Royal Castle RENOVATION Into a Family Home - Rockingham Castle Part 1
In this opening episode of the second season of American Viscountess, I visit Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. A royal fortress for 500 years, following the Norman Conquest of 1066, Rockingham was visited by successive Kings and Queens of England. The Castle is now the beautiful home of James Saunders Watson and his family. I tour the interior of the castle, tracing the history of the building and revealing some surprise family connections. We see the Great Hall, Library, Panel Room, and Long Gallery, all of which have evolved to the needs and tastes of each generation who have lived here.
You can find out more about Rockingham Castle on their website: www.rockinghamcastle.com
Please support the production of American Viscountess and in particular our high production quality of the Historic Houses by becoming a Patron at / americanviscountess
Here you'll received all vlogs and Historic House episodes early and ad-free plus behind-the-scenes videos, American Viscountess merchandise and much more! We can’t make these important Historic House episodes without the support of our patrons.
If you love castles and manors and stately homes get the latest over at my bi-monthly American Viscountess newsletter: julie-montagu-ltd.ck.page/9ab...
Join the UK's best membership scheme and help preserve Britain's independent heritage (international membership available too!) at www.historichouses.org/intern... and use the code AVTV05 to receive £5 off.
Follow me on Instagram for behind the scenes content: / juliemontagu and / americanviscountess
Follow our sister channel to watch it’s really like living in an historic house in the 21st century: / mappertonlive
---------------
American Viscountess Season 2 is co-produced with Aonia Culture, aonia.com - It is made in association with @historic_houses historichouses.org The U.K’s largest collection of independently owned historic houses and gardens.
The production of American Viscountess is made possible by our Patrons - thank you! Please consider becoming a Patron at / americanviscountess
Better then the BBC. Have become quite addicted to your content. Both myself and my 11 year old daughter love watching and learning. Happy Valentines!!
Wonderful to read this! Wow and thank you!!!
Thank you reanaa! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Yep. BBC with all its taxpayer funding couldn't even do a programme this insightful for less than a few million. The Viscountess is just too affable with everyone. And asks the right questions. Production too, is broadcast quality. Excellent stuff.
Shouldn’t expect too much from the BBC peasants.
Lmao the classism is real. Wth
Having an América host really helps, as American personality is more direct and warm.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
I have stayed at Rockingham for 4 Christmas’s with Gemma, & have so much to tell everyone! Michael, Faith, ( both India Lovers) The Queens Christmas visit, E M Forster( I still treasure his Christmas gift to me ) & gifts of super posters of Charles Dickens who wrote “Bleak House” here. Oh so many stories to tell- full of humour, laughter, & sadness! Those were the days.!!
Zehra so wonderful to see you here!! We want to hear your story!
We stayed at Rockingham, for a week, in the middle 90's. What a great experience. The elephant walk was amazing.
Thank you for your comment! We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
What a wonderfully amiable man, I could listen to his historical preambles all day. An amazing castle, perhaps one of my favourites and how fab to have such a wonderful man take care of this wonderful piece of English history while ensuring it also remains a spectacular family home.
Couldn't agree more!
He was so generous & gracious !!!!
I was trying to think of a word to describe him, and I don't think that I could do better than your "amiable".
Amiable and someone who can actually describe things vividly without side tracking or procrastinating. This in contrast to the vast majority of KZheadrs who are all over the place.
same!!!! I was thinking how likeable this man is!!!!
I think that Rockingham was used as the backdrop to a television series many years ago. It was about the effect of the English Civil War within families, a time when some members would support one side, and others the opposing side, as happened in this family.
Whenever I see people tear out the original furnishings from classical homes I get hives, but this showed me that people have been updating their homes since the begging of time. It’s neat to see the different eras interplay within the space
His family has been in the home for over 400 years!! I can’t even imagine where my family lived 400 years ago!
I love how your eyes light up and you smile so much as you learn about the Montagu connections and history of each room. It’s clear that you love doing this, and it makes us love it too.
I love how you bring us English history with your American enthusiasm! 🇺🇸🇬🇧
Mr. Watson has just such patience explaining the histories of RockinghamCastle, such down to earth character. The portrait of Queen I extraordinary. Love your vedios.
Hearing someone speak with so much knowledge and passion about his family's history and how it translates to the propriety is simply fascinating. I seriously hope there is more content like this to come. Fantastic!
This series shows how those inheriting these huge estates work very hard to maintain the upkeep. Delightful guided tour regarding such depth of history in one building.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
This video was wonderfully made. It was so wonderful to meet the matriarch of the Saunders family. So wonderful to hear the information he shared and it is obvious that you know a great deal about the architecture of castles and other stately homes and manors. Your enthusiasm and smile made this a fabulous experience. I watched the second episode immediately after enjoying this one. Thank you! Best wishes to you and your lovely family. God bless you all!
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
She kept her commoner's credentials. Exceedingly keen and upbeat! Unlady-like.
Mr. Watson has such a special way of storytelling. It’s like you’re listening to your gruff, but fun uncle. Love the interaction between him and Julie. Hearing about the family stories was specially interesting.
We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
Julie your videos are always better and better, it's like I'm watching a BBC documentary, astonishing production! Wonderful castle, I adore them, and once I will be back to Tuscany in spring I will film some as well :) xx
Totally agree with this! 🎉❤️
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
I can never get enough of these magnificent castles and estates, Julie. Your tours of them literally take me back in time, in my mind. Imagining our ancestors living there, how they lived. Each week is an adventure. I'm curious about how they are kept so clean. It must take an entire team and be an enormous undertaking.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Stranded in New Hampshire....weather, car hiccup. Happy to listen to you while Readying for a Zoom wedding. Always delightful. Thank you. Your ❤️ is always evident. Soon, hopefully you will be at One million viewers. Your content is uplifting and grounding at the same time.
What an intriguing man - he is a delight to listen to.
I love James' enthusiasm in presenting his home and the history that defines it. Very well done Julie in sharing this beautiful, historic home.
I love watching your video's . My mother is English and was from Ipswich Suffolk, her side of the family is still there. I was a military brat and my dad was stationed again in England (where he met my mother and they married) and we move there when I was 6 weeks old. We moved back to the states when I was four or five, I am right handed but cut my food with a knife with my left hand and my fork overturned. When you played the what this is, called I got all but one right. So awesome to see how you are embracing your husbands and now you heritage.
Ipswich, my home town - We lived in Fonnereau Road by Christchurch Park in the mid 60's.
Absolutely beautiful piece on British history, I am just amazed by the camera work, shots from a bird view, music, the montage of the whole video - everything is done on such a professional level, like a TV production, Julia you are born to be a commentator, story teller🥰🙏 just astonishing quality! Please say many thanks to video producer, camera man 🌹🙏🥰 and everyone who is involved !
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Julie you are doing an important job of bringing English history to all of us. Young folk of today need to learn and become proud of their heritage. So well done you.
Thank you for taking all of us to this beautiful castle. I love historical houses to see how the aristocrats lived many years ago. You are so blessed to have the opportunity you have to live in your fabulous Chateau. Kathy USA 🇺🇸
This was a wonderful first insight into Rockingham. My children went to Uppingham School, so I have driven past this beautiful castle many times. Thank you for this fabulous series!
The Library in this house has great lighting.
MORE PLEASE!!! Thank you so much Julie!!! Absolutely Fascinating!!!
Thank you Sally! We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
What a pleasurable man, and what an interest view of history he has.
The way he expressed the history, is wonderful. I was having chills seeing this first chapter. Absolutely LOVE this castle and his history.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
This new shorter introduction is a great improvement. We’re visiting the stately home within the first 90 seconds and it’s immediately more engaging. Awesome showing.
Im from Australia and Im so loving watching these shows. All the big English and Scottish places. Hoping one day to get to some but if not I have found myself enthralled in these and feel I am vistiong them with you.
So odd to see a friend’s childhood home on KZhead. Lovely people- a very down to earth bunch.
Beautyfull castle and intresting history
Julie you look like Princess Grace in that car . Kudos 👏 Kudos Kid-O . This was BEAUTIFUL 😍
James is so charming. I love his humor and I could listen to his stories all day long! Looking forward to the next episode!
Amazing transformation from castle to a comfortable, lovely home. Thank you Sir for sharing your home with us!
Glad you enjoyed it
Brilliant. Such an elegant house, and such pleasant people. If only our world had more sophistication like that.
Julie, James seems to be such a congenial fellow, not at all the aloof stern British type of fellow often portrayed in old movies. Thank you so much and I look forward to the next episode. Cheers, Rik Spector
Yes indeed,my grandmother, the Marchioness of Stickapopple now sadly moved on was at a great occasion in the Palace when one of Andrew's horsey pals fell off his trike, well Andrew was watching from the minstrels gallery and laughed uproariously !! Grandma's first reaction much applauded, was to give the bugger a kick up the arse,Then a slap in the ear, yes no nonsense allowed !
Oh I just love him! I could listen to him all day! How fascinating! Thanks for sharing with us 💜
We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
Spectacular estate!! Such a rich history! I could spend hours walking around and l learning about the castle and the historic connections to English history with James!!! The personal family history is very interesting as well. I'm really looking forward to the next video!! Love from Vermont
Oh Julie I just quite simply loved seeing this Castle it’s extraordinary. I love your honest enthusiasm while you’re asking and learning all about these amazing places you visit. I particularly love how much you yourself enjoy finding out if the Montagues are connected. Julie you absolutely bring these places alive with your enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing this history. From me in Australia 🇦🇺
Just beautiful and so enchanting.
I love all your content, Julie. I’m a big history buff & I would be right at home going through all this history. You are blessed to be surrounded by all this fabulous history & we are blessed that your gratitude & kindness allows you to share it with us. I’m hoping to go to England this fall & I’m trying to find a castle to stay in for a few evenings. This man is absolutely charming & I could listen to his stories for days. Thank for this program. I love it! So informative & breathtakingly beautiful. I appreciate all you do to show all this to us. Your the best!✨
Thank you so much Cindy!
This is the first video of yours I've watched and I'm enjoying it so much. As I was going down the wikipedia hole on the Montagu family I noticed that today is your birthday - so Happy Birthday!!!
Oh my goodness, I could have spent over a week in just the few rooms on this video. The walls, the carvings, the portraits, the furniture, the other antiques. I'm just floored, can't wait for the next video!
Thank you Deeanna! We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
It's just beautiful to watch the love and passion for the home and it's history. It is a legacy and we can witness the responsibility of preserving not only the house itself but everything that comes with it. Yes, it is a privilege to live and grow up in such grand estate but it comes with so much responsibility. And what an amazing place it is.
Yes agree all around xx
The production of this KZhead channel is beyond professional
Thank you!!!
Thank you! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Always fascinating to see the enormous puzzle of such an old building. Each generation with enough time and money would alter and improve according to the latest fashion. Then there wars and fires and rebuilds. Wonderful.
That magnificent Car 🚙 swoon 🥰 and thank you for an enjoyable and informative film, absolutely beautiful 💐
What a nice gentlemen. Wonderful history tour. Thank you, Julie. ☺❤
I really enjoyed this! So much history, I cant imagine what it must be like in person, just beautiful! I love the room with all the book, very cozy.
We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
So interesting! Wow! What amazing history. And that Georgian living area was beautiful! Love that style.
We hear so much about your husband's genealogy. We would love to know about you - especially if any of your family came from the British Isles. American Sailors were held in Edinburgh Castle as American Revolution POWs during that war. Was Luke's family involved in any of the battles or fighting with Spain or France because essentially the American Revolution became a world war as the colonial super powers fought all over the globe which helped the American colonies gain their freedom.
Yes - I'm sure Julie will have some kind of European or British ancestors.
@@sallyannc3176 well she’s obviously not Chinese or African😅
I could watch these episodes over and over. Simply fascinating! Thank you!
How interesting!!! I love the present living area, beautifully done! Thank you for this, so much to take in! Keep going, want to learn more! Julie I grew up near you in IL. I am so enjoying your spin on this! You are so energetic as I would be! Enjoy!!
Love seeing all the different castles in Britain ! Good job Julie
L♥️VING Your Historic Homes Series, Julie.🥰 The amount of Research &. Detail that You give on each Home, is Wonderful.😌
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
What a glorious place!!! And we've only seen a small portion so far! Wow!
Three cheers for Her Majesty The Queen.
My 18th ggf was Constable of Rockingham Castle in 1324. Stunning presentation. Thank you!
One of the best AV videos. Loved it.
Your channel is really coming into its own, this episode is fabulous and what a wonderful guide you have to show you around his castle! Thank you.
Thank you Katherine! We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
Wow!! Steppin up in the Production World! Kudos!!👏 I adore Castles and Grand Houses. Being within the walls of History can be so humbling.
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
So loved this episode! The Grand Hall is stunning. I love the Tudor era. Can't wait for the next one!
We are the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Lady Julie thank you so very much for sharing this with all of us it’s most kind of you to do so much appreciated truly thank you 🥰
The interview was fantastic. What a wonderful gentleman.
I love your channel ! You can tell you're passionate about the history ! So happy you get to visit all these estates! Thanks for sharing with us Julie! You represent America with such grace and beauty!
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
Really enjoyed hearing about all of the historical connections and looking at the different rooms. Awesome job with filming and editing!
Thank you Heather! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
I could watch this for hours. Thank you so much for doing this series. Very interesting and beautiful made.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
So Cute!!! …and couldn’t have loved more this creative approach to present the castle!!!!
All these great houses, Halls and Castles all have their large library's, it would be so interesting if we could see examples of what books they keep, for I'm sure many of those books are very old.
I’d like to see any castle, they’re all beautiful!
The house is stunning! Thank you for this amazing episode Julie!!
Thank you for your kind words Erin! We're the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess, and we now have our own KZhead channel too! We'd be delighted if you could join us there...
I love it when you show this historical family homes, just love it. Greattings from Portugal.
This production makes it feel as though we have been able to travel back in time in a different era. Exceptionally well done!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Poor Julie, desperately looking for a coaster... :D Just discovered and LOVE your series, fascinating for an Englishman living in the States :)
lol..."it's all a bit bogus really" Fabulous! That opening drone shot is just beautiful!
Pamela here all the way from Sunny San Francisco ❤️❤️❤️
The drone footage is so well done! Love seeing the castle and magnificent land. Like Julie, I live in Illinois. We are northwest of Chicago, what used to be the country with horse farms and estates. (During the 1920s Chicago gangsters would high tail it over the county line and hide out in farm houses around here when the law was looking for them ). A 1920's brick home with plaster walls and true divided light windows is old for Chicago. I relate to James discussing maintaining and preserving old homes for the future and adding gardens for generations. I've restored the land to native (pulling out buckthorn and Asian honeysuckle) and planted over 55 native trees and shrubs. I may not live to see how they all look in maturity. However it's delightful to think someone may appreciate the Yellow Birch, Bottle brush buckeye, Ninebark, Redbuds and prairie grasses in years to come. Same as James with his rose garden and yews; lovely episode, thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you for sharing - and amazing what you have done!! Wow!!!
I enjoyed this so much! I felt I was there with you both reliving the rich history of this beautiful home and family! ❤️🎉
I just love the show and music, Julie! Wonderful production.
Thank you so much! please spread the word!
@@AmericanViscountess Yes, I will SHARE this video!!
Thank you! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
Really, felt like I was there with you. Loved every room, floor, fireplace and beam! Absolutely fascinating. Your passion and enthusiasm, spill over into your narration! You make it such an amazing experience and you bring out the best of each owner and their stories! Thank you for taking us along, what a complete treat. Look forward to each episode! Production is top notch! ❤🌿🌹
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
Thank you, what an amazing 4 part series, so interesting ! James Saunders Watson is very entertaining.
Magnificent!! This is a cannot wait for the next one series... 👏👏👏
such a beautiful house, I've been to burleigh and thats amazing.. no photo can capture it in person
Please put this on tv i would watch it weekly. But I am thrilled that I can on here since I am American and this is too good for American TV.
Thank you Sarah! We are the team that filmed and edited this series. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
How wonderful. I just love your visits to special historical places - you're such a natural interviewer, and help people to relax and share their enthusiasms in such a fun way - great work Julie 🌼
Thank you so much!!! Really appreciate this. So much more to come!
So interesting and it was very informative. What a lovely gentlemen and extremely knowledgeable. Thank you for sharing your family history with everyone. ♥️👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This was fascinating. Looking forward to seeing part two. Thank you. 💚🇨🇦
My favourite stately home of the this series yet , Perfect castle , home and history in a beautiful green area. Well done again viscountness, very different to the Rockingham town in Australia!🤣
Fascinating! Both the castle, which was shown so well, and the amazing opportunity to listen to two historic families discover their shared lineage.
This man is so nice! Love the place & history of the rooms & portraits. Can't wait to see part 2! (I might have a wee crush oh James. lol)
Hey Julie, watching your premier as it goes out. Adele is at Sandringham tonight.
Tell Adele hi from me and I need to send her a message about Platinum Jubilee!
This is amazing. Thank you for showing us these beautiful historic homes, as well as Mapperton. I told my husband, I need to come to Dorset and visit Mapperton on a tour one day!
Wow, that’s beautiful 😀
So very interesting. Cudos to you Julie for keeping all that English history alive. I find all that family history so very complicated. You really seem to have a handle on it . Rockingham Castle is beautiful thanks to the generations of people who inherited it and lovingly cared for it. Can't wait for episode 2.
We are the team that filmed and edited this series of American Viscountess. We now have our own KZhead channel and would be delighted if you could check it out...
I just ❤ this, thank you!
Thank you so much, Julie. I really do enjoy your videos.