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Highclere Castle tel: 01635 253210 Area: Hampshire |
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| Visitor Information | www.highclerecastle.co.uk -- email: theoffice {at} highclerecastle.co.uk |
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Highclere Castle |
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| Opening Days and Hours | ||||||
Gardens: Easter Opening: 17th Apr - 3rd May; daily; & 11th Apr; Sun; 11am - 4.30pm. Last admission 3.30pm. |
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| Parties
/ Coaches: Yes Groups of 15 or more |
Groups
/ Coaches need Appointment: Yes |
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House
Open for Viewing: Yes |
National
Garden Scheme days: No |
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Best
Times of Year to Visit: |
To
see: |
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| Admission Prices | ||||||
| Castle & Egyptian Exhib: Adults £15; Child (aged 4-15) £9; Concessions £13.50; Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c);£40 Castle only or Egyptian Exhib only: Adults £9; Concessions £8; Child (aged 4-15) £5; Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c)£22 Grounds & Gardens only; Adults £4; Child £1 Group Rates, Castle & Exhib: Adults £12; Child £7; Castle or Exhib only: Adults £7; Child £5; Private Guided Tours on Mons in season - by arrangement |
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| Onsite Facilities | ||||||
| Parking:
Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes |
Shop:
Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes |
Teas:
Yes Light Refreshment: Yes Picnics: Yes |
Dogs
Allowed: Yes On Lead only: Yes Special Events: Yes |
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| Other
Facilities: Downton Abbey filmed at Highclere |
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| Garden Features | ||||||
| 4th Apr - Easter Egg Hunt 30th/31st May - Highclere Country Fair 18th July - Car Boot Sale 25th July - Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain, see www.mocgb.net 31st July - "Battle Proms", A celebration of classical music by the New English Concert Orchestra with cannons, cavalry and fireworks. For more details, visit www.battleproms.co.uk Box Office Tel: 01432 355416 - Castle closed 29th/30th Aug - International Horse Trials. Castle open. www.highclereequestrian.com or tel: 07836 213 338 26th Sept - ADP 10K Multi-Terrain Race. Benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. www.newburyac.org.uk Information Line: 0118 971 2587 |
English Heritage Garden Grade: I | |||||
| National Collection: | ||||||
| Description of Garden | Designer:
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| The gardens, dominated by the enormous pile of the castle itself, feature great stretches of glasshouse in a walled garden built to satisfy the needs of the numerous incumbents of the castle. Of particular note is the tropical house which still grows grapes, oranges, grapefruit, figs and acacia. However, more surprisingly, bananas, rice, coffee and even eucalyptus are also grown here. Apart from the rather gloomy and damp fernery, other glasshouses grow a wide variety of bedding plants including lilies and sweet jasmine. The walled garden is divided in two by a yew hedge with on one side a border of roses and pinks and a bed of scented geraniums. Medlar and quince trees line the end wall along a lavender walk. In the other section is a white herbaceous border and passing through a gate you enter the Secret Garden with curving herbaceous beds and serpentine paths desinged by James Russell. In the parkland there are varieties of azalea and ilex and a cross between an azalea and rhododendron developed at Highclere. |
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| History of Garden | ||||||
| The earliest record of a garden at Highclere dates to 1218 when the Bishop of Winchester, who owned the land, planted 61 fruit trees here. Robert Herbert laid out the early Georgian pleasure grounds with a series of vistas down open roads radiating out from the house. His collection of arches and temples is still visible from the main drive up to the house. however everything else was swept away in a design in the manner of 'Capability' Brown by the 1st Earl of Carnarvon in the late 18th century. He even moved a farm house and some tenants' cottages which interfered with his view. The 2nd Earl in about 1800 planted specimen cedar trees brought back from the Lebanon by Bishop Stephen Pococke, a plant collector who also visited Egypt and studied the tombs there. The 2nd Earl also introduced azaleas and rhododendrons from the Himalayas to replace the existing laurels. However he had first to import vast quantities of peat to neutralise the natural chalk soils of Highclere. The fernery and yew walk were completed about 1860 and, in the 1960's, a secret garden was created by the late Earl. | ||||||
| Nearby Hampshire Hotels, Facilities & Amenities | ||||||
| Hotels
& Accommodation: White Hart, Hampstead Marshall |
Restaurants: |
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| Inns & Pubs: Yew Tree, Highclere |
Villages / Towns
/ Sightseeing: Sandham Memorial Chapel Kennet & Avon Canal Newbury |
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  - Hampshire |
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0421_Highclere.jpg - Highclere Castle (Hampshire)
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