Carole asked Elizabeth Hoyt:

This question contains spoilers… (view spoiler)

Elizabeth Hoyt Oh, thank goodness you asked this so I can show off the research that went into both these houses! Godric St. John's London home, Saint House is very loosely based on a real place: Somerset House. The oldest aristocratic families built their London residences on the Thames in medieval times so that they could have their own boat landings. Since St. John is from an ancient family, his house is very old and in a mix of styles with a garden that backs up on the river.

Maximus's underground exercise chamber is based on the fact that London itself is very old and, like ancient cities all over the world, has layers of history underneath it. One such layer is Roman. Every once in a while someone excavates a cellar in London and they find a hidden chamber that would have once been used to celebrate a mystery religion such as that centered on the god Mithras. The tunnel leading from the chamber to the back garden isn't based on a historical fact, but I can totes believe it, can't you?

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