Old Images of Highclere Castle

Highclere Castle

Famous for its memorable image as the fictional TV show Downton Abbey, Highclere Castle is a stately home found in the county of Hampshire. It has been caught on film many times in the past, but is the heart of a country estate still in family ownership.

Highclere is the country seat of the Earl of Carnarvon, a branch of the Anglo-Welsh Herbert family.

The country house was built in 1679 in the Jacobethan style by the architect Charles Barry, and was largely renovated in the 1840s. It is set in a park designed by Capability Brown, and the focus of the 5,000 acre estate.

Downton Abbey scenes include Highclere Castle’s exterior, great hall and some of the bedrooms. 

The house was also used in the TV series Jeeves and Wooster, which starred comedians Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. 

The castle and gardens are open to the public during July and August, and at times during the rest of the year.

Norman Hartnell fashion Show At Highclere Castle, 1962

Downton Abbey Castle Fashion (1962): British Pathé

See the 1962 fashion show at Highclere castle, run under the supervision of the Right Honourable the Earl of Carnarvon. It showcased a collection created by dress designer Norman Hartnell.

Guests look on as models parade in ball gowns & glittery cocktail dresses. Includes the ‘Copy Cat’ Mexican Ocelot dress black coat, ‘Dandini’ blue and silver brocade dress and jacket, the ‘Juno’ white embroidered jersey evening dress, ‘Damask Rose’ black tulle evening dress, and ‘Queen of the Quorn’ ginger chiffon evening dress. 

A Trip To Highclere Castle In 1994

Highclere Castle April 1994: YouTube channel George Pollen

A Trip To Highclere Castle In 2010

Highclere Castle: uploaded to YouTube on 5 Jul 2010 by YouTube channel pptaku

Highclere Castle Horse Trials In 2010

Dressage Preparation for Highclere Castle Horse Trials: uploaded to YouTube on 13 Sep 2010 by FRL Media

“International Event Rider Nick Campbell runs a professional, friendly yard offering a diverse range of services; from the racing industry Pre-training preperation, show jumping, dressage, to the world of eventing. Having worked with olympic medalists: Mark Todd, Vaughn Jeffries, Franke Sloothaak, and Paul Shockemohle, Nick has a a unique depth of training.  This year, an extra day has been added featuring all three disciplines,dressage; show jumping and cross country, in order to fit in the BE100 Junior Riders Final; the Mitsubishi Motors Stately Homes Intermediate Challenge Final; the 5yr old Young Horse Qualifier and the extra Intermediate sections that have been rerouted from a cancelled event in the Cotswolds.   Over 700 horses and riders are now expected over the three days to compete in what is said to be the ultimate test for both horse and rider. International riders such as William Fox-Pitt, Zara Phillips, Andrew Nicholson and Lucinda and Clayton Fredericks will, all things being equal, bring their top horses for a last run before the Burghley Horse Trials the following week-end and Blenheim Palace Horse Trials the week-end after.”

Heroes At HighClere, 2014

Heroes at Highclere Highlights: uploaded to YouTube on 12 Mar 2015 by Highclere Castle

“Watch the highlights of the Heroes at Highclere event held at Highclere Castle on Sunday August 3rd 2014.”

Discover more about the nearby Highclere Village in our Sitemap for England, or discover other locations in the Sitemap for Historic Places.

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