The juices produced by lords and ladies are toxic
This plant with arrow-shaped leaves has a striking appearance when in flower, much like our Lords and Ladies of Downton when dolled up in evening dress. Lords and ladies is found in woods and along hedgerows on calcareous soil, and is very common across the British Isles.
The ancestors of the inhabitants of Downton might well have appreciated this species, as historically its roots were used as a source of starch for collars and ruffs. However, fashion came at a price, as the toxic nature of the juices from lords and ladies used to leave the hands of laundresses terribly blistered.
(Ref : http://blog.arkive.org/)
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