TO THE MANOR BORN

Audrey Fforbs-Hamilton enjoys all the little luxuries that a women of her standing and ancestry might expect, that is until her husband dies and the death duties force her to sell Grantleigh Manor, and move into the coach house, only retaining her faithful butler, Brabinger. The Manor is subsequently bought by a successful business man, Richard De Vere, and at first audrey resents him for taking her place, but secretly likes him. The series was written by Peter Spence and was extremely popular with the first paperback having to be reprinted!

In total there were three series made for television, and almost twenty years later, there was an adaptation for Radio 2. Ten episodes were especially recorded six of which were adaptations of the television scripts and four were written expressly for radio and the series was produced by Jane Berthoud. In the TV version Penelope Keith played Fforbs-Hamilton and Peter Bowles, De Vere, but Keith Barron replaced Bowles in the radio version. All of the TV series is now available on video and DVD from Acorn Media, and can be bought at a discount using the links to Amazon on the right. A double cassette containing 4 of the 10 episodes was released soem while ago, but the series has been broadcast on BBC7 since.


:: SERIES 1 | 2 | 3 | Radio

Series One.

TitleTX DateNotes
Losing Grantleigh Manor30.9.79Volume 1
The New Owner7.10.79Volume 1
Going To Church14.10.79Volume 1
The Fireplace21.10.79Volume 1
The Hunt Ball28.10.79Volume 2
A Holiday At Home4.11.79Volume 2
The TV Commercial11.11.79Volume 2
A Grantleigh Christmas25.12.79Volume 6

Series Two.

TitleTX DateNotes
New Farm Manager5.10.80Volume 3
No Room In The Lodge12.10.80Volume 3
The Vanishing Vase19.10.80Volume 3
Tramps And Poachers26.10.80Volume 4
New Years Honours2.11.80Volume 4
Speedy Recovery9.11.80Volume 4

Series Three.

TitleTX DateNotes
The Scouts18.10.81Volume 5
Save The Railway Station!25.10.81Volume 5
Horses & Helicopters1.11.81volume 5
A Rare Bird8.11.81Volume 6
Female Prerogative15.11.81Volume 6
Business Crisis22.11.81Volume 6
Marraige and Back29.11.81Volume 6

Radio Series.

Originally broadcast on Radio 2 of a Saturday lunchtime at 1.30pm.

TitleTX DateNotes
Rhythms of the Earth25.1.97
The Grape Vine 1.2.97
What's in a Name 8.2.97
Vive Le Sport 15.2.97
Sons of Fathers 22.2.97
A Wife's Perogative 1.3.97
The Spare Room 8.3.97
An Englishman's Home 15.3.97
The Honours List 22.3.97
Plenty More Fish29.3.97