Time to head out to the countryside. The tube to Paddington, a train to Reading then switch to a train taking us to Newberry station - a 15 minute taxi ride and you are there - Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey to us fans). It looks just like it does on TV - but of course, why wouldn’t it. We weren’t allowed to take photos of the interior (sadly), but almost everything is as it was on set. Aside from a couple pieces of furniture in various rooms being changed - all the paintings, rugs, light fixtures, books, etc, etc are the same. The rooms are large, but they look so much larger on the show - not sure why that is. Many details you do not see in the show - because you are watching the characters - are the amazing vaulted ceilings and chandeliers - I just can’t imagine living here, yet the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon do - it’s really big and we only saw a tiny portion of the house.
The 5th Earl loved to drive fast cars (many tickets for speeding at 17 mph and above) and was seriously injured in a crash. The doctors told him the cold winters of England were not good for him. Because of his wife’s wealth, they decided to winter in Egypt. In 1922, after 16 years of searching, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, the first global world media event. In the basement of the castle he shows off his collection of artifacts brought back from his Egyptian digs. Over the years he worked his way into better and better dig sites. His health was failing but he wanted to go one more time. He and Howard dug in a new place and found this major discovery. There are pictures showing him and Howard opening the tomb together. He died soon after. Pretty amazing and who knew.
Highclere Castle is set amidst 1,000 acres of spectacular parkland.
To the south east of the Castle lies the Monks’ Garden – it’s name derived from the Bishops of Winchester who owned the Estate for 800 years before the Carnarvon family acquired it in 1679.
The Carnarvon family has lived at Highclere since 1679, and the current Castle stands on the site of an earlier house, which in turn was built on the foundations of the medieval palace owned by the Bishops of Winchester for some 800 years.
Pinkie's up - it's afternoon tea at the Coach House
So much sugar, we got through about half of it - then sugar-buzzed out to the grounds.