Mary's past catches up with her when an unwelcome visitor delivers an ultimatum, as secrets and rifts threaten the unity of the family. News about the running of Downton Hospital puts Violet on the warpath, while those below stairs find social changes are putting their futures in jeopardy and Daisy's good intentions at the Mallerton House auction have disastrous consequences.
The Crawleys have been the Earls of Grantham since 1772. In the drawing rooms and library and beautiful bedrooms, with their tall windows looking across the park, lives the family, but below stairs are other residents, the servants, as fiercely possessive of their ranks as anyone above.
Some of them are loyal to the family and are committed to Downton as a way of life, others are moving through, on the look out for new opportunities or love or just adventure. The difference being that they know so many of the secrets of the family, while the family knows so few of theirs...
Downton Abbey - Series 6, Episode 1 Synopsis and Schedule