For almost 50 years, long before the TV show had been conceived, we have been touring Highclere Castle and the beautiful Cotswold landscape used in the TV smash hit series, Downton Abbey.
Highclere Castle has always been known for its elegance, the parkland for its splendor and the Cotswolds for its breathtaking beauty.
Here is an insight to Highclere Castle history - once you read this you will definitely book the tour!!
Early years
Back To The Beginning: 8th – 16th Century
The ancestry of Highclere in Newbury,
England, can be traced back to the 8th century through the landscape and its early written records. An Iron Age Hill Fort dominating the southern landscape at Highclere, alongside an early Anglo-Saxon charter — dated 749AD — records the existence of buildings around the present site of the castle. The castle later became a medieval palace built during the twelfth and thirteenth century that was later succeeded by a much admired red brick Tudor house. This was until it was renovated in the 17th century by the new occupier, Robert Dormer, an aristocrat and the 1st Earl of Carnarvon. His descendants still live at the castle.
The Creation of Highclere Castle
Benjamin Disraeli once said of Highclere Castle: “How scenical! How scenical!” The architecture of Highclere Castle was carefully crafted to impress the world. Britain was in the limelight of the world’s news, as the young Queen Victoria had just ascended to the throne. Embracing this new political innovation, the Carnarvons made a dramatic change to the castle to capture its own status. The Carnarvons employed the best known English architect, Sir Charles Barry FRS RA, famously known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster in London in the 17th century. Four centuries later, today you can gain an insight into Sir Barry’s architectural talent by visiting the castle. His design of the classical Georgian style frontage is picturesque and harmonises with the pleasant pastoral landscape.
Georgian and Victorian Times
Major rebuilding works were carried out in the late 18th and early 19th centuries by the Carnarvon family and the old red brick and freestone house was converted to a classical Georgian mansion within a pastoral setting. The major transformation, however, was just about to happen.
In 1838, the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon brought in Sir Charles Barry to transform his home into a grand mansion which would impress the world.
It was a time of energy and change. The young Queen Victoria had just come to the throne, and the whole decade witnessed innovation in politics and cultural life.
The structural work on the interior of the Castle was finally completed in 1878. Once built, the Castle became a centre of political life during the late Victorian era.
The 20th Century
In many ways Highclere Castle epitomised the confidence and glamour of the Edwardian period in the first few years of the twentieth century. Visitor books record the house parties full of politicians, technological innovators,
Egyptologists, aviators and soldiers.
During the First World War,
Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, transformed the Castle into a hospital, and patients began to arrive from Flanders in September 1914. She became an adept nurse and a skilled healer and hundreds of letters from patients and their families bear testament to her untiring work and spirit of generosity.
The Castle returned to a private home and in 1922 the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter discovered the tomb of
Tutankhamun, the first global world media event.
Following the death of the 5th Earl, his son, who then became the 6th Earl, returned to Highclere where he lived until 1986. During the Second World War, the Castle briefly became a home for evacuee children from north London.
The current (8th) Earl and Countess of Carnarvon live partly in the Castle and partly nearby but remain closely involved in the Castle's day to day life and future.
Gardens: Capability Brown
Today, the castle’s gardens are a must see – designed by Capability Brown, the best known 18th century master designer of landscapes on a grand scale. Brown’s view was that a great house should be surrounded by nature and must offer a natural feel to the senses and endless scope. The nation loved him for his vision: he became responsible for 170 gardens for England’s aristocrats and Highclere was one of them. There are guided tours which are organised to take you to see the view of the open parklands and its secret gardens. If Capability Brown were alive today, he would be honoured to see so many admirers of his works and vision.
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