CASTLE HOWARD - Tuesday 26 June - ​by coach

Photo by: bordersjourneys.co.uk/ CC BY

Castle Howard is undoubtedly one of England's greatest historic houses and gardens. Construction began in 1699 to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor and took over 100 years to complete. The house is built on a grand scale, running to 145 rooms with many interiors designed by Antonio Pelligrini and containing world renowned collections of furniture, porcelain, sculpture and paintings. In common with many other stately homes, Castle Howard was devastated by fire in 1940, the greatest loss being Pelligrini's painted dome (now restored). The grounds also reflect the grandeur of the house, with statues, lakes, temples and fountains, and 'Ray Wood' is acknowledged to contain a unique collection of trees, shrubs, Rhododendrons, Magnolias and Azaleas. Exhibitions show the story of the Howard family and the details of their loss of five members to wars between 1815 and 1944. Others depict how derelict rooms were converted to film sets for the 1981 and 2008 Brideshead films. Castle Howard has a selection of cafes and a restaurant providing hot and cold meals and snacks.

​Cost: £35.50(37.50)-includes morning coffee with scone and entry
Deposit: £10(£12)
Leader: Jeff de Cates
Tel: 0191 3750243 or email: jeffdecates@gmail.com

External Links:
​Castle Howard

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