’s new but what’s old as dirt — and as dirty.
Take the 18th century Duchess Giorgina, whose gambling habit was so bad she owed more than the estate was worth, and so lonely she took up with a duchess who in turn took up with Georgina’s husband (and also with Georgina).
Then there was Kathleen “Kick” Kennedy, sister of JFK. She and Chatsworth heir Billy fell in love. He was Protestant nobility and she was an American Catholic.
Separated by WWII, she eventually got there in 1944 and they married just before Billy went to war and was killed four months later.
She died in a plane crash three years later.
“Chatsworth” is definitely worth chatting about.
And, yes, I’m very ashamed I wrote that.