Lady Carnarvon of Highclere Castle: From “Downton” to Earth by Clarissa Burt

What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of England? Roman history?Fish and chips? Jane Austen? Royalty? Castles? Big Ben? The Beatles? Tea?

If your answer was all the above, plus the TV show or movie, “Downton Abbey” get comfortable in your home-as-castle and let us introduce you to Lady Carnarvon whose home is a for-real castle. In fact, she resides at the location where “Downton Abbey” was filmed. Her own history is as fascinating as any of the characters in that fictional world.

Highclere Castle was built in 1842 on nearly 600 acres of land that have been held by the family for 800 years. The family’s motto, “Only I Serve,” has been in place since William the Conqueror arrived from Normandy in 1066. The grounds include pastures and farmland that has supported generations of the Herbert family for more than 12 centuries.

In the final year of the 20th century, Fiona Aitken married Gordy—whose formal name is George Reginald Oliver Molyneux Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Porchester. Since then, the couple has resided at the castle on Highclere’s estate. They raised a son, enjoyed several dogs as pet members of their family, and made significant renovations to their home. Titles aside, Lord and Lady Carnarvon consider themselves farmers. “The farm is a very important part of the estate,” Lady Carnarvon explained. In addition to arable farming, they raise sheep. Prior to her marriage, Lady Fiona Carnarvon was an entrepreneur in the fashion industry, and since her marriage, she’s become an author of several books—the first were guidebooks for Highclere and an Ancient Egyptian exhibit, two historical fiction novels: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey, a coffee table book entitled At Home at Highclere: Entertaining at the Real Downton Abbey, and a holiday recipe book Christmas at Highclere: Recipes and Traditions from The Real Downton Abbey.

Supporting the family’s motto, Lord and Lady Carnarvon believe in the practice of serving warm, joyous hospitality to visitors in the forms of tours, teas, venues for private celebrations, and overnight accommodations for travelers (at London Lodge or Grotto Lodge). Pre-pandemic visitors have their memories, but current conditions created despair for those who hoped to visit. So, the ever-enterprising entrepreneurs came up with an interesting plan to keep their resolve “to serve.”

With respect for the rich soil on the property, Lady Carnarvon said, “thinking about the grains, the wheat,” native to Highclere could produce “a beautiful alcohol.” The two partnered with American spirits entrepreneur Adam von Gootkin to “vertically integrate what we do and create a brand.” In the autumn of 2019, Highclere Castle Gin arrived on the market at the same time as the movie “Downton Abbey” premiered.

Since then, the Carnarvon’s have hosted several live virtual parties known as “Cocktails at the Castle” on Facebook and Instagram where guests can enjoy different rooms in the castle. A recent version of “Cocktails at the Castle” took place in late January 2021, a celebration dinner in honor of the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns. It featured a bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace,” haggis, a toast, and a live reading by Lord Carnarvon of his poem, “Address to a Haggis.” Over 30,000 viewers enjoyed the event. These events have become famous as the largest cocktail parties in the world—thanks to technology.

May technology continue to support the human need for connection, travel, and good hospitality until the COVID-19 pandemic is a bygone era, a sad note that when remembered makes everything more appreciated than before.

The grounds of Highclere Castle have been there through wars, plagues, and climate catastrophes, yet the spirit of “Only I Serve” prevails. May we raise a toast, be it a glass of cool water, a cup of sheep’s milk, or, a gin cocktail in honor of geographic—and human—resilience.

Clarissa Burt is the publisher of In the Limelight magazine.