Modernizing The Manor: Part 2

In Episode Four, "The Nation's Heritage," Richard Devere's desire to modernize (or functionalize, as he put it), met his demands for the moment. Audrey fforbes-Hamilton saw him ripping out a unique, neoclassical fireplace, and replacing it with a modern safe to hold his valuables, as a barbarous act. It's possible to modernize while honoring the past, and that's what Audrey attempted to communicate to him. But Richard owned the manor now, so he could do anything with it he wished. 

I saw a curious aspect of modernizing (or functionalizing) in one of the newer buildings on the Cricket St. Thomas estate. A men's restroom (or Toilet, as they say in England) had been thoroughly modernized, with dark wood paneling and zero-water urinals. Yet the design honored England's past with light fixtures in the shape of Bowler hats. 

For over a century, bowlers formed an essential part of one's attire. Along with other distinctive styles, bowlers defined one's sensibilities and place in society. An individual chose his hat carefully, as each style made a contemporary statement, and carried as much cultural heritage as an Adam fireplace. A man chose his hat carefully, and cared for it as he would a suit, tie, or pair of dress shoes.

In the early 1980s, when To The Manor Born was broadcast, men in England started to move away from such iconic, historic styles of hats. On each of my visits, I've searched department stores for a selection of these elegantly styled hats at reasonable prices. Instead, I've only found nice hats like Bowlers at specialty shops (which, naturally, also came with specialty prices). Today, people would rather spend their money on mass produced low-key bill caps displaying contemporary corporate, sports, or entertainment branding. Bowlers, along with other styles of well-made hats, have been relegated to costumers, not clothiers. So I thought it interesting that the current owners of the manor would modernize the manor to meet today's demands, while making such a nod to the past. 

Each writer tells his story with a message in mind. Peter Spence has stated that his intention for the series paralleled Richard's plans for the manor: to discuss how the old must constantly give way to the new. Yet in Audrey, he found a spokeswoman whose reverence for history, culture, and tradition made us care about the old ways, and wish to preserve them. That's what all great authors do. They show us two sides of any issue, and let us make up our own minds about what's truly important. They create a world in which this constant tension between old and new seems authentic and organic, so that we get caught up in the characters. Consequently, we come to love and respect what their characters care about. 

Dragon Dave