Guiding
Guiding
Opening the door into the Orient room on the top floor of the castle, my first steps always take me towards the CD player on top of the polished wooden bookshelf. It is a bit of a simple machine surrounded by a muddle of CD’s but I enjoy taking the time to select the music, turning over the CD’s and wondering where to begin.
As I look, I’m also assessing the rhythm of the day ahead and the tenor of my mood both of which help my sense of place and the feeling of where I am in my writing. I may therefore end up enjoying the lilting familiarity of Mozart, the optimism of Handel, the beauty of John Rutter or various hymns and old songs.
Sometimes when I get particularly into a train of thought, I will repeat a song or a compilation. I feel a bit guilty as Jason comes up every so often with a cup of tea and his favourite shortbread fingers and has to listen to the same songs. One in particular that stays with me just now with fading light of autumn days is “Lead kindly Light”. It is beautiful and haunting, reminding me of journeys and wanderings all of which have echoes through so much of the lives I try to draw you into in my books.
It is almost a universal truth that, wherever we wander, everyone at some point needs a guide and that all of us on occasion will be looking for light and hope: we all need a hand sometimes.
Depending on the context, to guide can suggest a sense of control but it can also be just about showing the way. The word itself is related both to the verbs to see and to know. Many languages share similar root words and many therefore link the concept of guiding to the idea of seeing:
“Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue” (Buddha)
In a practical sense, guiding is very much at the heart of Highclere’s life and we have a caucus of 40-50 part time guides led by the inimitable and very organised Alison who always seems to smile enthusiastically at whatever “new bright idea” I come up with. She has a number of deputies and a glorious collection of younger students and those who are perhaps not quite so young to help her.
My main thought is that, both as a home and a business, we just want to make it a happy day out for visitors. Thus, there are guides in most of the rooms and around the upstairs gallery as visitors make their way around. It is then an interesting balance of trying to share stories, ensure the smooth movement of visitors and leading people to safety in the case of an emergency (hopefully not) yet not imposing their thoughts on the building given many visitors have their own dream of being here. It is a fine balance.
At other times of year Highclere offers guided tours and they are much enjoyed by visitors and guides alike. Stately homes stand as a visible history of and about the dreams, ambitions and success of a particular family, often during quite a long time frame. They act almost as a visible echo for history and, by listening to them we can think and consider anew.
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49 Comments
My dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for another thought-provoking blog - your beautiful home is indeed warm & welcoming & enables us to live our Downton Abbey Dreams for real.....
Have a wonderful November, love
Caroline x
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I am really enjoying receiving your blog posts, I love reading them and hearing stories about Highclere Castle. Thank you for sharing!
I came and visited your lovely home in August with my family and we so enjoyed it. The gardens are exquisite!
Isabella
Sacred space offers an experience of the good, true, and beautiful. Transcendence "guides" our thinking towards the good, true, and beautiful. To muse on objects or subjects "spaces" like The British Museum help. Spaces to engage religious experiences still stand. Here in America there's land masses and buildings set aside to preserve a moment in time or to walk about for a time. The question of transcendence remains as to what one is guided into.
Thank you Isabella, I'm so pleased you had a lovely time.
Thank you for allowing us to visit and be guided through your lovely home, and for these weekly posts that share your interesting insights on its life and history. As a guide myself, I appreciate the extra value that being led through a historic home can give people who visit. Kudos to your welcoming and knowledgeable staff!
So beautiful, Lady Carnarvon.
I enjoy reading about your life at Highclere Castle. I felt so "at home" when I visited there, as I felt I knew it so well already.
May I ask what is the name of the beautiful trees beside the Castle?
Thank you.
Linda Kelley
Lovely the picture of guiding did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lovely to visit highcelere castle and l am fan of Downton Abbey and thank you for the email very kind of you
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you again for more insite on you're beautiful home. I wait every monday for you're blog. Thank you.
fondly Jenny
Hello Linda
Thank you for your kind words. The trees next to the castle are the magnificent cedar trees.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I am new to your blog posts, but I am thoroughly enjoying them. You think and write quite eloquently, yet your writing is on a level that speaks to the everyday experiences; you put to the minds of your readers the ease and tranquility that many of us lack in our lives, but no doubt wish we could experience more often.
My daughter (16) and I will visit your beautiful home next Easter, and we are very excited and thrilled to have this opportunity. To take the rush and hurry out of the day by taking a stroll around your gardens and a wander through your home (that sounds so intrusive, but I know that how it sounds and what it actually is are two different things) will be inspiring and meditative, romantic and nostalgic, fantastic and dreamy.
It would be such a pleasure to meet you in April.
Warmest regards,
Heather (and Emma)
What beautiful words. I thank God for the guides of my life. They lead, teach, counsel, encourage, and correct us; to make us better. Thank you for another lovely post.
Rough patches are filling my life right now.....and so when I opened your email this morning I found much PEACE and comfort....Your WORDS enfold me and I thank you Fiona.....thank you for all that you do....
Joan (Athens, Georgia USA)
Lady Carnarvon,
For all our glorious visits we have never had a "tour" but rather have ambled our way at our leisure through the beautiful rooms and up and down staircases. Therefore we are very much looking forward to listening to your guides when we visit for the Christmas season. And so very excited to see your Christmas tree!!!
Heather
The guides at Highclere are themselves treasures. Such a lovely caucus, as you call, them who lovingly and professionally made us feel welcome. Shine on!
Thank you again. I believe that those who visit Highclere are very fortunate to have such thoughtful and welcoming hosts as you, Lady Carnarvon, as well as Lord Carnarvon. You are so unselfish and generous with your home and so thoughtful of those who visit. I hope that you also draw some satisfaction or joy from seeing and knowing that others are able to enjoy sharing in the experience of visiting your home. You and your husband are truly worthy stewards of the Highclere legacy.
Suzanne in Georgia (U.S.)
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
thank you for another wonderful look into your beautiful Highclere Castle. I so look forward to these blogs each month. They are amazing and it does give an insight into the beautiful history of your family. So looking forward to visiting again this Christmas cannot wait .
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I cannot imagine living in your castle with all the history and echos of the past. It has to be busy and yet so very inspiring.
Thank you again for giving us a birds eye view of what life can be like and what is across the pond. Meanwhile, I sit at my work desk in Ohio, doing daily tasks and making plans for our future work year... Such a welcome break to read your words..
With much appreciation,
Debbie
Thank you Linda, we look forward to seeing you during the festive season.
Dear Lady Carnarvan,
Such lovely pictures! Thank you for sharing those. Your post today reminded me of the Downton Abbey episode where the family is guiding visitors around and trying to answer questions. That was a rather amusing show.
Traveling across the pond to visit Highclere is on my bucket list.
Cynthia
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for your wonderful Monday Blog Posts.
I have not listened to 'Lead kindly Light' before, so I am playing it now and enjoying listening to it's calming effect. I admire you and your team for keeping Highclere looking so beautiful and welcoming. My sister-in-law Lena used to work at Highclere in the 1990's and I always thought it must be a special place to work everyday. Enjoy your week and keep writing.
Thank you
Vanessa
Your fascinating blog today is bringing back fond memories of my April, 2015, visit and semi-private tour day at Highclere Castle. We had a most lovely and knowledgable guide, she brought the history of the Castle and the Carnarvon family to life. With the photo of Alison, I seem to recall that she was our guide, though I cannot be certain. In any case, send our gratitude to all the staff that guide the many visitors around the estate and through your beautiful home. Many thanks!
That was a fun episode!
Dear Lady Carnarvon
Another wonderful Monday story.
Thank you so much.
Kathleen from Canadaa
What a lovely and thought provoking piece. Clearly your choice of music inspired you when you wrote this. As a volunteer guide at another Stately Home (somewhere up t'north), you you have definitely reflected the joy of the Guide, welcoming into the home for the short time they are with you. Thank you.
Hello Lady Carnarvon
Try and listen to Handle's Sarabande. That should relax you and the dogs.
My cat did relax with this. Music and memories for me.
Also try the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
Carry on Highclere
regards
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for reminding me of ‘Lead Kindly Light’ this morning. Singing hymns in our Episcopal parish with beautiful organ accompaniment is a joy - especially ones like this. In these time of war and sadness we need all the peace we can find.
I hope your coming week is full of kindness, love and beautiful days. Your guides are lucky ladies!
Thank you again.
Martha G.
Thank you Martha.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for beautiful pictures and a wonderful read to start my week. Music is definitely a guide for the mind and soul. It is very important to the heart. What a wonderful way to get your day going. I hope every day brings you the wonders of music and your beautiful home. Take care.
Susan
Dear Lady Canarvan,
Thank you again for letting us look behind the scenes at Highclere. I was the beneficiary of your guides on a private tour with a group from Iowa when you were not officially open, in May of 2016. We got cookies and coffee or tea in the Saloon and they even let us sit on the furniture, which at this visit, was green. I do not remember my specific guide, but the tour was lovely and whoever it was did a great job. It was also when I subscribed to your blog as I picked up one of the cards in the entry. This trip was the first of what was to become, regular trips to the UK, which also included a chance to visit the Royal Windsor Horse Show which was a thrill since I show Arabians in the US. At Highclere, they even opened up the shop, just for us. The only downside was the pouring down rain, so we did not have a chance to visit the grounds. However, thanks to your guides and staff for making our visit a great experience. Hope to get the chance to return someday and also see the Egypt exhibit as I have since been to Egypt, including a visit to the Tomb of Tutankhamun, and have read your book.
Gosh Lady Carnarvon! When reading your blog and ur statements about guided tours thru a family home I still think of Highclere Castle as belonging to Lord Grantham of Downton Abbey fame!
I will need to read some of your excellent books in order to reorient myself!!
Thankyou Lady Carnarvon!
Love your blog!
I read it around 4 am usually!
Best wishes
FLEURINA
Orange City East
Central Western NSW Australia
The music that you need to find is the CD to the movie Sense and Sensibility, that has some of the best and most soothing music, I always enjoy that one while working
Take care and have a good week
Thank you very much Susan.
Love your comments, Bill, and how Lady Carnarvon’s blog today led you there. Thank you both.
And I just had to grab my hymnal, find “Lead, Kindly Light”, and play and sing it after reading your blog today as well as all the wonderful comments!
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you continuing to share your home and stories with us. I look forward to reading them and "taking it all in." The wisdom, beauty, history as well as looking into the future makes your blog unique and enjoyable.
Happy prelude to winter!
Such wisdom and perception in your blog posts. They literally make my Monday brighter.
We are so lucky to have you and your wonderful sense of sharing at Highclere—you communicate the realities of living in and tending this priceless building. Thank you.
I enjoy your blog so much each week. My sister and I were lucky enough to get to visit England again last year and we had a tour of Highclere. The guides were so interesting and welcoming; we felt totally at home! Thank u‼️
Thank you Mary, I'm pleased you enjoyed your visit.
Can't wait until I am able to visit (Great Britain again) and spend minimal 1 night at the adjacent residences G-D willing! (a.k.a. -Solo-)
I really enjoyed visiting with your guides when we were there in 2019. They answered all questions and were so kind. Hopefully one day I can see in person your lovely castle all decked out for the holidays! It’s on my bucket list to come back!!
Vicki from Colorado
Hello Vicki, thank you for your kind words, I hope we'll see you back here again sometime.
We visited your home last May. The guides were all gracious and welcoming to answer all of our questions about the history of the castle. We had a lovely time. It was great to have a great conversation with Luis while sipping some Highclere Castle cocktail. I would like to visit again sometime soon as I feel that there's still so much to see. One visit is not enough. I would like to experience a visit during Christmas.
Kind regards,
Ellen Buchanan
Hello Ellen
Thank you for your kind words. Our Christmas events are on the website but selling fast so if you'd like to visit this Christmas, may I suggest you have a look soon.
With very best wishes
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog.
As daylight savings time ended yesterday (11/05/23) in the United States, reading your story and its reference to "Lead Kindly Light" brightened up this cold and dark morning here in Southeastern Michigan.
Since the Downtown Abbey series, a visit to Highclere Castle has been on my "bucket list." There is a possibility that I will be in Birmingham in late February 2024. Is the Castle open to the public at that time? If so, perhaps I could arrange a tour?
Otherwise, until next week, all the best to you.
Perpetua Crawford
Hello Perpetua, we have Earl and Pharaoh guided tours available from February https://highclerecastleshop.co.uk/categories/the-earl-and-the-pharaoh-from-the-real-downton-abbey-to-the-disc
Lady Carnarvon,
Thank you for another thought-provoking blog. I look forward to reading each one. It is a bleak day here in Michigan. Your blog made it less so.
Thank you Peggy
wish i was there , looks lovely place .