Christmas Special 2012 - S3-E9
Continuity mistake: In this episode, Cora tells Mr. Gregson that she started reading "The Sketch" when Edith began to write for him. In Season one, episode one, Carson tells William to iron "The Sketch", because "her ladyship only ever reads the Sketch."
Episode #2.7 - S2-E7
Other mistake: When the dowager visits Matthew in his bedroom to tell him Mary is still in love with him before he goes through with marrying Lavinia, the curtains hanging behind Matthew are so wrinkled and creased just as curtains are when they come out of a package from the store. The crease lines are terrible! One would think set design would have steamed them as in real life, they would have been custom-made and certainly not folded up like that for shipping, thus never having creases like that.
Episode #1.4 - S1-E4
Factual error: William plays a bit of music on the piano - the tune is called "After You've Gone", and it was written in 1918. This episode is set in 1913.
Episode #3.6 - S3-E6
Factual error: Thomas Barrow lights a cigarette with a disposable lighter which were not invented until the early 60's.
Factual error: Marigold can not possibly be as big as she is in this season. She's bigger than George, when she would only be a few months old.
Episode #4.7 - S4-E7
Factual error: When Edith goes to have an abortion, you can hear a Eurasian Collared Dove singing, but that species did not exist in Britain before the 1970s.
Episode #6.3 - S6-E3
Factual error: During the wedding the groom and ushers are wearing boutonnieres pinned to their labels. Pinning boutonnieres to your lapel is a very new method. Traditionally the flower goes through the lapel button hole. This would still be a common use for the button hole at the time.
Episode #1.1 - S1-E1
Other mistake: Lord Grantham tells Violet that he wanted to put 'lights' in the bedrooms but Cora did not, but at the end of the episode just before he blows out his candle Cora turns and off camera turns off a light that "clicks."
Episode #1.1 - S1-E1
Continuity mistake: Near the end of the first episode, when Robert Crawley gets into bed he first puts his candlestick down on the nightstand. Then it disappears. Then when he's in bed and ready to blow out the candle, it's suddenly back again.
Episode #3.3 - S3-E3
Other mistake: At the end of this episode after Edith is jilted at the altar, Albert makes some rather "home boy" comments about the food and then asks if there is any cheese to eat as if that's all he's used to or wants. This seems inconsistent since for the rest of the series Albert is the guy who seems to appreciate well-made food and wants to be a cook.
Episode #5.6 - S5-E6
Continuity mistake: When Lady Mary is competing in the Point-to-Point horse race, she is riding her mount sidesaddle style, wearing a long-skirted riding habit. When she (actually the stunt rider) jumps a hedge, she is now riding astride, with both legs over the horse and using a two-stirrup saddle. Also regular riding breeches (pants) are underneath the long skirt when it flies up a bit. These would never be worn with this type of lady's riding habit.
Episode #4.1 - S4-E1
Other mistake: They act as if Carson's friend Charlie has his first appearance in season 4 episode 1, but in an earlier season and episode he arrived at Downton Abbey and caused a scene in the library trying to extort money.
Episode #1.3 - S1-E3
Factual error: The Turkish character "Kemal Pamuk" is given the surname "Pamuk." However, surnames weren't used in Turkey till mid-thirties. Yes, Pamuk is a real Turkish surname but no Turk would be using surnames in 1912.
Continuity mistake: Every letter's handwriting looks the same - no matter who wrote it.
Episode #5.7 - S5-E7
Revealing mistake: When Tom and Sibbie are on the bridge dropping sticks into the water, they run to the other side and you can see their movement through the bricks.
Episode #2.4 - S2-E4
Continuity mistake: Mary has written a letter to Matthew. We hear her voice reading the text, which begins: "So there we have it. I look forward to introducing the two of you, just as soon as you are next at home..." Next, when the page of the letter is shown, it reads "...happy to hear - come to pass. I look forward to introducing you to Sir Richard, just as soon as you are next at home." (00:11:03)
Character mistake: At one point they say the gramophone was gift for Sybil's wedding. Later they say don't play the gramophone from Mary's wedding, it will make Edith sad.
Answer: Word gets around. The staff are gossips amongst themselves, but those loyal to the family know who to keep secrets from and who they can trust to share in the knowledge.
Phixius ★