As a retired History teacher, I have done a number of guided tours over the years. When it first happened on a tour I was quite embarrassed when I noticed several members of the public had joined the group of students. I was used to standing in front of young people, but somehow I found it quite nerve-wracking in front of adults. It took me a while to get used to it, but once I had, I loved "performing". Having been also involved in training teachers I can tell that Jess will do a really good job.

You need a stable full of stick horses for the kids! Also, you could have slates/chalk boards on frames at the kids' village and chalk could be handed out when they check in. Also, don't forget the power of a good scavenger hunt!

Glad to see Nestor working at the beaver enclosure......it is good to see his genuine interest in the project!!!! WELL DONE!!!!

I'd love a fairy garden around the kids area. I like the idea of bringing the forest area to the kids as parents can explore [nature walks, bird watching, nature tour]. As an American, I always see the whole fairy garden and fairy mounds as a British thing. TEA parties, birthdays, etc.

Tips for tour guides: Only speak when facing your audience (not when you are facing the object of discussion), only speak once the entire group has joined you, and repeat all questions before answering them. 😊

How lovely to see your efforts progress to a new stage. The tour will be wonderful and the lost village of Mapperton is sure to be a delight!

What a great episode. Lovely to see new faces. More of Ben and Nestor looking at other aspects of rewilding. Thank you

I love seeing the family involvement and Nestor (sp?) is a lovely young man!

You really make great job, important not just for us, but for future generation. I am a little shy with my English to leave comments, but if it will help you by anyway, I will. I am unemployeed, but do everything, like always watch your video couple of times, to make more views, subscribed both your channels, always put my like. I do like stories about your repairs as in Italy, as in Dorset. My full sympathy with your problems, but how happy make me your progress. And you inspire me with my small repairs. With big finuncial difference we are in the same boat: have to make progress in strong money limits. And I think, "If they can move ahead, I can too", and search for the way to improve. I do wish you good luck, good health, good mood and endless enthusiasm to keep this weight of responsibility on your shoulders. Peace for you, your family and your country!

Just listened to weds live and great to know that Preston Sturgess is connected to the family. Loved seeing his films as afternoon movies here in Los Angeles during the 60s-70s before the chat shows became de regur programing to be replaced with earlier and earlier broadcast starts of the news.

1. What happened to Stephen and Claire? Are they still at Mapperton? 2. Why do Ben and Chris seem so cute? 😍 3. It's nice that Nestor is learning about the management of the estate. Are Luke & Julie's other children involved sometimes too, when they have breaks from school? 4. Love the apparent dedication of the staff (Mic, Jess, etc.).

So many new happenings going on!! The childrens play area they designed is my interest, it is exciting to see and look forward to see its completion!

There is a artist that has built gorgeous playareas in Denmark , he builds gigantic sculptures in the forest of twigs and wood. In Oslo bothanical gardens they have a play area with sculptures made of braded willow, worth exploring if You want to expand the play area at one point! Great job!

You have so many really fine members on your Mapperton team! Wish I could take one of the tours!

It is amazing how those paintings just absorb all kinds of things, smoke, dirt, moisture, etc. Those of us who don't have original paintings or see galleries very often have no idea when they are existing in old homes what they go thru. Or how people "restore" them (without experience) or "improve" (change) them. And then actual talented restorers come and reveal their hidden stories. When a person considers most paintings can be created with oil paints, not surprising. Oil loves to absorb. I have missed updates on the beavers. Tell them I said Hi. 🙂Never actually met them, but say Hi anyway. Curious about the pallet cube. Oh, I see, its like a nature observer's blind. They will smell you, you know. Put something in there to get them used to you. Like with deer. And maybe a nice snack they can't resist right by it. What's a snack for beavers? If you just appear in there one day without that, they will pick it up and avoid. We have had the strangest weather in IOWA this week. Temps up to 67 degrees Fahrenheit, we had a very wild, windy rainstorm yesterday with thunder and then today 36 degrees Fahrenheit and a thin layer of snow overnight. And now, snow is gone again. The sun came out for a bit. It is 42 degrees Fahrenheit here now and cloudy again. Just wait, it will change again. Just pay attention to the bone joints, they will tell you when it is coming. Yep Excited about the children's structures and area. Makes you think of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. Are you going to have a Wendy House? Love to see all the progress and plans.

Great to see the play area coming together and the new guided tour getting underway!

What about some focused tours, the Women of Mapperton, foods associated with the Produce and the family - chocolate ice cream, energy bars, and of course sandwiches just for two. That way the same people could come several times foe different tours

Lovely to see all this property

What historical beauty I dream of going to to tour in the future

To identify the school structure it might be fun to hang a bell.. love that you are encouraging creative play

Please put your opening photos of you and Luke, John and Caroline, your cats , house and kids❤! I love the music and how you talk about your home, etc. Beautiful ❤️! Please make more recipes! It's wonderful when you cook at home! It's great seeing Nester! Always a pleasure! Best wishes Jess on your new role in tours! You'll do splendidly ❤🎉!!!!! I hope John and Caroline are doing well! Nester, the beavers will love their new home!!!! Wonderful job!

Love your channel! Jo Good is looking for people to interview on her new chat show on KZfaq and I recommended she get you both. I think your story of how COVID shut down Mapperton and how KZfaq made such a difference is a great story to share. Also I think it would help get the word out to potential visitors to get to your 20,000 goal. Wish Canada wasn’t across the ocean or we would be there! One day! 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Reach out to Jo Good - Middle Age Minx

Really enjoyed all of this - the picture restoration - the guided tours - the beavers- the play area !!! All wonderful!

From Country House Rescue to now is amazing.

Seeing the painting being restored was really interesting

Lord Montagu needed a wash and brush up! Only the best for Mapperton. Your house is packed with stories - one day youll be stories too, especially Julie. Hooray,I was right! In the ad break I did some research ie I googled,and that Basil Montagu IS the one mentioned in Dorothy Wordsworth's Journal. For a few years,not sure how many he lived in their household as a little boy and Dorothy sometimes mentions that he's playing in the garden. I think this was probably the 18th century discreet way of smoothing over the odd anomaly that wasn't supposed to occur.

Loving this episode!!! Luke, you crack me up! Jess, congratulations, I can’t wait to come for a tour!

Your new manager is so hardworking and creative.

You should try to get Katherine and William to come dedicate the play area. Katherine is all about outside play for children.

I see Nestor taking a real interest in the estate, but I know that his big brother will be the next Viscount. I hope they will make a good team

As a docent in a local art museum I choose 4-5 pieces to focus on for an hour tour. Do the same with the portraits.

Next time I'm in London I am going to take a weekend to visit Mapperton. I don't think it will be this year but maybe next. I think it will be money well spent and I'm certain my wife will love it.

Now this is the color and content I expect of the early ears of the house. That red is a spot on for decoration. What did it look like before the cleaning?

Poor Jess. Given the vagaries of the Great British weather Isn't it about time for a Mapperton branded rain jacket?

Great to see that you have a good start to the season

This was a very enjoyable video - I look forward to seeing the kids in the Mapperton Forest Village. LOL at the Beaver Blind.. watch the beavers will move in to it.

☺️So many fun things happening!

Another great video

This is amazing🤩💖

The best tour I have ever been on was in India. The guide bought a total ruin to life explaining who lived in the rooms, what they were used for, what life was like st that time. Some juicy stories of what happened in the spaces. I was gripped

So many exciting projects. Wish I was able to come visit.

We have beavers at our lake house so we are used to seeing eaten trees; but they have been much smaller trees than the larger one that has munching on yours!

Lovely! Enjoy your weekend! Hugs! Looking forward to watching your video!

While the history of the owners of the house is interesting, let's not leave aside to intricate architectural details present through the eras. It's really those details which transform a house tour into an enriching experience.

Thanks for another great episode!

Love the children's new wooden skeleton village ❤

Who is the painting by ? It is stunning and looks like a Flemish Artist .:) I love this channel keep it up. Beautiful history .

The play areas need a ship play structure for the 1st earl that went to get King Charles II

Sent you an email about author from Metropolitan Museum who wrote book on Gilded Age French fashion discussing the importance of Gilded Age letters in her research. Hope you get it. 😊

Having been a tour guide and interpretative guide (dressed in period clothes) for many years, I would suggest you read your group and tailor your tour accordingly. When you speak to what interests them that's when they engage and find it interesting. Oh, and never sound rehearsed or robotic. Nestor, beavers are very nearsighted so you could probably get to within a few feet of them as they learn your scent to take your photos.

I love seeing Nestor.

Beaver blind. Nice.

I’m comparing with a lot of guided tours of the many historic homes in Fairfax County,Virginia to include General Washington’s Mt. Vernon. Guides are outfitted and issued dark blazers and wear name tags to set them apart from the general public. Just a thought to jazz up the initial impressions and importance of your beautiful historic home.

Remember Jess, "mistresses' come to a bad end in the Sandwich family.

Oh the dead mouse smell!! Happens to my house almost every year!! Incense! Sometimes we are lucky and can find the smelly corpse. But usually it is hidden in the floors or walls.

Julie, cover his hands!!❤❤

Not to prolong a situation but does anyone here doubt that Julie & Co. have sought out what is the best way to accomplish success in a situation that is just even at times only a band aid just waiting for a return of disaster? The Countess seems quite versed in matters concerning pictures especially when it comes to the various levels of conservation and restoration of paintings following their warehouse fire experience. When it comes to conservation or restoration the aim is always not to make a mess that damage of which that cannot be reversed. The only "proper" application is that which is appropriate to the situation. The tech needs to evaluate each situation and not every painting or artwork needs the same level of treatment. How do I know this? It was drilled into me during my education and training to be an archivist with a concentration in photographic conservation and restoration. The tech was applying the basic technique to address the situation he found when he evaluated the painting. It is never a matter of how extensive a procedure is but what is appropriate. In this particular instance the tech addressed a basic condition that was very superficial but it took care of the immediate need of the picture. "Baum" is a wonderful series of how pictures are evaluated and processed but it has to be remembered that the "entertainment" value of a episode is dependent on some drama and it seems that those pictures that get an episode are very intensive projects. Julie's tech told us that he was not surprised that the picture had already had restoration work done with its backing and he was not surprised a picture of that age had already had such a procedure done. Both Julie and Luke are very concerned with getting feedback from the Earl and Countess about things they do.

Dorset's best guided tour? Athelhampton and Fode Abbey will be seething!

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Watch Baumgartner Restoration for conservation par excellence.

Are you concerned that the beavers will fell too many trees? Love your videos. If I was able, I would definitely stay at Mapperton. Beautiful place.

the earl of jazz hands

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i agree the picture looks better - except as lukes mom says for his hands - someone didnt paint hands very well - ha! and yes nestor has grown like a weed!! sadly its no wonder historic homes were sold how can anyone afford to pay for the upkeep - thank goodness for you tube!!

Julie, I don't know how you do the 2 Channels?

Brilliant. Why not lacquer or glass cover the children's design and display at the children's playground to show how you involved them.

Question: What is the vine (purple flowers) growing on the main Mapperton house, between ground floor and top floor.. It's not blooming now but I have seen it in the past videos. Is it clematis?? Love your videos ❤

It may seem strange, but I think a guided tour should be conducted by someone in "uniform". A shirt or blouse, trousers or skirt, with a discreet logo embroidered on a pocket or similar.

What is the wide leaf plant in front of the dam building being done on the creek? Is it a wild or native?

It’s too bad you’ve crowded that stunningly gorgeous mirror over the commode in the hallway at the base of the stairs with the circular pieces around it. The added artwork suffocates that beautiful mirror and complicates the small space the commode occupies. Beautiful pieces of art, mirrors and furnishings need to have space around them to breathe!! Crowding such magnificent pieces as the mirror are taking the attention away from the unique beauty of such a piece. 😢 showcase it by simplifying the way it’s displayed so your attention focuses on the piece alone. Please?? 😮😢❤

Why are the paintings not behind glass frames???

Hi Julie from Colorado! I was wondering today, as I was laying out my kids homeschool plans, if your husband's family has any relationship to the montague family mentioned in Romeo and Juliet? Any connections in Luke's family history with Shakespeare? Love your historic shows!

Julie perhaps u all can invent a brand of cheese and a brand of tea and coffee that can ship to the far reaches of the globe profits devided between a charity and mapperton

Jess has Uma Thurman eyes

I’m sure Jess will be a wonderful tour guide but I think she should dress more professionally rather than overalls. Perhaps a skirt and fitted blazer fits the job better.

I’m sad his hands didn’t end up looking better! Lol

I think tours would be great given by someone in period dress???

Why has the painting not been removed from its frame? There is most likely moisture damage under the edge of the frame on the painting. At the very least the frame should have been removed so the painting could be examined properly.

That guest on the tour wearing a backpack made me cringe. Please make them carry in their hand or on one shoulder, as museums require.

Why can we not just start and finish a video about one subject.... I thought this was a restoration video for an old painting an the process. It turned into a long advertisement for completely different projects! You could do advertisements and promotion on shorts.

Thank KZfaq for letting the aristocracy be e-beggars. Boo hoo, my castle needs expensive repairs. Get a g-d job or sell it.

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