# Living in a great house **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173 "2016-10-10T19:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/1 "2016-10-10T19:16:57Z")
So you receive a visit from a lawyer/solicitor who informs you that after a exhaustive search they’ve determined that you are the heir to a great house in northern England, think Downton Abbey, you will receive the title of Viscount as part of your inheritance as well as a sizable fortune. The previous Viscount was a major figure in the surrounding area and there are hopes that you will continue likewise. Will you live in the big house, leave it empty, or sell it? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/2 "2016-10-10T19:19:26Z")
Why would you live in a house in the middle of nowhere? Your’e in the wrong century. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/3 "2016-10-10T19:26:07Z")
Why such restrictive options? Off the top of my head, you could also… - Rent it out - either short or long-term rentals. A family member rented a stately home in England for a family reunion not so long ago. - Open it to tours, and/or run as a museum or living history operation, maybe with assistance from the National Trust (or similar orgs). Weddings! A film location! - Convert it into apartments/a hotel/boarding school/retirement community/conference center, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/4 "2016-10-10T19:32:08Z")
Those great houses have enormous maintenance costs (not to mention cost a fortune to heat), so unless the inheritance comes with a pile of money, I’d be tempted to sell it or donate it to the National Trust. Perhaps you might imagine that you inherit a valuable painting along with the house, so you can sell off the painting and finance the maintenance? ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/5 "2016-10-10T19:42:25Z")
The OP mentioned a “sizeable fortune” to accompany the probable money pit. I’d move in & see how things worked out. Even if cash was not needed immediately, I’d check into ways of making the place economically self-sustaining. Organic gardens? Heirloom farm animals? How are the tenants doing? Open it to the public for part of the year? Tourists, weddings, concerts, conferences? I’m pretty sure there’d be enough room to avoid annoying crowds. Check out the contents–art & furniture. Hey, any interesting correspondence in old desks? Sell off the crap, keep the good stuff… Film location? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/6 "2016-10-10T19:43:41Z")
Depends on how big the fortune is. Will it take care of the property in perpetuity, or will I have to have a stream of income? How many people in the area are willing to work in service? IIRC, that was what was happening at the end of DA…a lot of the maids and butlers were leaving for better jobs. Would I have to entertain the fellow nobility? Will they accept me considering I come from “new money?” Will my children have to marry “up” in order to keep our status? I think I’d live in part of it and let someone manage the rest as a B&B. Even [Highclere Castle](https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/) has to take in tours. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/7 "2016-10-10T19:55:55Z")
If there’s money to maintain/staff it . . . yeah, I’m there in an instant. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/8 "2016-10-10T19:59:08Z")
I already live in a great house and it’s one of the great joys of life. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/9 "2016-10-10T20:06:58Z")
Are _any_ of those great houses still in private hands and not open for tours at all? ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/10 "2016-10-10T20:13:18Z")
Assuming i could afford the costs that go along with the house, I’m on the next plane. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/11 "2016-10-10T20:18:41Z")
> [@araminty](#): > > Why such restrictive options? Off the top of my head, you could also… > > - Rent it out - either short or long-term rentals. A family member rented a stately home in England for a family reunion not so long ago. > - Open it to tours, and/or run as a museum or living history operation, maybe with assistance from the National Trust (or similar orgs). Weddings! A film location! > - Convert it into apartments/a hotel/boarding school/retirement community/conference center, etc. The reasons for the restriction is I’m curious if people would actually want to live in a house like that. I would but I’m kinda wired. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/12 "2016-10-10T20:25:52Z")
I’m an American, and wouldn’t/couldn’t accept a foreign title. I’d consult with both American and British legal counsel, and find a profitable, legal way to pass the whole thing on. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/13 "2016-10-10T20:32:48Z")
Sure, I’d live in a house like that. And keep horses in the stable. If the inheritance was enough to maintain it, why not? **up\_the\_junction** - I already live in a farmhouse that’s a 10 minute drive from the nearest gallon of milk, so the isolation wouldn’t bother me. (Until I’m murdered in my bed and no one’s around to hear me scream for help). StG ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/14 "2016-10-10T20:47:40Z")
Nah. Sell it. Try to find someone who’ll enjoy it fully. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/15 "2016-10-10T20:48:16Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > The reasons for the restriction is I’m curious if people would actually want to live in a house like that. I would but I’m kinda wired. I suspect that even for those few people who do live in great houses, it’s not like Downton Abbey, with all of those servants and the formal lifestyle. (I remember an episode in which the Earl was unable to wear tails for some reason, so he came down to dinner in a tuxedo jacket. I think his mother was horrified and thought he might as well be wearing pajamas. And this was just a dinner at home with no guests at all.) ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/16 "2016-10-10T22:33:35Z")
I’d enjoy the lands and wouldn’t mind the house but I have no job prospects in England so unless it was fuck it all money to go along with the property I’d probably sell it and buy something stateside where I could maintain the property and make a living. I’d probably need 20 million to get to fuck it all money but I’d probably go higher to bribe the wife to quit her job and move. Let’s say 30 million in cash plus maintenence on the house and we’ll be heading your way in a month. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/17 "2016-10-10T22:40:29Z")
Managing a great house is a full-time job in and of itself. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/18 "2016-10-10T22:45:29Z")
Sell it and live where it is warm. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/19 "2016-10-10T23:17:43Z")
Taking the OP to mean that the inheritance comes with sufficient funds to maintain the property, I am in. Bigly! (Odd that I enjoy saying that so much, considering the source.) I have a graduate degree in European history with a focus on British history. You had me at “hello”. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173/20 "2016-10-10T23:30:57Z")
I don’t want one in England but I have always wanted a very large, historical house, especially a giant Louisiana plantation home like [Oak Alley](https://www.google.com/search?q=louisiana+plantation+houses&tbm=isch&imgil=V6yxxWXH5H1m0M%253A%253Be1Ubc-qsrcEmSM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.civilwaralbum.com%25252Flouisiana%25252Fplantations.htm&source=iu&pf=m&fir=V6yxxWXH5H1m0M%253A%252Ce1Ubc-qsrcEmSM%252C_&usg=__Gg_GwtVBg8RmqHPMSLj2a5W11SM%3D&biw=768&bih=376&ved=0ahUKEwi3tKm8sNHPAhVI7SYKHQMwCT4QyjcIXw&ei=oyL8V_fWGsjamwGD4KTwAw#imgrc=V6yxxWXH5H1m0M%3A). I know how much work they are to maintain. My ex-wife and I restored a large circa 1760 colonial in Massachusetts and I used to work in a 19 bedroom New Orleans mansion that was converted into a hotel. They are a ton of work especially because the ones that I am familiar with are wood structures in humid environments but I still want one. I would jump at the chance if someone just gave me one and the money to maintain it. Even better would be one the quaint little “chateaus” in the Loire Valley of France. I don’t even need a really big one. Even 30,000 square feet and a few hundred acres of land would do. I could go for [something like this](https://www.google.com/search?q=loire+valley+chateaux+photos&biw=768&bih=376&tbm=isch&imgil=pj3HSnqTVuJMBM%253A%253Bo6jp9lEniquQ0M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fbyyourbesttraveler.com%25252Fregions-of-the-world%25252Fthe-splendid-castles-of-the-loire-valley%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=pj3HSnqTVuJMBM%253A%252Co6jp9lEniquQ0M%252C_&usg=__Xu5FQ3nEvqjjXI3dcZ4MOIMRh5k%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjOvYSEstHPAhVISiYKHRM0CnYQyjcILw&ei=RiT8V86CEMiUmQGT6KiwBw#imgrc=pj3HSnqTVuJMBM%3A). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/living-in-a-great-house/768173.md?page=2)