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Please use the following format and info on your own site to link to your page in Gardens-Guide.com: at Gardens-Guide.com http://www.gardens-guide.com The premiere directory of open gardens in the UK and Ireland today Ask your friends and suppliers as well to link to your page in Gardens-Guide as well. Every link we get into your page helps rankings for both of us in search engines. **************************************************************** **************************************************************** **************************************************************** Garden Name: Highclere Castle Last Modified: 25-01-2011 Garden ID: 0421 pic: 0421_Highclere.jpg NOTE: If this says "missing", then please send us a picture for your page which is at least 1000 x 1000 pixels in size. Thanks! Owner: The Earl of Carnarvon Address: Newbury Postcode: RG20 9RN County: Hampshire tel: 01635 253210 fax: 01635 255315 website: www.highclerecastle.co.uk email: theoffice //at// highclerecastle.co.uk English Heritage Grade: I Opening Times: NOTE for 2012: Please check with garden owners or their website to confirm current dates open http://www.highclerecastle.co.uk Gardens: Easter Opening: 17th Apr - 3rd May; daily; & 11th Apr; Sun; 11am - 4.30pm. Last admission 3.30pm. Late May BH: 30th and 31st May 3rd July - 1st Sept; 11am - 4.30pm; Sun - Thurs. Last admission 3.30pm. Open on Bank Holidays. Best Times of Year to Visit: To see: National Collection: National Garden Scheme days: No Comments: Parties / Coaches: Yes Comments: Groups of 15 or more Viewing by Appointment: Yes Comments: House Open for Viewing: Yes Comments: Castle closes at 4.30pm. Egyptian Exhibition is open when castle is open. Castle closed 29th Apr Admission Prices: Castle & Egyptian Exhib: Adults £15; Child (aged 4-15) £9; Concessions £13.50; Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c);£40 Castle only or Egyptian Exhib only: Adults £9; Concessions £8; Child (aged 4-15) £5; Family ticket (2a/3c or 1a/4c)£22 Grounds & Gardens only; Adults £4; Child £1 Group Rates, Castle & Exhib: Adults £12; Child £7; Castle or Exhib only: Adults £7; Child £5; Private Guided Tours on Mons in season - by arrangement Parking: Yes Lavatories: Yes Disabled Access: Yes Shop: Yes Plants for Sale: Yes Lunches: Yes Teas: Yes Refreshments: Yes Picnics: Yes Dogs allowed: Yes Only on Lead: Yes Events: Yes Other Facilities: Downton Abbey filmed at Highclere Features: 4th Apr - Easter Egg Hunt 30th/31st May - Highclere Country Fair 18th July - Car Boot Sale 25th July - Mustang Owners Club of Great Britain, see www.mocgb.net 31st July - "Battle Proms", A celebration of classical music by the New English Concert Orchestra with cannons, cavalry and fireworks. For more details, visit www.battleproms.co.uk Box Office Tel: 01432 355416 - Castle closed 29th/30th Aug - International Horse Trials. Castle open. www.highclereequestrian.com or tel: 07836 213 338 26th Sept - ADP 10K Multi-Terrain Race. Benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. www.newburyac.org.uk Information Line: 0118 971 2587 Designer: Description of Garden: The gardens, dominated by the enormous pile of the castle itself, feature great stretches of glasshouse in a walled garden built to satisfy the needs of the numerous incumbents of the castle. Of particular note is the tropical house which still grows grapes, oranges, grapefruit, figs and acacia. However, more surprisingly, bananas, rice, coffee and even eucalyptus are also grown here. Apart from the rather gloomy and damp fernery, other glasshouses grow a wide variety of bedding plants including lilies and sweet jasmine. The walled garden is divided in two by a yew hedge with on one side a border of roses and pinks and a bed of scented geraniums. Medlar and quince trees line the end wall along a lavender walk. In the other section is a white herbaceous border and passing through a gate you enter the Secret Garden with curving herbaceous beds and serpentine paths desinged by James Russell. In the parkland there are varieties of azalea and ilex and a cross between an azalea and rhododendron developed at Highclere. History: The earliest record of a garden at Highclere dates to 1218 when the Bishop of Winchester, who owned the land, planted 61 fruit trees here. Robert Herbert laid out the early Georgian pleasure grounds with a series of vistas down open roads radiating out from the house. His collection of arches and temples is still visible from the main drive up to the house. however everything else was swept away in a design in the manner of 'Capability' Brown by the 1st Earl of Carnarvon in the late 18th century. He even moved a farm house and some tenants' cottages which interfered with his view. The 2nd Earl in about 1800 planted specimen cedar trees brought back from the Lebanon by Bishop Stephen Pococke, a plant collector who also visited Egypt and studied the tombs there. The 2nd Earl also introduced azaleas and rhododendrons from the Himalayas to replace the existing laurels. However he had first to import vast quantities of peat to neutralise the natural chalk soils of Highclere. The fernery and yew walk were completed about 1860 and, in the 1960's, a secret garden was created by the late Earl. Local Inns: Yew Tree, Highclere Accomodation: White Hart, Hampstead Marshall Restaurants: Village/Town/Sightseeing: Sandham Memorial Chapel Kennet & Avon Canal Newbury