Welcome to Stately Homes

Work began on Castle Howard in 1699 and continued through the 18th century. Charles, 3rd Earl of Carlisle, commissioned John Vanbrugh as his architect to construct much more than just a house. As he lacked any previous experience in that field, Vanbrugh sensibly enlisted the close assistance of Nicholas Hawksmoor. By the time of Vanbrugh's death in 1726, two thirds of the grand design had been finished, a monument to an ambitious idea and an audacious commission, but the West Wing was unbuilt.

Lord Carlisle died in 1738, and his successor, The 4th Earl, decided that his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Robinson, had better ideas for the completion of Castle Howard than Vanbrugh's original designs and gave him the brief. However, he later came to regret that decision bitterly. In the late 19th Century pavilions were removed from both ends of the West Wing roof, harmonising the roof levels and engendering a greater sense of unity.

Thus, what was once to be a symmetrical composite of buildings, making a unified whole, now comprises an eccentrically asymmetrical construction, though many would say that this is what gives Castle Howard the unique character it presents today. Others lament it as the devaluation of one of England's only truly Baroque houses.

Tragically further change was to occur in the middle of the 20th century when, on the morning of 9 November 1940, fire broke out in the South-East Wing and swept through the house into the Great Hall, destroying the dome and nearly twenty rooms. For the next few years much of Castle Howard was open to the skies, its once splendid rooms gutted shells. George Howard, who inherited Castle Howard after the death of his two brothers in action during the war, determined that the House should be lived in once more, and made the bold decision to recover Vanbrugh's damaged architectural masterpiece.

It is largely due to his remarkable efforts that Castle Howard is today home to the family, and enjoys such enormous popularity with the public. In 1960-62 the dome was rebuilt and redecorated, and in 1981, in conjunction with Granada Television and the filming of Brideshead Revisited, the Garden Hall was rebuilt. You can view more details about Castle Howard on their extremely comprehensive Website.

The Gardens

While Castle Howard is famous for its 18th century landscape, much of what one sees today bears witness to Victorian intervention, as well as recent restoration and development. As plans were being drawn up for the building of the House, it was decided the surrounding landscape should also be planned. The park, as it stands today, was created from rough grazing land, and many of the trees that can be seen were planted around 1705.

The Grounds and landscape are constantly changing, with spring bulbs, daffodils, roses, herbaceous borders, and rhododendrons providing a spectacular of colour change throughout the year. The Ray Wood Bank has recently been replanted with over 2 tonnes of daffodil bulbs, which will produce of magnificent blanket of colour in late March/Early April.

In the Boar Garden 2 and a half tonnes of daffodils and 10,000 small spring bulbs were planted to provide a variety of colour for early March for the first visitors of the season, including crocus, snowdrops and tulips. The grounds are host to a variety of added value events during the summer months including the annual plant fair, outdoor concerts, jazz weekends and children's weekend.

Corporate Events and Filming

There is a long tradition of warm hospitality and lavish entertaining at Castle Howard and this continues in strength today. Flexibility and variety are the keywords and this magnificent House and its breathtaking grounds can offer a variety of individually tailored occasions. Castle Howard is set within acres of glorious parkland and landscaped grounds - plenty of scope for creating the drama of a firework display accompanied by the music and marching of a military band - or for simply enjoying a leisurely visit with a lunch specially arranged for you in The Grecian Hall.

They have so much to offer for special interests - The Gardens, the landscaped Grounds and Architecture the collections of China, Antiques and Paintings, with a range of entertainment to complete any occasion. Castle Howard is an eighteenth-century palace available today for exclusive parties of every kind, formal and informal, large and small. It is a very special place, - one to please the eye and mind, and, as a venue for entertaining, not to be missed!

Since the 1960s, Castle Howard has been used as a location for many film and television productions. The house and its interiors and the beautiful grounds outdoors (whatever the season) are all ideal settings for costume dramas, feature films and documentaries.

Opening Times - 2010

House:
13th March - 31st October & 27th November - 19th December: daily, 11 am - 4 pm

Gardens:
All year (excluding Christmas Day) daily, from 10 am

Stable Courtyard (gift shops, farm shop, chocolate shop, plant centre, cafe) open year round

Access to Pretty Wood Pyramid is available from 1st July to 31st August
Special tours to newly restored rooms in the house are available by arrangement
For more information please contact Castle Howard, Estate Office on +44 (0)1653 648444.

Admission Prices - 2010:

Summer:
House & Garden
Adult - £12.50
Child (4 - 16yrs) - £7.50
Child (under 4yrs) - Free
Senior - £10.50
Family (2+2) - £29

Garden Only:
Adult - £8.50
Child (4 - 16 yrs) - £6
Child (under 4yrs) - Free
Senior - £8
Family (2+2) - £23

Winter:
22nd December - 15th March
2nd November - 27th November

Garden Only:
Adult - £5
Child (4 - 16yrs) - £2.50
Child (under 4yrs) - Free
Senior - £4

More information on the garden can be found on The Gardens Guide.