Seasons at Highclere: Gardening, Growing, and Cooking through the Year at the Real Downton Abbey

by Fiona Carnarvon

Join Lady Carnarvon as she opens the gates to Highclere Castle, the 'real Downton Abbey', and discover how the iconic British landmark celebrates and changes each season.

This book reveals the treasures within Highclere Castle's land and Georgian architecture, follies, secret gardens, the monks' garden, wildflower meadows and the woods of enchantment. Alongside history and anecdotes, this book also details sumptuous recipes for dishes inspired by local, seasonal produce, such as Heritage Tomato Tart, Highclere Baked Figs with Goats Cheese, and Honeyed Winter Vegetable Salad.

Beautifully illustrated with full-colour photography, Seasons at Highclere is full of gastronomical delights, the stories of the treasures within Highclere Castle's grounds, untold secrets from the castle's archives and much more. This is the perfect gift or keepsake, and a book to be cherished for years to come.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gardening, Downton Abbey

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2021

About the author

Note: This is the Goodreads listing for the 8th Countess of Carnarvon.

A former auditor for Coopers & Lybrand, Lady Carnarvon is the wife of George Herbert, 8th Earl of Carnarvon. Today, she manages affairs at Highclere Castle, home of the worldwide television drama Downton Abbey, including overseeing its grounds and gardens and many special events such as the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the Castle.

Fascinated by Highclere’s history, Lady Carnarvon has written four books. The first two are about the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who discovered King Tutankhamun’s tomb with Howard Carter in 1922. Her latest are New York Times Bestseller Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere, and Lady Catherine and the Real Downton Abbey.

Reviews

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am fascinated by all things Highclere and Downton Abbey, so when I learned that Lady Carnarvon was releasing another book, I knew I would eventually get my hands on it. I had thoroughly enjoyed Christmas at Highclere and the glimpses into what life is like there at the holidays. I had to have more of it and I was certain this would deliver.

What I liked about Seasons at Highclere:
The format - The book is divided into four sections. which makes sense since there are four seasons, but more to the point is that they are beautifully delivered. Each season gets a series of subsections, complete with photos, mini-essays on Highclere history, contemporary practices for celebration and development of the farm and gardens, and recipes.
Each season was given its due - It would have been easy to allow one or two seasons to dominate, especially when, on the surface, some seasons are more obvious features in gardening. Not so, though. Each season was balanced against the others and also flowed from one into the next, as the seasons do.
The book is a work of art - Lady Carnarvon knows how to offer a book. The photography is a feast for the eyes. The paper is luscious, heavy and feels like a dream on the fingertips. And while it is a coffee table book, it is also a book inviting you to read it. All you need to read is a few pages before you understand you will need to read it cover to cover, whether intentionally reading it or if you browse and read at random until you've collectively consumed the contents.

Lady Carvarvon is charming, intelligent, well-rounded, and interesting. While she lives a very different life than my own, she never comes across as condescending or as someone who is afraid to get her hands dirty in the cartaking of her home. If you enjoyed Christmas at Highclere, you will want to read this one as well. And conversely, if you read and enjoy this one, you won't want to miss the other. This book is a delight to the senses and a celebration of what makes the four seasons distinct and beautiful, each in their own right.

[Rachel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was in a goodie bag given out on a guided tour of Highclere Castle. I have read it from cover to cover and enjoyed it immensely because it contains hundreds of years of local history, dips into stories of the families who have lived at Highclere Castle. Contains tons of information about botany, and when/how to grow flowers, trees, veggies, fruits - and then includes some delicious looking recipes. The book is presented in four parts with all the above mentioned information grouped into the four seasons. Even though I do not live in the UK, there are some tips on growing fruits and veggies that I can adopt in the US - especially as my house faces south. And there are some recipes that I am definitely going to be trying out.

Highly recommend this book. Well written with a casual tone that makes history come alive, and supported by many literary references, and quotes.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of information. I actually skimmed through it because there was so much info. The recipes were interesting because many of them I had never even heard of let alone would make them but they were fun to look at.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting, yes because that is where Downton Abbey was filmed, but there is much more to it. This book focuses on the outside property and gardens. The History of Highclere along with the History of the grounds.
The pictures are gorgeous. The plant life - trees, bushes, flowers, vegetable gardens, etc... is very informative, especially if you love to garden. I love how she introduces recipes that reflect the items they grow on the property.
Lovely coffee table book. Very enjoyable to browse through with a glass of iced tea or coffee in hand!