Looking for Downton: Our Journey to Huck Castle

Editor's Note: This long article first appeared in the 5th issue of the British Journal in the spring of 20 17. You can support long writing about British history, culture and tourism by subscribing to Angloopia Prin, which is a love letter written to Britain every quarter. Subscription makes this kind of articles possible and ensures the future of English-speaking countries. You can subscribe here.

Only a few places in Britain have become part of the global popular imagination, and Hechler Castle is one of them. Many of you may remember that it came from Givis and Worcester, which was the first famous place and the home of Lord canavan who sponsored the discovery of King Tutankhamun's tomb. But now the whole world knows a house like Downton Abbey, which is the background of the most popular costume drama in the world and has recently closed its operation. Last spring, we had a chance to visit. This is a lifetime journey.

Highclere:“

A brief history, even before the success of Downton Abbey, if you are passionate about English luxury houses, Highclere Castle will definitely be on your visit list, at least once in your life. This house is located in the south of newbury, Berkshire, actually in Hampshire. Covering more than 5,000 acres, this manor is still the hometown of Count Carnaveen (although they only live here for part of the year).

The origin of the manor can be traced back to nearly 1300 years ago. Heck Castle is the fifth or sixth house built on real estate. It used to be a larger manor built by Bishop Winchester, dating back to the 8th century. The original location is actually recorded in the Doomsday Book (William the Conqueror's description of his newly conquered kingdom). However, this was in 1679, when the house was taken over by the canavan family, they still owned it. As a narrator, this house is called a house, maybe even a monastery, then a palace, then a local residence, and now it is called a castle because of its grandeur; It doesn't look like a castle in the traditional sense.

During this period, it is a square classical style mansion. 1692, Robert Sawyer gave the manor as a wedding gift to his daughter Margaret, who married the 8th Earl of pembroke. Margaret's second son, Robert Sawyer Herb, inherited Heichler's legacy and created a formal garden with 65,438+02 temples and idiots, which had an influence on the manor. His nephew and heir, Henry Herbert, was later called Baron Beauchester because of George III's

, become the first earl of carnarvon. 1838, the third Earl entrusted Sir Charles Barry to rebuild the Parliament Building. There was a Renaissance during this period, and Barry was very good at writing. However, in Highclere, the manor he designed has the influence of Jacobson style. Some details do reflect the characteristics of the Renaissance, such as the tower of the castle, which is thinner than other towers built at the same time. It is said that Barry used all the features of the Italian Renaissance when sketching the house design. However, it was rejected by the count.

If you think it looks like a parliament building, it's intentional. 1834 The parliament building rebuilt after being burnt down was also designed by the outstanding Victorian architect Barry. This is not a design style that developed into the 20th century. In fact, many famous neo-gothic buildings were demolished because of the change of taste and the soaring maintenance cost.

Highclere Library-now Mrs. Carnavan-Photo copyright Adam hillier The Third Earl died in 1849, and Sir Charles Barry died in 1860. At this point, the west wing has not yet been completed; The servant's residence was designated there. The Fourth Earl entrusted the services of the architect Thomas Allom, who cooperated with Barry several years ago to help supervise the completion of the castle. It was finally completed in 1878, and it took quite a long time from beginning to end. Many big houses in Britain have been built for generations, and it is today's appearance-Gao Claire is no exception.

In the 20th century, Gauclair Castle was a meeting place for all kinds of important people. According to the guidebook, the family party held in the castle was attended by Egyptian antique dealers, pilots, soldiers, technical innovators and politicians. During the First World War, aminah, the fifth countess of Carnavin, transformed the house into a hospital to help soldiers returning from the battle of Flanders. Almina became a skilled nurse and therapist, which was recorded in countless letters written by patients and their families thanking her for her generosity.

19 19, the castle returned to the private residence of the Earl of Canaveran and his family. After his death in 1923, his son returned to Hechler Castle, where he lived until 1986.

You can recognize the Count of Canavern No.7 from the recent Neflix TV series Crown. The young queen called him Lord Pochether, a close friend of Her Majesty. They both have the same hobby for horses and have been raising horses together for many years. 1969, Poch became the horse racing manager of the Queen of England, and was called one of the few people who could directly contact Her Majesty to talk about her beloved horse. "Crown" speculates that their relationship may be more, but we will never really know. He is an important British politician and local politician. 1987 After his father died, he became the seventh Earl of Canavin. Lord Beauchester passed away on September 1 1, 2006 (unrelated to other major events that happened that day).

Oak Stairs-Photo Copyright Adam hillier Photography The current residents of Hechler Castle are the eighth earl and countess of canavan. 1988, Lord Carnaveen and his father opened the castle to the public. Before Downton Abbey, their wedding business was very successful. Since 2003, Lord and Mrs Carnaveen have been living in the castle as they do today (when the castle is open to the public, they spend less time in the castle). They founded the Egyptian exhibition in 2007, which was very successful and is still open today.

The maintenance cost related to the ancient barns and fools and the castle itself is estimated to be about120,000 pounds (about 20 million US dollars). They have been carrying out a stable maintenance plan, although, like houses in many countries, they have accumulated a maintenance investment deficit since World War II. Due to the success of Downton Abbey since 20 12, the Earl and Lady Canavern can continue to work in the castle. The family lived in Heck Castle in winter, and then went back to their cottage when the castle was open to the public in summer.

Owning such a big house is quite a challenge. Lord and Mrs Carnaveen carried out a roof overhaul in 2003. Since then, they have accumulated a large number of experts, whether roofing, masonry, water pipes or electricity. These houses were built according to different Victorian building standards. Although they are made of stone and can stand the test of time, many aspects of these houses are indeed durable. Their house is well built, but considering the area, the bill is always considerable, which is beyond their ability to bear some big houses. The roof is the most common problem-usually made of lead or slate. A leaky roof is the cancer of a solemn home; It will cause the house to rot and mold, thus weakening the structure of the house. Their age also complicates the second major problem; Find the necessary skills to solve these problems. However, Ms. Carnaveen has established a list of skilled businessmen and a great team. It does take time, but when you measure the life of a house for hundreds of years, it is not a problem. Water pipes, electricity and other services are outdated. Thankfully, Highclere has been able to keep modernization according to an effective plan since 2003. It costs a lot of money to ensure that lighting and heating can still work normally and make these buildings meet modern standards. If we don't update these things in time, we will encounter a problem, which has destroyed many lost solemn homes in Britain: fire. Thankfully, a fire didn't hit Hagrid.

Many people think that the owner of such a house is rich, but the phrase "the house is rich and the cash is scarce" applies here. Real estate like Highclere costs a lot of money to operate and maintain, just like any enterprise will employ hundreds of people. Many earl and duke tried to keep their heads above the water. Many people don't want to give up their houses. They either give up their houses or hand them over to the national trust. Therefore, it is good to find a beautiful house like Heckler, which is still in the hands of the original owner.

The success of Downton Abbey made Hechler Castle an instant hit, because the owner tried to keep the house intact. This TV series was created by Julian Fellowes and premiered in the UK on September 26th, 20th 10, and in the US on September 9th, 20th1year10. This series of films is set in Downton Abbey, Yorkshire, and describes the life of the Crawleys, including the life of their servants. The play is set in the post-Edward VII era, and describes how important events in history have a lasting impact on people in aristocratic status (the sinking of Titanic and the loss of heirs opened the play). The play is not expected to last until the first season, but it has become a global hit, consolidating its position as one of the most popular British costume dramas of all time.

Some tourists now come here from all over the world to visit Hechler Castle in the opening year. The occupancy income ensures the survival of the house and allows the owner to invest in a multi-year maintenance and renovation plan. The house of the future is safe and can be enjoyed by generations.

Explore Downton-Our ability to visit brown landscapes. We have been trying to visit Hechler Castle for several years. It is only open on selected days of the year, and they sell tickets six months or more in advance. Therefore, available tickets are always sold out. Although they may have a few tickets left every day, if you are in the United States and can't buy tickets in advance, they will be open to hiking tourists, and it is too risky to plan your trip (but they suggest that you send an email in advance to see if you can get in at the last minute).

We managed to get tickets for April 2065438+2006, and we got tickets for Spring Festival travel rush the previous autumn. As our tickets are safe, we are glad to plan to travel there. We bought tickets, counted the days and couldn't wait to visit. In order to get ready, we watched the old scenes of Downton Abbey crazily and studied the background of the house.

It's time for our visit, and we wake up early in anticipation. We lived in a self-help hut about an hour's drive from Dorset, so we had breakfast, got on the bus and drove through the English countryside in the morning until we reached this house. The driving time is a little longer than we planned. We foolishly thought that Apple Maps could find the way to one of the most famous houses in the world, but unfortunately, it led us to a private entrance. Google search on the roadside in Berkshire tells us that almost all satellite navigation systems are wrong, and we found the correct zip code at the tourist entrance. Be sure to check the description of the house before you try! "

Actually, we don't mind. We like driving in the English countryside. This is a particularly beautiful sunny day. We have early tickets (the organizer divides the day into two groups: early tickets and afternoon tickets), that is to say, for various reasons (sometimes the cultural relics in the room are too expensive to take risks, or the room is too small to hold the equipment), you can enter the house as soon as you open the door. Therefore, it is really a pleasure to see the room you didn't expect to see. What really touched me was not the size of the house, but how intimate it felt. It is very much like a home. Walking here with a group of people, admiring personal influence, a nobleman and an earl 1300 years, this is almost wrong.

I especially like to know more about the various objects inside. In the program, these objects are basically window decorations. Lord Feros, the creator of the exhibition, often said that they chose this house because they have all the paintings of the dead you need. They serve as the background in the program; They give it gravity. But they have never really been commented on (although sometimes a work of art becomes a plot point). So, I'm glad to finally understand the historical background of some paintings and sculptures that we are all very familiar with.

After you have visited all the rooms on the main floor, you will be taken upstairs to see all the private bedrooms. This is very attractive, because plays usually don't use these rooms to shoot (but sometimes they do), and they are usually built on the set to make shooting easier (because the rooms are small and suitable for shooting equipment). Only a small part of more than 50-80 rooms in the house is open, as you can see. At the end of the self-help tour, you have the opportunity to climb down the famous and beautiful oak stairs, just like Count Grantham with his dog Isis. I felt a sharp pain when I climbed down the stairs After that, you will be taken outside the back room, where there are gift shops and cafes. We will definitely buy some souvenirs related to Highclere (although there are no actual Downton products). The kitchen now manages the teahouse, so it is not open to the public. The wine cellar was taken over by the Egyptian Exhibition (see sidebar), so don't expect to see Mrs. Patmore preparing dinner in the basement! After seeing this house, you will always want to walk on this beautiful land, which was designed by the famous landscape designer Capabiliy Brown. There are many idiots and ruins, and many beautiful photos can be taken.

We often ask this question-if you like Downton Abbey-should you go to Heckel Castle? Of course, yes, you should. You won't regret it. Would it help to have a drink of Downton Abbey before the visit? Yes, of course.

Other TV and movie programs Other TV and movie programs that use castles include: The Secret Garden (1987), Open Your Eyes (1999), Four Feathers (2002), and the music video The Legend of John (God only knows) (2006). It also plays Tourita in the classic comedy series Givis and Worcester. Highclere Casle also rents facilities for small film units and photo conferences, many of which are wedding events.

A further study of "KDSP" The current Countess Carnaveen is a prolific writer. She has written several fascinating books on the history of the prelate class. The most famous are The Lost Legacy of Lady Almina and The Real Downton Abbey: Hechler Castle, Lady Catherine, Earl and the Real Downton Abbey. She also has a new book to be published in the spring of 20 17, entitled "Home in Hagler"-the entertainment, historic weekend, menu and cookbook of the real Downing Abbey. She also started a lovely blog on ladycarnvon.

Editor's Note: Mrs. Carnaveen and Hechler Castle are currently holding a competition to win the grand prize for your stay in Hechler Castle, which is a very rare private residence. You must hold a dinner party and submit it to the competition. The complete details are here.

PBS also produced an excellent documentary about Hickler, called The Secret of Hickler Castle, which can be obtained through DVD and Blu-ray. It's Al, so streaming through PBS and Amazon Prime.

It is open for about 70 days every year. It is open for two weeks during the Easter holiday and bank holidays in May, and for two months in summer, from Sunday to Thursday. It is also open for a few days in1February to celebrate Christmas. There is a guide in the castle room who can answer any questions or gossip about Downton. They offer various discounts for large groups and school visits. For complete information about the planned visit, please visit: highclerecasle.co. Tickets must be booked in advance and often sold out months in advance, so it is very important to plan ahead. Now, they hold a garden party with the theme of "dressing beautifully" every year, and the theme of 20 17 is the 1920s.

Ticket prices vary from year to year, but at present, tickets for adults to visit castles, Egyptian exhibitions and gardens are 23 pounds (about 30 dollars), 14 pounds (about 16 dollars) for children and 60 pounds (about 80 dollars) for families. If you choose not to attend the Egyptian exhibition, the tickets will be cheaper (if you are not interested in ancient Egypt, don't pay).

Special note: no photography of any kind is allowed in the house! "

The house that arrives there is closer to London. There is a travel company that can take you there. But the best way is to drive by yourself. According to them, "Please don't use" satellite navigation "near Highclere Casle, because it will take you to the wrong entrance. If you use the postal code RG209LE of the local restaurant, please follow the brown tourist signs from there to the main entrance.

You can also take the train directly from Paddington, London to newbury, where you can take a taxi to the house. The cost of each road is between 15-20 (don't forget to book a return ticket with the driver! )。 You can also take a bus from London to newbury, and then take a taxi from there. It is estimated that it will take 3-4 hours to explore the house and site.

As usual, be sure to check Highland's (Highland Casle. Co.) before visiting to ensure that you have all the latest travel and opening information.

Narrator-The Earl and Tutankhamun, the fifth Earl of canavan, found a grave in an archaeological excavation. The Egyptian boy Pharaoh Tutankhamun 1922 dug it with the help of his colleague howard carter. The two of them spent 16 years in Egypt on various excavation trips. The Earl also helped Carter build a house in the desert near the Valley of the Kings, which was appropriately called "Carter Castle". Both agreed that there were more graves in the Valley of the Kings. To help prove their hypothesis, they created a grid system to record the places they dug.

/kloc-in the autumn of 0/922, they planned their last hiking trip, and the earl's daughter, Ms. Evelyn, accompanied them. Due to the discovery of the Egyptian boy Pharaoh, their trip was obviously successful. After the death of the Fifth Earl, his widow sold his collection to the Metropolitan Museum of New York to pay the inheritance tax. However, not all the cultural relics were sold, but were hidden in the cupboard until the canavan family rediscovered it in 1987.

To celebrate the success of the fifth Earl, the current Earl and Countess opened an Egyptian exhibition in the cellar of the castle, which still exists today. This is also called "Discovery Gallery", which emphasizes the different events of the canavan family during the war, the unfortunate financial situation and the overall discovery of Egyptian cultural relics. This story was recently adapted into four plays 20 16 by ITV (currently available on BriBox in the United States).

Thanks to Ms. Carnaveen and her office, she carefully reviewed this article before it was published last year.

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