Castle HowardAugust 21st, 2007 @ 1:21 pm
What can you say about Castle Howard? It is one of the most stunning places I’ve ever visited and you know I love castles so I’m not saying that lightly! Without a doubt, Castle Howard is one of the brightest jewels in England and is a movie star into the bargain. The castle is more like a sprawling palace set in landscaped gardens and parklands, not far from the city of York itself. I’m in awe of this place, so I’m not sure how much humour you’ll get out of this cruise port, dear cruisers!
Castle Howard was first conceived by Charles Howard, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, around 1699 and it took over 100 years for it to be finally completed. What was even more remarkable, the earl handed over his dream project to a young playwright by the name of John Vanbrugh who had no architect experience whatsoever. The construction began with the east wing which took ten years to complete and the earl became so obsessed with landscaping the gardens that the west wing wasn’t even started by the time both the architect and earl were dead. It would take the lifetime of three earls and numerous architects before the building was finally finished both inside and out. The original plans did not even include the magnificent central dome!
Now, like most magnificent buildings, you aren’t allowed to take photographs inside but the splendour cannot be fully appreciated by shots of the exterior alone. So, with that in mind, I’ve decided to borrow a few photos from Britain Express. For more pictures of the house and gardens, please visit them!
Lady Georgiana’s Bedroom
Antique Passage
The Turquoise Drawing Room
The gardens and park are just as stunning as the house itself and is the perfect place for a picnic. Who remembered the champagne? We may have trouble choosing a spot though because there are over 1,000 acres of garden! These include, the Walled Garden, the Rose Gardens with thousands of different types of roses, the Ornamental Vegetable Gardens, on the south-west side of the house. To the south, we have the formal South Parterre with the Atlas Fountain. To the east, the Ray Wood with its winding paths and the Temple of the Four Winds and the lost Temple of Venus.
Atlas Fountain
Parklands
Temple of the Four Winds
The Mausoleum
In 1940, the castle was badly damaged in a fire that destroyed the central dome and it was left without a roof for almost twenty years until repairs were finally finished. The castle was opened to the public in 1952 to help with conservation costs but it wasn’t until 1982 that the place really captured the public’s imagination after being chosen as the filming location for the famous TV series Brideshead Revisited. There is an exhibition at the castle which celebrates the series and its connection to the castle, including costumes and film props such as Aloysius the teddy bear. A new film version of the series has also just been filmed there for which the house was temporarily closed to the public.
Many other movies and shows have been filmed there, including The Buccaneers (1994), Barry Lyndon (1975), Garfield: A Tale of Two Kitties (2006), Twelfth Night (1978) and Lady L (1965).
CruiseYou can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
mar
said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Talk about elegance and class! beautiful castle, wonderful descriptions. British castles are so special! thanks for the tour, Caledonia, I am remembering “Barry Lyndon” right now!
captain lifecruiser
said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:36 pm
OH MY GOOD!!!! This is a DREAM CASTLE!!!! I totally agree with you, it’s simply MAGNIFICENT and I wanna go there at once.
I think I could be lost in there for DAYS…. I just ADORE old castle and especially it they’re having the interior fitting to the age of the castle too!
The rooms is like… I can’t even find WORDS for it!
…and how delicious wouldn’t the champagne taste in this environment????? I can see myself walking around there in my 17th century clothes!!!!!
I must hop over to Britannia Express and see some more!!!
I’ll have to write it down on my wish travel list…
BTW: Excuse me for being a bit late - butt we suddenly decided to go to the secret island today! I’ll report about it another day, not sure about when since there are a lot of photos to sort out!
captain lifecruiser
said,
August 22, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Erhm, I mean 18th century clothes… that’s always so confusing, in Sweden we say 1700-talet which you call 18th century….
captain lifecruiser
said,
August 22, 2007 at 9:14 pm
I’m in heaven…
… I mean Howard Castle… *giggles*
The rest of the photos didn’t exactly put me off….
*dreamy sigh*
A.
said,
August 22, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Wow, I’d heard of Castle Howard but I’d no idea it was quite so magnificent! I adore that bedroom.
TorAa
said,
August 22, 2007 at 10:47 pm
You should know, such a fantastic storytelling with facts and photos - I love to read it all - moren than once -but, it’s too many bloggers out there, that comments only to have your stroke back.
You know whe you have done “a good job” - often then only one out out ten do dare to comment.
Here you brought to me a castle unknown for me, tells a lot, and in such an easy and fascinating manner.
Thank you
from the a humble “Viking”
claudie
said,
August 23, 2007 at 6:36 am
What a marvelous castle! Sure now I’ll visit it! The first photo is very impress and the outside too! I imagine the number of people it needs for the parks and all flowers… Charles Howard had really a giant project in his mind! I’d like to see the TV series ! How will the lifecruisers ok for the place to drink champagne? There are so many possibilities!
lazaza83 » A little walk in the old middle age Ollioules
said,
August 23, 2007 at 6:45 am
[...] you want to dream more in an other time, 18 e century, you should visit with the Lifecruiser Tour “Castle Howard” with [...]
Gattina
said,
August 23, 2007 at 2:17 pm
I am glad that you finally found an honored my birth place !
Serious, it seems to be a beautiful place ! I have never heard of it, but I have to admit with all the castles in and around London plus the sea I had already a lot to see ! I am sure if one wished to see all the castles of the UK he could spend his whole life with visting them !
Hootin' Anni
said,
August 23, 2007 at 2:19 pm
What a charming and quite historical side stop on our cruise with Captain! I especially LOVE the bedroom and the turquoise drawing room!! How privileged you made us all part of your tour!!
Sword Girl » Where am I…
said,
August 23, 2007 at 7:00 pm
[...] Howard by Caledonia! ~“May your pigs always be in the pink; May they fly very high Like birds in the sky; May they [...]
Sword Girl
said,
August 23, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Sorry I’m late! I’m gonna read your post when kids are in bed tonight. My Gram would have loved this!
kaykayzowie
said,
August 23, 2007 at 7:33 pm
That is one BEAUTIFUL castle! I’ve never been to one but enjoy looking at them in pictures until one day I can travel the world and visit them all!
Sword Girl
said,
August 24, 2007 at 12:14 am
I love the pink room and turquoise rooms. One day when we own our own house I’d love to have my own pink room. I would love to go to England to visit it!!! Very nice post - it’s so beautiful!
erica
said,
August 24, 2007 at 4:54 am
Wow, that’s gorgeous. I totally want my room done up like Lady Georgina’s - absolutely dreamy! When we get over there, we are so going to visit this place.
RennyBA
said,
August 24, 2007 at 11:35 pm
What a lovely castle and how nice of you to do all the research for us to rely learn something from your post - a great and interesting read!
You have so many of them as we in Norway has only one - the Kings Castle you know.
Actually our King and Queens summer residence was reopened today - reconstructed as it was worn out - a gift to their both 70the birthday this year from the Norwegian government.