Lady Carnarvon’s Castle Conversations
Why not join me to enjoy a plethora of fascinating topics and guests from the world of Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey?
Whether you love movies or care about the planet; wish to discover the best gardening or cooking tips; hear about innovation, music or the history of flight. I hope you will thoroughly enjoy the library we have created.
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Wednesday, 6 May, 2026
The real story behind Burnt Norton: Lady Carnarvon and Caroline Montague on Writing Havens, Burnt Norton’s Past and Stories That Heal
LADY CARNARVON'S PODCAST
I’m delighted to welcome historical novelist Caroline Montague to the castle, where we talk about how writing offers a refuge from everyday life and how she protects her creative time in her office with her dogs. Caroline shares the remarkable history of Burnt Norton, its links to T.S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets,” and the dramatic tale of Sir William Kite, whose scandal, bankruptcy, and death by fire helped give the house its name, alongside stories of the “white lady” said to haunt the top floor.
We discuss her path from law and interior design to writing, her planning process shaped by a firm agent, shifting titles and covers, and her current rewrite of a book about a famous royal swap. We also chat about spaniels; horses and the comfort animals bring.
Monday, 2 March, 2026
Our man in Libya and Iran: Lady Carnarvon joins Nicholas Hopton to talk diplomacy, travel and Foreign Service.
LADY CARNARVON'S PODCAST
In this episode from Highclere Castle, I sit down with Nick Hopton to talk about his book, "Maremma Mia," which begins as the story of buying and restoring a holiday house in an unspoiled part of Tuscany, the Maremma and becomes a wider family and personal journey.