"Downtonomics" | National Catholic Reporter

"Downtonomics" | National Catholic Reporter by MSW.  MGB: Interesting stuff.  It is useful to note that these estates were accumulated by charging rents and before that taxes, to the peasants.  What killed this system is that the peasants could find a better deal and did.  Some of the aristocracy turned to capitalism and found other ways to live off the peasants, however most of these grand estates have turned into castle hotels.  Now the guests are downstairs and some of the staff live upstairs.  You have not lived until you have had breakfast at a castle (and been visited by the castle ghost).