The focal point of our mini-break was a visit to Castle Howard, one of the north of England's most celebrated stately homes, which I've been meaning to see for ages. Privately owned, it has been the home of the Howard family for over 300 years. You may recognise it from various films and TV programmes as it is often used as a location, most famously for 'Brideshead Revisited' in the 1980s and more recently in some episodes of 'Bridgerton'.
Unfortunately the weather on the day we were there was atrocious. It was briefly sunny on arrival, so we opted to explore the grounds and gardens first but hadn't got far when the heavens opened and we got soaked... the first of several soakings from very heavy rainstorms, which robbed the day of some of its joy!
It is a very grand building dating from 1699, though it took over 100 years to complete, with a lavish Baroque section by John Vanbrugh constructed in the early 1700s. The 4th Earl added a Palladian wing, so the house is rather oddly unbalanced. Sadly, in 1940, when it was being used as school for evacuees during the war, a large fire took hold and tore through more than a third of the building, causing the dome to collapse into the Great Hall. What we see now, both inside and out, is a reconstruction overseen by George and Lady Cecilia Howard and their descendants, beginning in the 1960s and still continuing.
It is worth seeing but, to me, lacks the glory and splendour of Harewood House, our more local stately home, which I love.
Thanks for mentioning Brideshead Revisited, I did think it looked familiar but I don't think I'd have been able to say from where. (I've not been following Bridgerton but I have seen Brideshead Revisited more than once as I also have that series on DVD.)
ReplyDeleteAnywhere looks better on a sunny day but I like your moody first picture with the swan. I walked around the outer grounds of Castle Howard just last year.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite imposing. That is an unusual sculpture in the 2nd shot.
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