There is an expression in British TV that I have heard repeated on several shows, Call the Midwife, The Grand, Gnomio and Juliet, it is "Oh my Giddy Aunt". Well that is all I could think when I first got a glimpse of Highclere Castle! Oh my giddy aunt, it was so beautiful. The countryside surrounding the castle is breathtaking, especially in the spring with everything in bloom.
Highclere Castle is the home of the 8th earl of Carnarvon, George Herbert and his family. Click on the link and read all about its history. It is of course, the setting for the filming of Downton Abbey, the enormously popular British period drama about an aristocratic family beginning in 1912 and continuing into the 20's. I am not a true fanatic, but I love historical fiction, written or in film!
The drive was quite far from Hastings, but it is the only date I could get tickets for a tour. It is not open to the public until July and August and by ticket only now on certain days. They are in the middle of filming the last season of Downton Abbey and today was a break while they are filming at Ealing Studios in London.
The tour started at 1:00 pm and we were greeted by the current Countess of Carnarvon, Fiona Herbert, who welcomed us and gave us the history of the castle.
The Earl and Countess of Carnarvon
She is a historian who has written a few books, one of which is a biography about her predecessor, Almina, Countess of Carnarvon.
The tour continued by ladies who work for the Highclere Castle Trust who were very knowledgeable. We were allowed to see all the first floor rooms, entrance hall, music room, library, dining room, the Saloon, smoking room, morning room, drawing room. We were then led up the stairs to the gallery bedrooms which were as stunning as the first floor. The third floor houses the family quarters. We descended the gorgeous oak staircase back to the first floor and then the servants stairs down to the Egypt exhibit.
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon, also George Herbert, was an English aristocrat best known as an Egyptologist and the financial backer of the search for and the excavation of Tutankhamun's tomb in the Valley of the Kings. It is an amazing story and discovery for Egypt. He was not allowed to bring back much of what he found. Egypt, of course kept everything related to King Tut's tomb. In the basement of Highclere Castle, the current family has created a museum to the 5th Earl and his discoveries. The first room consists of artifacts that he was allowed to bring home from his digs. These artifacts were hidden in the attic by the 6th Earl after the 5th Earl died very soon after the excavation because he believed that the 5th Earl died as a result of the Tutankhamun curse so he didn't want to be reminded of Egypt. The artifacts were discovered (after the staff pointed them out) by the current Earl and family and brought down to the basement and set up as a museum. There are relics that are 3,500 years old!! Unbelievable and beautiful! The English pronounce it Tootankhamoon...with an emphasis on 'moon'. haha.
The second room is dedicated to the "Path of Discovery". This gallery explores the life and interests of the 5th Earl, his passion for cars, his talents as a pioneering photographer, his many trips to Egypt, his travels and leisure and life in England in Edwardian times. The third room is a replica of Tutahkhamun's tomb and everything found in the anteroom to the tomb.
After the tour ended, we were escorted to the gift shop where we were given a bag of goodies which included, a keychain, a box of fudge with clotted cream, a pen and a few other small items. We were then invited to the cafe where we were served tea, coffee, cakes, biscuits and banana bread. Here are some pictures of Highclere!
Lady Carnarvon taking her horse for a ride
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