The real Downton Abbey

Where is Downton Abbey? Viewers of the ITV drama series wishing to visit the fictitious aristocratic mansion will find it in the southern English county of Berkshire.

Highclere Castle is the country house of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, whose family have lived there since the 17th century, although the house was substantially rebuilt in the Victorian era. The 5th Earl was a famous Egyptologist who discovered Tutankhamun’s tomb with archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 and the house has an important collection of Egyptian antiquities.

In “real life”, Highclere was used as a hospital during the first World War and as a home for evacuee children during the second. Although still in use as a family home, the castle and gardens are open to the public on certain dates in October and December (see highclerecastle.co.uk). Hard-core fans of Downton Abbey might like to know that Highclere Castle can be hired as a wedding venue and is licensed to hold civil ceremonies. The current chatelaine, Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon, described the house in the Daily Telegraph thus: “It’s distinctive. I think of it as masculine. It’s a strong house, not a pretty house. And it’s been in my husband’s family since 1679.

When asked how many rooms were in the house she replied, “I’m not sure. I suppose if you know how many rooms you’ve got, you haven’t got a very big house.” Plus ça change . . . .