Only a couple of more posts left from my trip to England in September! This one focuses on Highclere Castle (the setting of Downton Abbey). The castle is open a couple of months for tourists to view–we were lucky enough on The Duke of Wellington Tour to be able to get to spend some hours at the castle and on the grounds. Naturally, no photos were allowed inside the house, so I am including a few postcards. However, the grounds of Highclere are beautiful and I took beaucoup des photos of the flowers from the “Secret Garden” and elsewhere on the grounds.
Click to enlarge all photos.
–the Library was one of the first rooms to see in Highclere Castle. This picture from a postcard does not reflect the full splendor of the room.
–one of the pretty drawing rooms that the current Lady Carnarvon decorates with current family photos on the furniture, besides the paintings of past family members
–the entrance gallery/saloon from a postcard showing the beautiful staircase
The 5th Earl of Carnarvon helped fund and was with Howard Carter when he discovered King Tut’s tomb. Click HERE for a link to an interesting article on the discovery of some Egyptian items found cached away in Highclere by a butler not too long ago. In the basement of the castle was an Egyptian exhibit of some of the items.
–across a field of wildflowers was a view of the back of the castle
–sheep grazing on the lands far to the back of the castle
Following are some photos from the Secret Garden on the grounds:
–this structure is named “Jackdaws Castle”
–this inscription is above every bottom window of the castle
The inscription on the bottom windows reads: Ung:Je:Serviray. Translated from Old French, this means “One will I serve.”
–it was an overcast day, but I managed to snap this one when not too many tourists were walking about
–I think my pic compares well with this postcard image!
–something I really enjoyed about the grounds of the castle were the beautiful trees (from a postcard)
–Good bye, Downton Abbey (I mean Highclere Castle)!