Castle Howard - Brideshead

Today’s excursion is the reason we rushed up to Yorkshire this week… to visit Castle Howard… which I discovered closes on the 6th of November till the 1st of March 2006.

Ever since I saw ‘Brideshead Revisited’ almost 25 years ago I’ve wanted to see where it was filmed and the estate not only filled my wishes it exceeded it by mega millions.

Driving along many narrow hedged lanes through lush farming country and well maintained quaint villages cannot prepare you for the size of Castle Howard then you come along tree lined - with Roman precision - straight roads and you know you must be nearly there, how awesome it’s feeling already. A large car park near the Coach House mystified me at first, as there is no sign of the views I know so well. We decide to stop for morning tea first as the Coach House Tea Rooms are very welcoming… service is great, it isn’t a rip off, the Cream Tea for David, the Diet Coke and Fat Rascal for me were delicious and very very filling! Then off to see how much it costs to go into the house and grounds… £9.50 each is the damage but we don’t hesitate and we don’t convert…. Oh Okay… just for you I will… $22.51 each.

We are of course gob smacked at the size and grandeur of not only the gardens but the Castle as well, we are also most impressed by the many Guides who have a minefield of knowledge to pass on about the Estate, the Howard Family and ‘Brideshead’ as well, (Kathryn Howard was one of Henry V111’s wives) The Guides are willing to answer our many questions no matter how obscure. The reason the house is closing this weekend is because it’s the Howard family’s home and they use the rooms we are walking though.  There are 250 people who work on the Estate most of the year and it shows as it is very well maintained.

We keep getting mixed up thinking we are at ‘Brideshead’ and mention this to one of the guides who tells us the Howard family were very thankful for the filming of ‘Brideshead’ because that’s the reason its still so popular with visitors from all over the world, hence restoration and maintenance can continue… next year they will celebrate 25 years since the filming and are hoping some of the actors will be able to attend.

We also find it hard not to think ‘Rodd Family’ which is silly really… Evelyn Waugh was a good friend of Nancy Mitford (Love in a Cold Climate etc.); Nancy married Peter Rodd a distant relative of ours.  Family gossip says that Evelyn Waugh fashioned Sebastian on Peter Rodd… Peter Rodd was sent down from University for having girls in his room, he drank too much, never really earned a living and died in Morocco or somewhere like that. We don’t mention this to the guides! There is a whole room full of costumes and photos of the filming. More photos can be found here… http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobbin/