Lord Montagu

Edward Montagu inherits Beaulieu estate and Palace House at age two, beginning a lifelong responsibility to preserve the family home. The estate spans roughly 7,000 acres and carries centuries of aristocratic history. This early burden shapes his later decisions about Beaulieu's future.

Following World War II, the postwar depression cripples finances for large estates like Beaulieu. Across England, many historic houses are demolished or burned as owners struggle to survive. Montagu faces the pressure of preserving his ancestral home against mounting economic headwinds.

In 1952 Montagu opens Beaulieu to the public as a tourist magnet to generate revenue. The move challenges aristocratic privacy and invites visitors inside the private walls. The experiment is aimed at saving the estate from financial ruin.

Later in 1952 Montagu is arrested on charges of conspiring to incite homosexual acts. He becomes a focal point of a landmark trial during a time of strong anti-homosexual sentiment in Britain. The proceedings dramatically shake his reputation and future prospects.

Montagu is found guilty and sentenced to a year in prison. The verdict sends shock waves through his peers and the nation. Despite the personal setback, he resolves not to let the scandal define him.

After his release, Montagu refocuses on Beaulieu's survival and growth. He becomes determined to turn the estate into a thriving public site. He begins developing new attractions to attract visitors.

He launches Britain's first motor museum at Beaulieu, transforming the estate into a modern tourist destination. The museum and related attractions begin to stabilize the estate financially. This move marks a shift from aristocratic privacy to public engagement.

By 1959 Beaulieu attracts over half a million visitors annually. The estate rapidly becomes one of England's most popular tourist sites. Montagu's entrepreneurial approach cements his role in redefining the stately home business.

Beaulieu and its motor museum attract global celebrities such as John Wayne, Roy Orbison, Mick Jagger, Cher, and Michael Jackson. Their visits boost Beaulieu's fame and demonstrate the worldwide appeal of the stately home concept. The site becomes a national and international icon of British tourism.

Montagu's success inspires a new generation of aristocrats to open their homes to the public. He becomes the face of a modern British tourism model known as the stately home business. The approach helps preserve other historic houses from demolition.

The documentary combines never before seen Montagu archival footage, family testimonies, and contemporary commentary to tell his unconventional life. It presents intimate details from Montagu's own writings to reveal the man behind the public figure. The film frames his life within the broader story of Beaulieu and the British estate conservation movement.