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Garden Name: Highclere Castle
Last Modified: 25/01/2011
Garden ID: 0421

pic: 0421_Highclere.jpg

Owner: The Earl of Carnarvon
Address:
Newbury


Postcode: RG20 9RN
County: Hampshire

tel: 01635 253210
fax: 01635 255315
website: www.highclerecastle.co.uk
email: theoffice {at} highclerecastle.co.uk

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 Grade:
I

Opening Times:
Gardens: Easter Opening: 17th Apr - 3rd May; daily; & 11th Apr; Sun; 11am - 4.30pm. Last admission 3.30pm.
Late May BH: 30th and 31st May
3rd July - 1st Sept; 11am - 4.30pm; Sun - Thurs. Last admission 3.30pm. Open on Bank Holidays.

Best Times of Year to Visit: 


To see: 


National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: Groups of 15 or more

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments:  

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Castle closes at 4.30pm. Egyptian Exhibition is open when castle is open. Castle closed 29th Apr

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

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: Yes
Plants for Sale: Yes
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Downton Abbey filmed at Highclere


Designer: 
Description of Garden:
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.


History: 
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.

Local Inns: 
Yew Tree, Highclere

Accomodation: 
White Hart, Hampstead Marshall

Restaurants: 


Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Sandham Memorial Chapel
Kennet & Avon Canal
Newbury