Jobs worth

 May 4th

So looking forward to today, we were going to see Highclere Castle which has been on my wish list to do, ever since I first saw Downton Abbey and that magnificent building for the first time in 2010. If you remember the first post of our holiday, we turned up, and it was closed. This time we had phoned for opening times and tickets about a week ago, and wanted it for this weekend, clean forgetting it was a Bank Holiday. But as Historic Houses members, we didn't have to book but were told not to enter the grounds until 14.30pm. Suited us because we had a mountain of washing to do, and the nearest public machines were in Basingstoke at a Texaco garage. Parking was a bit of an issue, we had to go around several times before suddenly a car pulled out at the end of a line. That would do nicely.

After 90 minutes, £19 lighter (£11 for the 20 kg washer and £8 for the dryer) we set off for Highclere Castle. Of course, we were much too early, so had a spot of lunch and then set off to the ticket booth. Time was 13.30, but surely we could at least walk the grounds. "Nop...more than my job's worth to let you in before 14.30, it will register on my computor and I have strict instructions not to let HH members in until 14.30."  Hmm, okay, rules are rules, so back to MB we went, and took this photo from the car park.

 

 

A quick check online to check out the history before we went in, revealed this from

 https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk

The first written records of the estate date back to 749 AD when an Anglo-Saxon King granted the estate to the Bishops of Winchester. Bishop William of Wykeham built a beautiful medieval palace and gardens in the park. Later on, in 1679, the palace was rebuilt as Highclere Place House when it was purchased by Sir Robert Sawyer, the direct ancestor of the current Earl of Carnarvon. In 1842, Sir Charles Barry, who also designed the Houses of Parliament, transformed Highclere House into the present day Highclere Castle.

Two coaches turned up just as we were about to make a move. Blooming typical, the queues to get into the Castle were huge. Wisely, we went to look at the gardens instead.

 

 For such an impressive place, the gardens, although well tended, were a disappointment. Maybe we were there at the wrong time. Where was the colour, I hoped for butterflies flittering to and fro. How was I going to check out the camera's wildlife capability without wildlife? But a huge bush, full of white flowers, appeared on our walk back to the Castle. bees a plenty were making the most of the abundance of nectar. Tried the camera and not dissatisfied with the result.

By the time we entered the building, all of those on the coach had gone.

The house was ours to explore, but not a photo was allowed to be taken. And to make sure we complied, in every room was a guide keeping beady eyes on one. This was a magnificent place, Downton Abbey scenes had been filmed in quite a few of the rooms and what you saw furniture wise, was the genuine articles. Many rooms were open to view, but not the downstairs servant's area. An Egyptian exhibition was being held down there. Seemed a strange thing to have, but Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter were the two men that opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. This from Highclere Egyptian Exhibition

In November 1922 the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter stood outside a sealed door in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. Nervously, Carter made a small hole in the door, and reached up to hold a candle. "The candle flickered as the air escaped..." The excavators widened the gaps in the plaster and Lady Evelyn, Lord Carnarvon's daughter, Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter climbed in and everywhere "There was a glint of gold..." The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun was the first global media event and has given a legacy of understanding knowledge and insight into a remarkable civilization.

 I was surprised that, as members of Historic Houses, we were not allowed to view the exhibition. Oh, we could have, but only if we had paid the full entry to the castle price of £26.50 each for the privilege!

 Not having somewhere to stop overnight, by 16.30 we were back on the road. A fabulous place was found via an app right on top of Walbury Hill with magnificent views over the North Wessex Downs. Getting to it was a bit hairy, very narrow lanes with the occasional passing place. Thank goodness we arrived unscathed as nothing was met. But we have to travel back down it tomorrow and so not looking forward to that!