Everything you need to know about the Downton Abbey castle
Where is the Downton Abbey castle? Highclere Castle is where the hit period drama was filmed. When was this luxurious home built, and can you visit it?
Image: Highclere Castle is the home of the iconic television series and films | stock.adobe.com
The period drama series Downton Abbey became a pop culture juggernaut almost as soon as it first landed on British TV screens back in 2010. The series ran until December 2015, but has since been followed up by three acclaimed films.
The franchise, predominantly set in interwar Britain, produced fan-favourite characters like Hugh Bonneville’s Robert Crawley and the late Dame Maggie Smith’s Dowager Countess of Grantham. Even the fictional country estate, Downton Abbey, became something of a character in itself.
The Downton Abbey episodes and films were all shot extensively at a real-life stately home – Highclere Castle. So, where is the Downton Abbey castle, and what do we at Sky HISTORY know about its intriguing past?
Where is the Downton Abbey castle?
In the fictional world of the series, Downton Abbey – the opulent residence of the Crawley family and their servants – is nestled somewhere in Yorkshire. However, Highclere Castle, the real-life home standing in for Downton Abbey on screen, lies much further south.
It’s actually a Grade I listed country house located in the leafy Hampshire settlement of Highclere. The Jacobethan-style building sits at the heart of a 5,000-acre estate about 10 miles north of Andover, the nearest major town in the county.
When was Highclere Castle built?
The history of Highclere estate goes at least as far back as 749, when the Bishop of Winchester was granted the land. It was later inherited by successive holders of the bishopric. One Bishop of Winchester, William of Wykeham, built a palace on the site.
The palace was periodically rebuilt over the centuries, most notably during the reign of Queen Victoria. That’s when architect Sir Charles Barry, best known today for the Houses of Parliament, drew up a bold new Italianate-style design for Highclere Castle.
What is the Downton Abbey castle’s connection to Tutankhamun?
By the early 20th century, Highclere Castle was held by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who was fascinated by the history of Ancient Egypt. So much so, he decided to fund excavations aimed at recovering long-lost artefacts from Egypt itself.
These successful projects included archaeologist Howard Carter’s famed discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922. Carnarvon wasn’t a mere financial benefactor in this endeavour; he was actually there with Carter when the latter came across the tomb.
Just a few months later, the 5th Earl died unexpectedly after accidentally cutting himself with his razor; the resulting wound became dangerously infected. The curious circumstances of the Earl’s death fuelled speculation that he had been struck by the so-called ‘Curse of King Tut’.
What happened at Highclere Castle during the World Wars?
The First World War saw many wounded soldiers return to Britain. Some received treatment at Highclere Castle when it served as a military hospital at the 5th Countess of Carnarvon’s behest. Decades later, Highclere Castle provided a safe haven for WWII child evacuees.
Where else have I seen the Downton Abbey castle?
Where is the Downton Abbey castle in other films and TV shows? You can spot its distinctive architecture in the early 1990s comedy series Jeeves and Wooster as well as the Noughties mystery series Marple.
Also watch out for Highclere Castle in the 1987 screen adaptation of The Secret Garden and Stanley Kubrick’s last directorial effort, 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut.
Who owns Highclere Castle today?
Highclere Castle is currently owned by George Herbert, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon, who lives there with his wife Fiona, Lady Carnarvon. The latter has written books about earlier Countesses of Carnarvon and even has her own podcast, where she discusses life at Highclere.
The Highclere estate has been passed down through generations of the Carnarvon family for centuries. Henry Herbert, 1st Earl of Carnarvon, inherited Highclere Castle from his uncle in 1769, but did not gain the Carnarvon title until 1793.
Can I visit the Downton Abbey castle?
Yes, Highclere Castle is open for the public to visit every spring and summer. While there, you can enjoy a tour of the main state rooms where many memorable scenes from the Downton Abbey series were filmed.
So, where is the Downton Abbey castle’s Egyptian Museum? Just head down into the cellars, where you’ll see eye-catching displays of Ancient Egyptian artefacts amassed by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon. You can also set aside time to explore the estate’s gardens originally developed in the 13th century.
Where is the Downton Abbey castle? Once you know, you can start planning your visit – and learn more about the building’s historical context by subscribing to the Sky HISTORY newsletter.
