Mrs Isobel Crawley



Isobel Crawley (played by Penelope Wilton) is Matthew mother, and a widow of Reginald Crawley. Originally from Manchester, she is the daughter of a doctor (her husband Reginald Crawley studied under her father) and her brother is also a doctor. Isobel studied as a nurse during the Boer War and uses these skills to assist and take up a notable position at the small hospital in the village. Isobel embodies a different set of values to those of the Crawleys, and because of that is often in conflict with Violet. Upon moving to Downton she and Matthew live in a relatively modest dwelling with a butler, Molesley, and a cook, Mrs Bird.

In the second series, Isobel takes up a position of authority at Downton when it is turned into a convalescent home for injured soldiers. She clashes with Cora over control of the convalescent home and as a result leaves Downton for France to work with the Red Cross. She later returns when she discovers that Matthew was injured in the war, and has stayed at Downton ever since. Although initially opposed to Matthew's relationship with Lady Mary after the death of his fiancée Lavinia, she helps persuade him to propose to her again, which he does.