INSPIRED BY THE PAST

Seeking inspiration for how to approach Christmas this year, Lady Carnarvon asked herself what previous ladies-of-thehouse would have done in these circumstances. On the top floor of Highclere is the archive, a room turned into something of a museum of documents cataloguing all things past – including Christmases of old.

Some cabinets hold pretty

Christmas cards received by previous Countesses of Carnarvon. Lady C says she has taken solace in the knowledge that this is not the first ‘different’ Christmas the castle has seen. ‘In the Second World War this was a home for

evacuated children. I mean those children were here without their parents. Imagine how awful that one must have been, and yet everyone did their best to give them a wonderful time.’

She’s gone back to the past for her decor this year, which has a Dickensian theme. ‘I’ve gone with reds and greens and golds, very Victorian colours. Very solid and stable,’ she says.