Castle Howard (Ghost Writer)

Before we hit the Lake District and the beautiful scenery it was time for one more castle, Castle Howard. Since everyone is basically related over here, well at least the royals, it’s not a surprise that the 4th Duke of Norfolk’s blood line from Arundel runs into Castle Howard. This location was a little different, they didn’t have the audio guides that we’ve become accustomed to that gives you so much detail and history, but that doesn’t mean the castle and grounds were any less impressive. Built in the early 1700’s, Castle Howard was thought of as a country house- eye roll- a big country house and was known for the unique central dome above the grand hall. The house has been in the same family for over 300 years, but has been a boys boarding school, a girls boarding school, a war hospital as well as a family residence. In 1940, while a boarding school, a huge fire gutted more than half of the castle. The dome in the main hall crashed to the floor and was almost not replaced. Some 20 yrs later, the dome was rebuilt and the inside rooms devastated by the fire were partially furnished and used in a TV show and a movie, called Brideshead and Brideshead Revisted. We didn’t have a chance to peruse the gardens or grounds as much as Burghley House, but having a chance to tour another magnificent home was well worth the detour from York to fit it in. Check off 6 castles, palaces, or country manors in 4 days! On to the Scottish castles next!Read more