The music room decorated with Italian embroideries and fairytale tapestries.
very sombre where the residing Earl of the time, particularly the 4th Earl of Carnarvon who was a Tory member of Parliament, would entertain his political allies and gentlemen
artists. Tat morning, the whole house is in chaos with crew from Downton Abbey out in full force rigging up the rooms for the filming of the Christmas special of the series. Her Ladyship keeps an eye on the removal of a massive antique carpet, lamp shades and photographs to make room for the film props. It’s like watching the servants in Downton Abbey going about their daily chores in the mansion. In the magnificent library, which is featured in Downton Abbey, the walls are lined with 5,650 antique books on shelves stretching to the ceiling that are exquisitely carved with floral motifs. It is a masculine room designed like a gentleman’s club in London,
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friends to relax, discuss politics and topics of the day. Another delightful room is the bright south-facing Music Room enriched with intricately embroidered Italian tapestries in gold and silk from the Malatesta Palace in Rimini dating from the 16th century. In one of the rooms, a unique piece of furniture catches my eye. It is the original mahogany desk once owned by Napoleon Bonaparte circa 1795 and believed to have come from the Palace at Fontainebleau. Highclere Castle was originally built as a Georgian house and in 1838, the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon commissioned Sir Charles Barry, a pre-eminent architect of his time, to
transform it into a grand Victorian mansion. One of the most famous designs of Sir Charles Barry was the House of Parliament in London. Under the guidance of Barry, the mansion was sumptuously designed and it became the centre of political life during the late Victorian era. Many a prominent politician, royals and high society guests had been entertained here. Set in a stunning 1000 acres of parkland designed by Capability Brown, the prominent
landscape
designer so favoured by the royals and aristocrats at the time, Highclere Castle is nestled on the Hampshire/ Berkshire border surrounded by woodlands on a hilly landscape that captures the essence of yang energy in the atmosphere. A wide winding path leads to the imposing front entrance with the family motto “Only One Will I Serve” in Latin etched at the top of the door. Te entrance is gothic in design with grooved columns fanning up to the ceiling. A pair of terracotta wyverns (two-legged winged dragons),