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Highclere Castle

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Highclere Castle Summary

 

Highclere Castle Description

It has been the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon since the late Earl died in 2001, and the home of their ancestors, the Herbert family since the early 18th century. It was the 3rd Earl who built the present house in 1842 and his son, the 4th Earl who arranged the rooms. It is their faces that look down at us from the walls of Highclere today; for more about the History of Highclere, why not view their Website?

The Herbert family acquired Highclere through descent. In 1692, Robert Sawyer, a lawyer and college friend of the diarist Samuel Pepys, bequeathed a stuccoed mansion at Highclere to his only daughter, Margaret. As Countess of Pembroke, Margaret lived at Wilton House in Wiltshire, which became the inheritance of her eldest son, Henry, after his father's death. Her second son, Robert Herbert, inherited Highclere, began the picture collection and established a line of succession from father to son unbroken to the present day.

The Earldom of Carnarvon was won on the political stage by Robert Herbert's nephew, Henry. In 1780, when his parliamentary rival Lord George Gordon was inciting the London mob to violence against the leniency measures for Catholics, Henry defused a tense situation and his courage was rewarded by George III, who created him Baron Porchester and 1st Earl of Carnarvon, titles the family still hold.

The 2nd Earl vociferously opposed the Reform Bill and the 3rd Earl, the repeal of the Corn Laws, but it was Henry, 4th Earl who had the most consistent political success. As Secretary of State for the Colonies and Lord Lieutenant of Ireland he played a prominent part in the expansion of the British Empire worldwide and his marriage to Lady Evelyn Stanhope, daughter of an active political family, the Earls of Chesterfield, consolidated his position at the centre of power through the long reign of Queen Victoria.

Some of the exotic flavour that the Herbert family created at Highclere is due to their taste for foreign travel. The 3rd Earl was a great adventurer and impressive linguist, travelling throughout his life in Europe, Greece, Turkey and North Africa. He was fascinated by Moorish architecture and wrote a tragic play and several poems about Spain and the Moors.

His grandson, the 5th Earl seems to have inherited the Herbert love of faraway cultures. His particular passion was for the lost civilisation of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. He sponsored a series of excavations in the Valley of the Kings, led by the Egyptologist Howard Carter, before discovering in 1922 the astonishing treasure of the tomb of Tutankhamun, the richest burial site ever found. The discovery made him famous throughout the world, but he died before the excavation was complete and his embalmed body was brought home for burial at Highclere.

The Castle cellars house an exciting new Egyptian Exhibition. The cellars have been redeveloped firstly to display the family's collection of Egyptian antiquities and secondly to take visitors through the 5th Earl's path to the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb in 1922; the only royal tomb of a Pharoah ever found intact.

Separate admission charge for Egyptian Exhibition or combined ticket for Castle and exhibition available.

Entertain at Highclere

Highclere Castle is a Victorian gem and a perfect venue for private or corporate entertaining in glorious style. This wonderful home can be hired by the day and being only 55 minutes by road from Heathrow or by rail from Paddington, it is extraordinarily convenient. You can experience the combination of style, traditional service and the very best of food and wines which has established Highclere's undisputed reputation for excellence.

Close to Newbury Racecourse, Highclere Castle, surrounded by outstanding gardens and grounds, is the perfect venue for conferences, exhibitions, activity days and concerts, not to mention receptions and dinners which are a class apart. There is, literally, nothing quite like it.

Paul Brooke Taylor, Highclere Castle's executive Chef has had a distinguished career having worked in various prestigious venues. For an intimate party for six, to an event for several hundred - why not call and discuss your requirements with their General Manager?

Opening Times - 2011

Easter:

  • 17th April - 3rd May: daily, 11 am - 4.30 pm (last entry at 3.30 pm)

Bank Holidays:

  • The Castle will be open on the following Bank Holidays in May: 30th - 31st May

Summer:

  • 3rd July - 1st September: Sunday - Thursday
  • Sunday to Thursday (inclusive) from Sunday 4th July - Thursday 2nd September

Admission Prices - 2011

Castle and Egyptain Exhibition:

  • Adult - £15.00
  • Chld (4-15 years) - £9.00
  • Concession - £13.50
  • Family (2+3 or 1+4) - £40.00

Groups (20+):

  • Adult - £12.00
  • Chld (4-15 years) - £7.00

Castle:

  • Adult - £9.00
  • Child (4-15 years) - £5.00
  • Concession - £8.00
  • Family (2+3 or 1+4) - £22.00

Groups (20+):

  • Adult - £7.00
  • Child (4-15 years) - £5.00

Exhibition:

  • Same as Castle

Grounds & Gardens:

  • Adult - £4.00
  • Child (4-15 years) - £1.00

Groups Welcome (minimum 20 people)
Disabled Visitors: A necessary companion of a paying disabled visitor will be admitted free of charge

Further information including opening times and prices

Your Reviews of Highclere Castle

Jessica (24 October 2011)

I visited Highclere Castle for 'Heroes at Highclere'. And what a Fabulous Time I had, The Castle is so beautiful and full of character and the grounds superb, The Cafe is well catered with China cups and saucers and real cutlery not the polystyrene cups and plastic knives/forks that you get catered with everywhere else, I had a really enjoyable tea with delicious cream and jam scones, in the most tranquil of surroundings. I will definitely return, well worth the visit!

Mel Sawyer (16 October 2011)

We went to Highclere yesterday (Saturday 15th October 2011) and were amazed by the number of people queuing to get in to the grounds. They came in their thousands to the extent that they were turned away as the castle could not cope with the sheer volume of people. We were very lucky as we managed to get to the ticket office just as they were announcing the castle's closure so we gambled and paid for tickets anyway managing to eventually get inside. We were so glad as we had travelled all the way from Lancashire. Please pre-book your tickets if you are travelling from afar as due to its current popularity because of Downton Abbey you may not get in. Be warned! It was well worth the wait though and a very beautiful building and home. A great day out in the end with beautiful weather too. Result!

See more reviews of Highclere Castle

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Events for Highclere Castle

  • Easter Sunday - Egg Hunt - 08 April 2012
    2 pm: Join the Egg Hunt around the Castle Grounds( through the woods and gardens) - fill in an enquiry form to ensure that the Easter Bunny brings enough eggs and to receive a letter. There will also be a variety of other activities and displays taking place at Highclere Castle on including the Easter Bonnet.
  • Parkinson's UK Run Highclere - 29 April 2012
    A 10K flat road race in the grounds of Highclere Castle, home of ITV series 'Downton Abbey'. All runners provided with chip timing, an exclusive breathable t-shirt and finisher's medal. It is suggested that runners aim to raise £100 in sponsorship. There is also a Fun Run for Kids. Please click through to Highclere's website for further information.
  • Highclere Game and Country Fair - 26 May 2012 to 27 May 2012
    A showcase of country life with field sports competitions, world-class championship events in clay shooting, watching gundogs, falconers or horses. There will be more than 100 retailers and advice on getting involved in the enjoyable and rewarding pastimes of country sports.
  • Battle Proms - 04 August 2012
    4.30 pm: Have a picnic, visit the traditional fairground and the Napoleonic re-enactors encampment. 6.45 pm: Napoleonic Cavalry and Infantry demonstrate battlefield skills and horsemanship. 7.25 pm: Diamond Jubilee Gun Salute from the English Field Artillery Company with an authentic vintage field gun. 7.30-10 pm: Aerial Spitfire display followed by The New English Concert Orchestra playingTchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with live cannon fire plus many others. Concluding with a dazzling fireworks display.

Additional Info for Highclere Castle

  • YesParks
  • YesGardens
  • YesGroups
  • YesWeddings
  • YesDisabled Access
  • YesEducation
  • YesRefreshments
  • YesPicnics
  • YesGuides
  • YesMeals Available
  • YesConferences
  • YesFilming
  • YesGifts
  • YesLive Entertainment
  • YesShop
  • YesCar Parking

Heritage Groups

  • YesHistoric Houses Association

Credit Cards Accepted

  • YesMastercard
  • YesVisa
  • YesSwitch

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