Where palatial homes & politics meet | Helena Rees-Mogg & the Fitzwilliam family | Ep. 100

About this episode

Helena Rees-Mogg shares her family's history and insights into the Fitzwilliam dynasty in this special 100th episode.

On this week's podcast episode, we are delighted to be joined by Helena, Lady Rees-Mogg. This marks the first time Lady Rees-Mogg has ever appeared on a podcast, and the first time she has spoken publicly about her extraordinary family history. The daughter of the sole surviving child of the 8th Earl Fitzwilliam, Lady Rees-Mogg offers a unique, intimate perspective on the rise and dramatic decline of one of Britain’s great aristocratic dynasties. This wide-ranging episode delves into the untold stories of the many fascinating country houses of the Fitzwilliams - owners of the palatial Wentworth Woodhouse (with 308 rooms, it has the longest façade of any privately-owned country house in Europe) - as well as featuring exclusive, behind-the-scenes insights into the filming of the Discovery+ documentary “Meet the Rees-Moggs”, and her reflections on life as a political spouse. “The [Labour] Minister Manny Shinwell told my grandfather ‘we will mine coal up to your back door, my Lord - and they almost literally did! ...The miners marched to 10 Downing Street in protest at being made to do open-cast mining in the park at Wentworth of this apparently worthless brown coal" | Helena, Lady…

People in this episode

Guest: Helena Rees-Mogg

Topics covered

• aristocracy
• family history
• country houses
• politics
• documentary insights
• Fitzwilliam family

Keywords

• Fitzwilliam family
• aristocratic dynasties
• Wentworth Woodhouse
• political spouse
• Manny Shinwell
• Discovery+ documentary
• country houses
• Helena Rees-Mogg

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Discovery+, Hancock Productions

Books & works: The Country House Podcast

Places: Britain, Wentworth Woodhouse

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