a very successful British television series (1971–5) about the life of a rich London family and their servants in the early years of the 20th century. It was common in the houses of such families for the kitchen to be below the ground floor level, i.e. ‘downstairs’.
UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS
Meaning of UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS in English
Oxford guide to British and American culture English vocabulary. Руководство по британской и американской культуре, Оксфордский английский словарь. 2005