Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle

The first written records of the estate date back to 749 when an Anglo-Saxon King granted the estate to the Bishops of Winchester.

 

Bishop William of Wykeham built a beautiful medieval palace and gardens in the park. Later on, in 1679, the palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House when it was purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Earl of Carnarvon. In 1842, Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament, transformed Highclere House into the present day Highclere Castle.

 

During the First World War, Highclere Castle was converted into a hospital for wounded soldiers run by the 5th Countess of Carnarvon. Then, in the Second World War, Highclere Castle was home to children evacuated from London.

 

There are between 250 and 300 rooms in the Castle Saloon and during your tour you will explore the main state rooms so familiar from "Downton Abbey". You will see some of the bedrooms after which you will follow the stairs down to the cellars and old staff quarters where you will find the Egyptian Exhibition, celebrating the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon's discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun.

 

Downtown Abbey

Highclare castle was the setting for the television series, During your visit you will be able to the State Rooms, , Gallery & Bedrooms which were used in the TV series. (entry included)

 

Now you have watched the series and seen the movie, join us when we visit Highclere Castle and relive every scene:

 

Glide down the grand oak staircase like Lady Mary did on her wedding day, sit at Jackdaws Castle where Lady Edith so often found herself and take in the state dining room where many of the Dowager Countess' wonderfully acerbic lines were delivered by Dame Maggie Smith.  

 

Gardens

Records show the gardens were first developed here during the 13^th century. Today you are welcome to explore the original Monks' Garden, the White Border, the Wood of Goodwill, the Rose Arbour, the Wild Flower Meadow and, nearer the house, the Healing Herb Garden.

 

Parklands

Highclere Castle is set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland, designed for the 1st Earl of Carnarvon by the famous 18th century landscape gardener "Capability" Brown.

There are six 18th century follies framing views from which to admire the landscape. For example, Jackdaw’s Castle on the East lawns provides a charming view to the Castle, the Etruscan Temple is a place in which to sit and admire the trees on Siddown Hill, whilst the Temple of Diana looks over the lake.

 

The parkland and gardens are framed by a collection of magnificent cedar trees, first imported into this country in the 18th century.

 

Archaeological History

Recent archaeological and landscape investigations have shown that there is an Iron Age fort and a number of tumuli, ancient trackways, lynchets and field systems within the estate.