A New Era
A New Era
We are in exciting times at Highclere in that once again we have a major building project underway rather than simply the endless repairs and maintenance works that take place with somewhat monotonous regularity. Of course, there have been building works on and off here for over 1,200 years: needs change, spaces get adapted, things fall down and are rebuilt and fashions change. New generations have had both new visions and new practical requirements and as a result the castle is a balance of heritage and innovation. However, this is the first major new building for Geordie and myself.
For those who visit us in person as well as through my stories in books, blogs, Instagram and Friends of Highclere, you might have noticed that a temporary white marquee goes up and down on a regular basis for summer opening and at Christmas. We need the extra space for teas and shelter since the British weather is unreliable in summer and wintery at Christmas.
We therefore applied and gained planning permission to create a new event space to take the place of the marquee. It is quite impossible to compete with the Castle so it is important not to try. Instead, it is a Pavilion that forms a different shape and will be at right angles to the main roof lines of the Castle. Well under way now, the same Welsh slates used on the Castle will soon begin to go onto the roof.
It will be an airy space set into the landscape. A harmonious transition between heritage and modernity, with curving pathways and smaller trees which will both filter the views and create lovely spaces under which people can sit.
The marquee was a poor use of resources to heat but this new building has both solar panels and heat exchange which is far better both for the environment and our costs.
The Pavilion will be here for the long term and I am so thrilled that Viking are a key part of our journey to achieve this and that Geordie and I can celebrate a ten year sponsorship partnership - it is to be ‘The Viking Pavilion’.
Viking have already been longtime partners and friends of Highclere Castle. We work with them to offer its guests a variety of ways to experience privileged access at the Castle throughout the year with pre and post land extensions for its river and ocean voyages. Of course it was also Viking Cruises who stepped in to support Masterpiece in 2010 when PBS first introduced Downton Abbey to American audiences. It is a lovely circular story and now a way of going forwards together.
We are business partners but so much more than that. Our relationship with Viking is based on a shared culture and personal values such as kindness and hard work, going the extra mile and hanging on in the really challenging times and seas. Highclere thrives on teamwork, hospitality in its broadest sense, exploring what the past means and taking time to do things properly and so does Viking.
Torstein Hagen began Viking Cruises with his daughter Karine 28 years ago and never fails to remind us all of the importance of time. A physicist and engineer by training and a businessman by life, he always says that time is the most precious gift each of us have, both for ourselves and to share with others. Once gone, you cannot reclaim it and only when you nearly lose something do you ever realise how valuable it is. Time out to travel, time out to wander here at Highclere, time to spend with friends and family.
There are so many times I have gone on a walk reciting this poem by Rudyard Kipling. Named: If, written to his son as life advice. It holds forever truths which keep my spirits up and remember the luck in life is to work hard and find friends who will walk with you.
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same; …
Viking will always hold a special place in our hearts and I hope Highclere will in Viking’s heart as well. This is a step change for Highclere - another New Era.
51 Comments
Lovely picture of A new era did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lam fan Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
Lovely picture of A new era did you and lord Carnarvon have a wonderful weekend and lam fan Downton Abbey and highcelere castle
Ditto
We visited Highclere several years ago through a Viking post extension. It is one our best memories! Eight adults, all Downton
Abbey fans, seeing all of the areas where the filming took place. It was absolutely WONDERFUL!
Thank you so much
How wonderful. When I next come you Highclere I hope The Viking Pavillion will be fully operational. The design looks wonderful. I love that quote from the poem "If." It is a marvelous poem and ver evocative. Thank you.
Hi,
Congratulations on the Viking Pavilion! I love the Nordic sweater that you are wearing in the photo of you and Karine Hagen. May I ask where it is from?
Best Regards,
Katherine
Viking have designed them!
Excellent news and having a permanent building will save so much money in long term on heating costs alone. Ive read some much about Vikings Ethos so its good you have a great partnership with them.
What is the timescale for the Viking Pavilion to be up and open for use.
Hopefully September 2026!
What a wonderful future addition to Highclere Castle estate. We love PBS here in Canada and we thank Viking for their continued sponsorship.
I gave a talk for PBS Vancouver a little time ago now - too short a visit!
Fantastic News, we wondered what shape this pavilion would take when we heard it was in the offing. May everything go as smoothly as possible and we hope to see it for ourselves in the not too distant future.
thank you
What a wonderful news! We are looking forward to it, the future events will look even more beautiful at Highclere Castle. How exciting, congratulations to the Viking team too!
Agreed!
What a wonderful addition to Highclere the Viking Pavilion will be. It’s pleasing to know you’ve been able to crate this new building which sounds quite fabulous. What a difference it’s going to make to your event planning going forward. I really look forward to seeing photographs of the completed building. A wonderful collaboration with Viking and a great asset for Highclere. .
I think it will be amazing
Love this! Excellent way to bridge the new and the traditional while being a great steward of the environment and financial resources. As a frequent Viking traveler (and shareholder!), I love this continued partnership. I look forward to visiting Highclere castle someday!
I look forward to welcoming you!
This will be a wonderful and very useful addition to Highclere. I remember the marquee, when we visited at Christmas 2019, we had tea there after walking around
the gardens. It was a lovely day, sunny but a breezy and chilly.
I just watched Downton Abbey "New Era" movie on PBS last evening, for the second time so this is certainly a "timely" post!
Best Wishes on the New Build and the Viking partnership!
i love the gardens - am workign on them just now !
Every time I read one of your posts, Lady Carnarvon, I try imagine what it must be like to live in such a magical place. - to wake up every morning and experience the majesty, the adventures of always discovering something new, having a wonderful group of people around you that keep everything humming, your precious animals. I cannot think of a better life. You are truly blessed. Thank you so much for sharing Highclere with the rest of the world.
Thank you – the spaniels remind me it is another day and a new day ..sometimes it does all feel overwhelming and lonely but then I hear the chatter and laughter of all the team here and it becomes ok again.
I started Friends of Highclere with various thoughts but that sense of friendship, community and walking together underlies so much. Helping each other being there..
It was through Downton Abbey that I began seeing the ads for Viking. It was through Downton Abbey that Highclere Castle became a Bucket List trip for me....and through that visit, Viking became a Bucket List item and I was able to enjoy the Viking experience via the Grand European Tour in November...Circles indeed...I look forward to my next visit with you!
Thank you and I am sailing with them in April!
My New Life's Resolution a few years ago was three-fold: exercise, finish yarn and sewing projects, and travel.
On a recent travel experience in Chinon, France some of my new travel companions told me about their wonderful Viking cruise.
So now I've got another trip to plan via Viking and hopefully to see your lovely spot on God's green earth.
Hope to see you !
What a beautiful extension to the Estate
The Viking story is something that I had never heard.about.Thank you
Iwas given two books :"A Year at Highere," and "Chrstmas at Highclere" for Xmas present. Absolutely thrilled.
What a beautiful extension to the Estate
The Viking story is something that I had never heard.about.Thank you
Iwas given two books :"A Year at Highere," and "Chrstmas at Highclere" for Xmas present. Absolutely thrilled.
Thank you
It sounds a great addition for you all👏😍
We can’t wait to visit Highclere in June or July on our trip from Brisbane Australia 💖
Dear Lady Carnarvon:
Thank you for this Monday's blog and sharing this exciting and wonderful news.
Also, Congratulations! on the ten-year relationship with Viking and for honoring that collaboration with the named pavilion. It looks so inviting and welcoming.
Until next time, I wish you and Lord Carnarvon continued success with this development and building project.
Perpetua Crawford
Thank you - I know our little sketch does not do it justice - it will be a good space and it means we can welcome an art exhibition or more muscians ..conferences as well as visitors
Love, love, love Viking-have sailed five times with them. Only one visit -so far- at Highclere. I MUST return and see the Viking Pavilion, when it is completed. Thank you for refreshing my memory of Rudyard Kipling's great words.
Viking are a world apart - it is about their team and culture. I trust them
I love your posts , books and watching
Downton ! My dream is getting to visit
Highclere Castle! I’ve gotten my daughter
hooked as well.
thank you!
Congratulations on the new Viking Pavilion! It’s exciting to begin a new era of in your partnership with Viking! We only cruise with Viking and so your partnership has been thrilling for me as several cruises have had ties with Highclere. I hope to visit again to see your new pavilion.
We are all excited!
How wonderful! And what a perfect addition to Highclere. We took our first cruise with Viking in 2014 because of Downton Abbey, and we've visited Highclere in 2022 and in 2025 with Viking. I've read all of your books, I read your blog weekly, and I am a huge fan of the Highclere gin. Thank you so much for enriching my life, Lady Carnarvon.
WOW you are very kind!
Lady Carnarvon,
Marvelous and exciting news!! I’m sure so many people will enjoy the new Viking Pavilion as a place to rest and enjoy their visit even a little more. Are you going to have goodies from the Gift Shop there? That will be a neat place to expand.
I wish so much we could come back. We were lucky enough to come on the Masterpiece tour in 2013 with a group that watched Downton Abbey on local PBS stations. It was the best trip of my life! Thank you and Geordie for opening your home to the Viking cruises. At that time there weren’t any Viking cruises with a Highclere visit, or I would have been back!!
Carry on with aplomb, m’Lady!
Marths
Very glad to hear that - was that a spring visit - May or something?
Will you still be hosting Battle Proms?
Very much so -tickets are on sale!
What amazing news! Having visited Highclere Castle in the fall of 2024, and having spent time outdoors sipping champagne and eating a lovely scone, I am excited to hear of the new Pavillion. My husband and I are planning on a Viking cruise later this year. Such a wonderful, forward thinking partnership! The future grows from the past in such a lovely way at Highclere! I hope to return someday, perhaps on a Viking Cruise/Highclere Castle joint trip. We have been avid fans of Downton Abbey. Happy New Year to you, the Earl and all of the Highclere family.
Thank you for your vision.
Imagine archaeologists a thousand years from now examining the Pavilion… and Highclere itself!… and speculating on the uses that the various parts of the estate performed.
How wonderful! As it is with many Highclere Castle devotees, a visit is always on the bucket list.
My wish will be realised in mid July 2026 when we are booked on Viking's extension to Oxford and Highclere.
I would be delightful to sit in the new Pavilion!
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What a beautiful story and impressive how long the Viking collaboration has been ongoing. I hope that some time in the future we are able to see the beautiful Viking Pavilion
I hope so too