Built in a bygone era, Highclere Castle and its surrounding five-thousand-acre estate is a place where history breathes through its walls and verdant landscapes.
From the grandeur of Victorian architecture to the whispers of Anglo-Saxon roots, every stone and tree has a story to tell throughout its sweeping grounds. Lady Carnarvon shares tales of past residents, from Lady Almina's legendary 1920s parties to the enigmatic ghosts that roam the halls of the castle. With the passing months and seasons, Lady Carnarvon reveals what it truly means to live and work in this extraordinary home. From gardening, entertaining, exploring the outdoors with their eight dogs and opening the gates to a film crew - for many weeks and seasons - culminating in the latest Downton Abbey film.
Highclere is where history, royalty, nature, and community weave together in a tapestry as rich as the castle itself.
Books
Lady Carnarvon began her career as an author by writing the guidebook to Highclere and a guide to the Egyptian exhibition which transported visitors back to Ancient Egypt. Lady Carnarvon has written two historical books, “Lady Almina”, a New York Times Bestseller, which covers First World War when Highclere was actually a hospital and “Lady Catherine” which looks at the twenties and thirties and the Second World War through the real inhabitants.
This is a book about a man whose life and death became front-page news throughout the world between the autumn of 1922 and the spring of 1923 when, with his colleague Howard Carter, he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun and then, shortly afterwards, died.
The media circus that accompanied the opening of the tomb latched onto the glint of gold, the extraordinary treasures and, of course, he superstitious world of ancient Egypt. The back story of hard work, the acquisition of experience and knowledge in an in-hospitable climate, has been overlooked in a welter of excited prose - it is a book of discovery.
Join Lady Carnarvon as she opens the Castle's gates to show how th iconic British landmark celebrates and changes each season.
This book reveals the treasures within Highclere Castle's land and estates: Georgian architecture, follies, secret gardens, the monks' garden, wildflower meadows and the woods of enchantment. Alongside history and anecdotes, this book also details sumptuous recipes for dishes inspired by local, seasonal produce, such as Heritage Tomato Tart, Highclere Baked Figs with Goats Cheese, and Honeyed Winter Vegetable Salad.
Beautifully illustrated with full-colour photography, Seasons at Highclere is full of gastronomical delights, the stories of the treasures within Highclere Castle's grounds, untold secrets from the castle's archives and much more. This is the perfect gift or keepsake and a book to be cherished for years to come.
Lady Carnarvon's love of history is richly rewarded at Highclere Castle with its mine of family records going back some 300 years. She has delved into the archives to create a book that invited you inside the Castle, past and present. Throughout the centuries, Highclere has welcomed, Royalty, Statesmen, Egyptologists and pioneers of technology along with men and women from the worlds of music, art and letters. The etiquette of the invitation, the balance of guests at a weekend house party, their 'placement' at dinners, and the entertainment of friends, as well as the domestic management required to execute the perfect occassion, have all preoccupied successive generations of châtelaines. This book tells the story of four real weekends - from 1866 to 1936 - when the great and the good gathered at Highclere to change the world in some large or small part. It then reflects on how the current Countess entertains 'At Home' at Highclere today.
This book takes you behind the scenes and shares the history and rituals that make Highclere Castle the most magical place to be throughout the festive season. The festive feeling is carried through to Highclere's Boxing Day traditions, the restorative middle days and the New Year's Eve celebrations.
As well as telling the stories of Highclere Christmases past and present, Lady Carnarvon provides recipes, tips and inspiration from her kitchen so that readers can bring a quintessentially British festive spirit to their own home. Lady Carnarvon divulges the secret to perfectly flakey mince pies, the proper way to wrap presents so that you and your guests are guaranteed a Christmas to remember.
Lady Carnarvon’s first book, which has become a New York Times bestseller, weaves Almina's journey and those of her family into the heritage and history of one of England's most exquisite Victorian castles. Lady Almina was the illegitimate daughter of banking tycoon Alfred de Rothschild and he doted on her. At 19, she married the 5th Earl of Carnarvon with an enormous dowry.
At first, life at Highclere was a dizzying mix of sumptuous banquets and even the occasional royal visitor. Almina oversaw 80 members of staff - many of whom came from families who had worked at Highclere for generations. But when the First World War broke out, life at Highclere changed forever.
Drawing on rich material from the private archives at Highclere, including beautiful period photographs, the current Countess of Carnarvon transports us back to the thrilling and alluring world of the 'real Downton Abbey' and its inhabitants. Telling the story of Lady Catherine, a beautiful American girl who caught the eye of Lord Porchester when she was just 20 years old.
But less than a year later Porchey's father died suddenly, and he became the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, inheriting a title and a Castle that changed both their lives forever. Catherine found herself suddenly in charge of a small army of household staff, and hosting lavish banquets and weekend house parties.