By Chris Hastings Inspiration: Lady Carnarvon in her nurse's uniform at her own makeshift hospital during the Great War The socialite who was the inspiration for Downton Abbey’s Lady Cora refused an honour recognising her work caring for the wounded during the First World War. Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, who trained as a nurse and turned Highclere Castle into a military hospital, apparently did not think she merited the CBE offered in the 1920 Honours List. Her decision is recorded in Cabinet Office papers obtained by The Mail on Sunday. They reveal she was one of several female aristocrats who declined to be honoured.
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Lady Almina Carnarvon turned Highclere into hospital and worked as nurse
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Did not think she merited the award offered in 1920 Honours List
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Officers treated described 'paradise' of being served cold beer by footmen
She dug deep into her own fortune and equipped Highclere – where @placeholder is filmed – with an operating theatre in one of the bedrooms and a recovery room next door.