![The Duchess of Duke Street - The Complete Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51YD96K3IqL._SL500_.jpg "The Duchess of Duke Street - The Complete Collection [DVD]")
The Duchess of Duke Street is a BBC series from the mid 1970s. Masterpiece Theatre aired this British miniseries, which is set in Victorian and Edwardian England… the late 1800s and early 1900s. The series follows Louisa Trotter, a young woman from England’s lower class society – during a time when the possibility of bettering your social standing was pretty much nil to nothing.
Louisa (played magnificently by Gemma Jones) works as a scullery maid (the lowest servants’ position possible for women) but has three very strong traits: ambition, the inability to “hold her tongue,” and intelligence. We watch Louisa go from a very young, almost abrasive girl to a self-assured woman of high society.
Gemma Jones’ portrayal of Louisa Trotter, as she goes up the ladder of British society, is absolutely superb. This period BBC (and Masterpiece Theatre) production will stay with you way after you watch the two-season miniseries.
As you watch the episodes in The Duchess of Duke Street, try to keep in mind that the plot is based on the true life story of Rosa Lewis and The Duchess of Duke Street‘s Bentinck Hotel is based on London’s Cavendish Hotel.
The Duchess of Duke Street miniseries takes us along as Louisa goes from being a scullery maid to a great chef, to eventually the owner of a London hotel. Quite a feat for those times!
This period piece production is (to me) delightful. I enjoyed the costumes, make up, acting, sets, and plot line. Fans of Upstairs, Downstairs will no doubt become fans of The duchess of Duke Street.
Watching it is addictive, but beware – it is not for young children. (Also, it is not a mystery…)
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Laura says
Danna: “The Duchess of Duke Street” was one of my all time favorite series on Masterpiece Theater. If you are looking for mystery, series 3 of “Pie in the Sky” just came out on DVD.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Laura, thanks for letting us know that the third season of Pie in the Sky is out.
Michael says
I am trying to find out the significance of the pin Louisa is wearing at the very end of the 2nd episode on the 3rd disc. It’s a cross on a white background, surrounded by some kind of silver work. Anybody know?
Bex Crowell says
It’s a pin that Charlie Hazlemere gave her to wear while he was away at the war… to be “his girl” for when he returned. Like going steady… I have to say this series is my favorite of all time – I have had 2 copies of the entire 2 series of it, and watched them all many times. Gemma Jones is genius in this.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michael, I just did some research into the cross on a white background pin. It looks like it might possibly be the St. George’s Cross…
Jim says
Hi,
The pin Louisa is wearing was given to her by Charlie Hazelmere as supposedly worn by the Coldstream Guard Regiment. He gave it to her after he had joined and was about to leave for war service. I don’t know more about it unfortunately.
The “Duchess Of Duke Street” has always been a favourite series of mine. I also have both series on DVD and if anyone is interested the DVDs of both series are still available in Australian retail outlets for AUS$100 recommended retail price per 5 disc set, but if you shop and check the internet prices you can get them much cheaper if you are lucky some sites have the DVDs for as much as 50% off occasionally.
After I learned that it is was very loosely based on Rosa Lewis, I consequently found there was to my knowledge 4 books written about her life and times.
“The Duchess Of Jermyn Street” by Daphne Fielding – My favourite as it was written with warmth by someone who was a part of Rosa Lewis’ close circle of friends and knew her very well. Despite the fact this book does contain some factual errors it’s a good biography.
“Rosa Lewis – An Exceptional Edwardian” by Anthony Masters – A satisfactory read but a little on the dry side.
“Rosa” by Michael Harrison” – My least favourite
“A Queen Of Cooks And Some Kings” by Mary Lawton – Have not been able to obtain a copy as it was published way back in 1925.
Rosa Lewis was also satired in Evelyn Waugh book “Vile Bodies” as Lottie Crump of the Shepeard’s Hotel and although Evelyn Waugh states that “All characters and places mentioned, newspapers, hotels, night clubs, restaurants, motor cars,etc., are wholly imaginary” it’s very transparent that the character of Lottie Crump is based on Rosa Lewis and actually in my opinion portrays her character and mannerism quite well. In fact in the preface to Daphne Fieldings book Evelyn Waugh states that he was asked to write her biography, but was not a habitue of the Cavendish Hotel and did not know her quite well enough to write the biography. He also admits that the character in “Vile Bodies” was mostly derived at second hand from the anecdotes and imitations of friends whom obviously conveyed a very good description of her character to him through their stories and recollections of Rosa Lewis.
Sorry I could not help with any more details about the pin she wore.
Evangeline Holland says
I’ve read the Mary Lawton book as well as the Fielding and Master’s books, and both draw heavily from her account–which is ironic, since Rosa rejected her involvement in the book and it was published only in America.
Angie says
Michael, the pen with the silver cross on it was given to Louisa by Charles (Lord Haslemere). He gave it to her in Series 2, episode 6, I think, when he was heading off to fight. He said he wanted her to wear it to signify that she was his girl. Or something to that effect.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Jim and Angie for the information about Louisa’s pin. It would have bothered me not knowing, and would have had to rewatch the episodes to see when and why she wore it.
Thanks, again!
Patte says
In re: Charlie’s pin…. When Charlie is on a brief leave in France (Louisa has opened ‘Louisa’s) they have dinner in his room. Louisa proposes that she stay the night and Charlie acts surprised repeating Louisa’s long ago words about framing their love to look back on it. If he gave L the pin as a symbol that she was his girl why this step backward? I’m 40+ years behind in discovering the series and am missing an outlet to verbally wave my arms about!!!
Bex Crowell says
He did not give her the pin over in France, he gave it to her before he went away, back in her office at the Bentinck Hotel… he “pinned” her and she was “his girl” for the duration of the War…
Tressa says
Addictive and delightful is right! Enjoying on you tube…Thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tressa, every time I see Gemma Jones in another British show, I think of this one!
Hilda Ovalle says
Yes, it’s an addictive program as well as delightful. Charlie said that men gave pins to girls before going away. He said. wearing it meant that Louisa was his girl. If you notice, she always wore it after that.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hilda, little touches like that really make miniseries like this shine.