Are you a fan of the popular British PBS series “Downton Abbey” featuring the Granthams and the Crowleys? Here is a great idea to pass the time until Season III begins! Did you know Mississauga has a home of the same era with a family who has many things in common with the residents of Downton Abbey?

This spring, the Museums of Mississauga are hosting themed Tea and Tour afternoons at Benares Historic House which has been restored to reflect daily life in 1918. Join us and discover the “upstairs and downstairs” stories of the Harris and Sayers families and their domestic staff. Learn about the impact of war on the Benares household, the social life, volunteer work, the effects of Spanish Flu on the family and even a connection with far away India.

Join us Sunday April 29th or Saturday May 26th from 2:30 – 4:30 pm at Benares Historic House, 1507 Clarkson Road North. Tour the house with guides who will highlight the lives of the Harris family during the war years and share personal details that will bring to mind their counterparts in England. The second half of the afternoon will be spent enjoying traditional warm scones with a pot of tea and lots of time to discuss the love interests of the Grantham women and the goings-on below stairs. Feel free to get in the spirit of the day and wear your best hat and gloves, historic or contemporary! Your guides will be dressed in period attire.

Pre-registration is necessary and can be done by calling the Museums at 905-615-4860. The cost per person is $15.00 plus tax. Groups with a minimum of 6 participants please inquire about booking a private Downton Abbey Tea and Tour at Benares Historic House. www.museumsofmississauga.com

When: Sat May 26  2:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Where: Benares Historic House
1507 Clarkson Road North
Clarkson, Ontario  L5J 2W8