Inside Castle Howard: the most loved castle from the TV series reopens to the public

When the owner’s doors arrive to open the owner with his wife, he seems to live in one of the style TV series Bridgengeron. Only that Nicholas Howard and his wife Victoria They wear a blue suit and sneakers, she a black and white flower dress. They could be any couple, except for their home Castle Howardfamous noble residence known all over the world, which extends over almost 3,600 hectares of hills sweets in Yorkshire, 30 minutes from York.

The house is already known to be used on TV and the cinema, including Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick, the 2008 film Back to Breshed and, more recently, in the series Bridgengeron by Netflix, with Regé-Jean Page and Phoebe Dynevor who transform a fake courtship into a happy marriage at Clyvedon Castle, the great estate of the Duke of Hastings.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series
Tom Arber

The story of a “living” castle

We arrive in Castle Howard between country roads with stone cottage, with cows and horses that greet the few passing cars. The castle is a masterpiece of eighteenth -century design, designed by the architect and playwright John Vanbrugh with the assistance of Nicholas Hawksmor.

Commissioned in 1699 From the 3rd count of Carlisle, it took over more than one hundred years to complete it, crossing the generations of three accounts. The Howard family has lived in the estate for more than 300 years.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series

“We have always called it a living house,” said Nicholas Howard, “it’s not a museum. And if you want to call it a living house, you have to make it a living house. And this implies that there are people inside. ” Open The possibility of reinforcing us is a project they are thinking about, perhaps for next yearhe specifies his wife Victoria Howard, former Harpercollins of Harpercollins.

In 1940, during the Second World War, a devastating fire destroyed the incredible dome of Castle Howard and over 20 roomswhile the building was used as a school for girls. George Howard, who returned from the war, decided to keep Castle Howard as a family property, returning to live there in 1949. In 1952 he decided to open his home to the publicthus becoming one of the pioneers in transforming large English houses into attractions open to the public to finance the restorations. The dome was in fact restored in 1962, and The proceeds from the film Back to Breshed The reconstruction of the Garden Hall and the New Library allowed.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series

Long Gallery

With A length of almost 50 meters, was completed in 1811 to host the family art collection. The Long Gallery today hosts Italian paintings and the Grand Tour, including the famous Roman whims of Pannini commissioned by the 4th Count and eighteenth -century views of Castle Howard.

Tapestry Drawing Room

Devastated by the 1940 fire, the room has been completely restored. It was the first room of the state apartments, reserved for important guests. The four original tapestries of 1706, the work of John Vanderbank and inspired by David Teniers, have returned to their original place.
“It is the first time that I really see them, because now you can get closer, and this is important,” said Nicholas Howard during the visit. “In a sense, it is as if you really know them for the first time in my life.” The design of the room follows the style of Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor, including elements inspired by other rooms of the castle. Vintage furnishings of the eighteenth century, including chairs attributed to James Moore, complete the environment.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series

Grand Starearcase

There monumental scale It was built in 1870. After the new set -up, visitors thus enter the heart of the house, with ancient sculptures and artifacts collected during the 4th and 5th Conte trips, exhibited next to a series of chalks in plaster and recently commissioned busts.

Lady Georgianas Dressing Room

Lady Georgiana’s Dressing Room

Tom Arber

Lady Georgiana’s Dressing Room

Decorated with Chinese wallpaper “Abbotsford” (De Gournay) and Colefax & Fowler fabrics, the room is an example of the eighteenth -century taste for the chinoiserie.

Castle Howard Bedroom

Castle Howard Bedroom

Castle Howard Bedroom

The room created by John Linnell for the 5th Conte, with “State” bed and decorated furnishings, was restored with golden thirst according to original designs.

The gardens

The gardens

Little Sixpence Photography

The gardens

With 400 hectares of park to explore, Castle Howard is an oasis of peace and tranquility with large paths in the woods, temples, lakes and fountains. Originally, Roseto was made up of three adjacent fences: the Lady Cecilia garden, the Meridiana garden and the Venus garden.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series
Little Sixpence Photography

The French garden

The French vegetable garden, known as “potger” is the place where vegetables, fruit and flowers mix and are arranged for ornamental purposes.

Inside Castle Howard reopens to the public the most loved castle by the TV series

THE visitorswhich are almost 300,000 per year, they come both to admire the beauty of the castle and its interior, but also to enjoy hectares of park rich in lakes, fountains, statues, temples and pyramids.

Source: Vanity Fair

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