Highclere Castle, Newbury

Since 1679, Highclere Castle has been home to the Carnarvon family. In 1692, Robert Sawyer, a lawyer and college friend of Samuel Pepys, bequeathed a mansion at Highclere to his only daughter, Margaret. Margaret was the first wife of the 8th Earl of Pembroke. Their second son, Robert Sawyer Herbert, inherited Highclere, began its picture collection and created the garden temples. His nephew and heir Henry Herbert was made Baron Porchester and 1st Earl of Carnarvon by King George III.

Originally, the house was a square, classical mansion, but it was rebuilt for the third Earl by Sir Charles Barry in the years 1839 to 1842 in the 'High Elizabethan' style and faced in Bath stone.

Although the exterior of the north, east and south sides were completed by the time the 3rd Earl died in 1849 and Sir Charles Barry died in 1860, the interior and the west wing (designated as servants' quarters) were still far from complete. The 4th Earl turned to the architect Thomas Allom, who had worked with Barry, to supervise work on the interior of the Castle, which was completed on 1878.

The 1st Earl rebuilt his park according to a design by Capability Brown during 1774 to 1777, relocating the village in the process. The famous 18th century seed collector Bishop Stephen Pococke was a friend and brought Lebanon Cedar seeds from a trip to Lebanon. These beautiful trees can be seen in the garden today. Various follies and eye-catchers exist on the estate. To the east of the house is the Temple, a strange structure erected before 1743 with Corinthian columns from Devonshire House in Piccadilly.

The castle is home to an Egyptian Exhibition, which was founded by the 5th Earl who, along with his archaeological colleague, Howard Carter, famously discovered the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun in 1922.

Highclere Castle was to location used for the popular BBC drama Downton Abbey.

(Photographs courtesy of A R Hughes, Newbury).

Opening Times

July/August Opening:
Open Sunday to Thursday every week

October Opening:
Thursday 13th October,
Friday 14th October,
Saturday 15th October
GROUP BOOKINGS BY ARRANGEMENT.

For opening in other month please check the website.

OPENING TIMES: 11:00am to 6:00pm. Last admission 4pm.

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Ticket Prices

CASTLE & EGYPTIAN EXHIBITION:
Adults £15.00
Concessions (60+, students, disabled) £13.50
Children (4 to 15 years) £9.00
Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c) £40.00

CASTLE ONLY:,/b>
Adult £9.00
Concessions (60+, students, disabled) £8.00
Child (4-15years) £5.00
Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c) £22.00

EGYPTIAN EXHIBITION ONLY:
Adult £9.00
Concessions (60+, students, disabled) £8.00
Child (4-15 years) £5.00
Family (2a+3c or 1a+4c) £22.00

GROUNDS AND GARDENS ONLY:
Adults £4.00
Children (4-15 yrs) £1.00

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