Downton Abbey has turn into 1 of the most well-liked reveals and franchises in the U.K. and the environment, and it’s partially many thanks to one particular pretty authentic estate, Highclere Castle. Right after Downton creator, Julian Fellowes knocked on the Earl and Countess Carnarvon’s doorway in 2009, they graciously opened up their doors for a total solid and crew to stomp all-around on their ancestral property.
Filming Downton Abbey at a fragile Highclere Castle introduced its difficulties, but ultimately, the Earl and Countess grew fond of all the bustling sounds. Not to mention, Downton saved their house from spoil.
What was filming ‘Downton Abbey’ at Highclere Castle like?
George and Fiona Herbert, the present 8th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, have been running their ancestral home considering the fact that 2001, after the 7th Earl’s dying. In advance of that, Highclere Castle had been the Earl of Carnarvon’s estate considering that 1679.
The Earl and Countess opened up their house to travelers to support fund the estate. Having said that, their finances were in lousy form by the time Fellowes offered them an prospect that would not only allow for them to manage their £12 million ($16.5 million) renovation monthly bill but make sure fiscal security for many years to come.
Downton Abbey is commonly filmed from February to June for every six sequence and a single to two months for the movie. In the early times of filming the collection, the Countess was “constantly in the wings, showing crew how to shift home furnishings — ‘you just take a female in your arms and a chair by its bottom’ — and reminding folks to wipe their feet and respect the carpets,” the Daily Mail wrote.
It was a great deal of function, earning sure matters have been accomplished suitable and that her home was remaining taken care of with the regard it warrants. Specific rooms experienced to be padlocked. The Earl and Countess had to be specific about which rooms they desired to be filmed for the movie.
Having said that, filming the collection and movie went without a hitch. Now that Downton Abbey: A New Era has begun filming, the Countess is content that the hustle and bustle are back for the reason that it helps make the castle appear “alive.”
“We all bought extremely made use of to every single other. We had a fantastic routine. It was like a new time period at school — ‘here they appear!” the Countess mentioned. “After all, a dwelling like this is used to being busy, to getting whole of life. It will come alive with folks and without having them issues go mistaken.”
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What happens at Highclere when ‘Downton Abbey’ isn’t filming?
Giving Highclere Castle to Downton Abbey has proved specifically beneficial to everyday living at the castle once all the cameras go absent. The Earl and Countess ended up equipped to do repairs on the estate from the revenue they obtained from Downton. But at the time creation stopped, and everybody left, the Downton Abbey phenomenon ongoing to advantage the estate as a result of tourism.
Highclere Castle was currently a huge vacationer attraction. Soon after Downton, on the other hand, tourism boomed. So there is nevertheless the hustle and bustle in the castle, even when the camera crews are gone. The castle is open up to visitors for a wide range of occasions and tours.
In accordance to Highclere Castle’s web-site, the summertime of 2021 saw the Magic of the Videos, and in Sept. 2021, there will be Real Life and Movie Sets Guided Excursions. In Oct. 2021, there is Highclere Castle Festival, and in Dec. 2021, travelers can occur jointly to sing Carols and have Afternoon Tea.
Weddings and other occasions can also be held on the grounds, and the castle is also home to a King Tutankhamun show. In 1922, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter learned the famous Egyptian king’s tomb. Tickets to enter the grounds charge about $33, but other activities charge a whole lot additional.
Highclere Castle had to near it is doorways throughout the pandemic
Going from getting about a thousand visitors a working day to none in a minimal amount of money of time was pretty a shock for the Earl and Countess. Their earnings, like so a lot of other hospitality and vacationer enterprises, went down to zero. They also had to furlough around 120 workers associates as effectively. “We really don’t have a mystery pot of gold,” the Countess told the U.K.’s This Early morning. “Our pot of gold has been challenging perform.”
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In 2013, the New York Times wrote that it prices $1.5 million a yr to operate Highclere Castle, and the Countess has performed almost everything she can to make guaranteed the estate continues to rake in that quantity. With the assistance of Downton, they’re on a continual system for currently being financially secure for yrs to occur. But Downton has not specified them almost everything. Tourism is the biggest matter that keeps them alive.
Operating the estate is “both a business enterprise and a way of everyday living.” Even if Downton never arrived to Highclere Castle, the Earl and Countess would even now do everything to maintain their home alive, just like the Crawleys.
