the carnarvon family has lived here for 300 years.ut in the 21st century, this is still the home of a real life earl and countess. >> it's the center of our lives. >> reporter: how many rooms are there? >> i don't know. there's 200 to 300 in the house, and 50 to 80 bedrooms. >> reporter: give or take 30. >> yes. the house has always welcomed people, from prime ministers, kings and queens. >> reporter: the carnarvons have lived here for centuries. but it's the aristocrats, the crawleys, that fans of the show have grown to know and love. >> welcome to downton. >> reporter: the earl of grantham. his wife, lady cora. and their three daughters. a mash-up of period drama and pure soap opera. >> i'm not who you think i am. >> reporter: "downton" was the surprise pbs hit that dished the dirt about an earl's family struggling to keep family and fortune intact. >> oh, good, let's talk about money. >> reporter: the series, set in the early 1900s, has lords and ladies of the manor dressed to impress. historically correct? >> apparently, a servant