A Chat Lady Carnarvon of HighClere Castle the original Downton Abbey

27th Edition, Events, Interviews, Lifestyle, Newport RI Events, Sea and be Seen Newport RI | 0 comments

The Preservation Society in newport Rhode Island organized a special visit with the Lady Fiona Carnarvon to give her history and accounts of her experience through the filming of Julian fellows HBO series  “Downton Abbey” . Every unique lunch, dinner and gala package offered by the Preservation Society SOLD OUT. Each offered a personalized conversation of the Highclere history, including past owners, what it is like to run a the 300 room estate, the creation of the sustainable farm to bring health back to animals and ultimately humans, the inspiration behind the award winning Highclere Castle Gin and much much more all documented here in this recording.

Lady Carnarvon was very down to earth in her tennis shoes and linen clothes. She was funny, witty and full of life. Some interesting take aways from her question and answer presentation below are that the Highclere tours are “an experience not a visit.”, “Highclere is about the bones not the stones” meaning they are people centric and want focus on making people happy and want them to fall in love with Highclere, The filming was a “fortunate, serendipitous collaboration” Highclere highlights then vs now photos

Learn about how many staff it takes to run Highclere then vs now and so much more:

June 9th 2022 In advance of her visit, Trudy Coxe and Lady Carnarvon discuss the joys and challenges of maintaining a 300-room castle with 1,200 years of history and more than 1,000 acres of landscape. The wife of Geordie, the 8th Earl of Carnarvon and the comparisons of running the preservation society estates and the Highclare Castle

Lady Carnarvon is the author of 5 books, If you are interested to peruse and purchase : https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/books/

Lady Carnarvon began her career as an author by writing the guidebook to Highclere and a guide to the Egyptian exhibition which transported visitors back to Ancient Egypt. Lady Carnarvon has written two historical books, “Lady Almina”, a New York Times Bestseller, which covers First World War when Highclere was actually a hospital and “Lady Catherine” which looks at the twenties and thirties and the Second World War through the real inhabitants, both upstairs and downstairs. These contain fascinating comparisons and similarities with “Downton Abbey”. Her last bestseller, “At Home at Highclere,” is a coffee table book which documents an insight into life at Highclere Castle. Food is a key theme throughout the book, having played an important social role in the lives of the Earls of Carnarvon bringing people together, and Lady Carnarvon includes some favourite recipes from the mid-nineteenth century to the present day.

Her latest book, “Christmas at Highclere: Recipes and Traditions from the Real Downton Abbey” takes you behind the scenes and share the history and the rituals that make my home – Highclere Castle – the most magical place to be throughout the festive season. – website