Highclere Castle stands as one of England’s most recognizable estates. Many people know it through television, but the history behind the walls goes far deeper than a simple script.
This quiz looks at the architecture of the house, the lives of the Earls of Carnarvon, and the real events tied to the discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb. You will see questions about the estate’s construction, its history as a hospital, and the design of its parkland.
Think you know the property well? This quiz may still catch you off guard. After you finish, try other royal residences, various filming sets, or iconic landmarks.
In which English county is Highclere Castle located?
Kent
Kent
Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Hampshire
Hampshire
Cornwall
Cornwall
Which aristocratic family has owned and resided at Highclere Castle since the 17th century?
The Carnarvon family
The Carnarvon family
The Crawley family
The Crawley family
The Marlborough family
The Marlborough family
The Windsor family
The Windsor family
Which architect, also known for designing the Houses of Parliament, was responsible for the Victorian remodeling of Highclere Castle?
Augustus Pugin
Augustus Pugin
Christopher Wren
Christopher Wren
Inigo Jones
Inigo Jones
Charles Barry
Charles Barry
Highclere Castle is widely known to modern audiences as the primary filming location for which television series?
Downton Abbey
Downton Abbey
The Crown
The Crown
Bridgerton
Bridgerton
Poldark
Poldark
Which historical figure, associated with Highclere Castle, famously financed the search for the tomb of Tutankhamun?
Howard Carter
Howard Carter
Lord Kitchener
Lord Kitchener
Arthur Balfour
Arthur Balfour
George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon
George Herbert, 5th Earl of Carnarvon
In which Egyptian archaeological site was the tomb of Tutankhamun discovered in 1922?
Cairo
Cairo
Alexandria
Alexandria
Luxor
Luxor
The Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings
What unique permanent display can visitors find at Highclere Castle that commemorates the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s discoveries?
Formal rose gardens
Formal rose gardens
Egyptian Exhibition
Egyptian Exhibition
Kitchen staff quarters
Kitchen staff quarters
Horse stables
Horse stables
What phenomenon describes the significant increase in visitors to Highclere Castle following the success of the television show?
1990s recession
1990s recession
A grant from the National Trust
A grant from the National Trust
The ‘Downton Abbey’ effect
The ‘Downton Abbey’ effect
A change in local zoning laws
A change in local zoning laws
What is the architectural style of the exterior of Highclere Castle?
Palladian
Palladian
Neo-Gothic
Neo-Gothic
Jacobethan
Jacobethan
Baroque
Baroque
Which Countess of Carnarvon was known for her immense fortune and transforming Highclere into a hospitality hub during the Edwardian period?
Lady Evelyn
Lady Evelyn
Lady Catherine
Lady Catherine
Lady Fiona
Lady Fiona
Lady Almina
Lady Almina
What was the specific social purpose Highclere Castle served during the years 1914–1918?
First World War hospital
First World War hospital
Boarding school for refugees
Boarding school for refugees
Secret base for codebreakers
Secret base for codebreakers
Munitions storage facility
Munitions storage facility
In what year did the first episode of the television show ‘Downton Abbey’ air?
2008
2008
2010
2010
2014
2014
2012
2012
Who was the creator and lead writer of the television series ‘Downton Abbey’?
Steven Moffat
Steven Moffat
Richard Curtis
Richard Curtis
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Julian Fellowes
Julian Fellowes
Which object is associated with the 5th Earl of Carnarvon’s involvement in the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb?
A sarcophagus of a minor pharaoh
A sarcophagus of a minor pharaoh
A portrait of the Queen
A portrait of the Queen
A golden death mask replica
A golden death mask replica
A bust of Nefertiti
A bust of Nefertiti
Which central room in Highclere Castle is famously used for tea in the television series?
The Library
The Library
The Gallery
The Gallery
The Dining Room
The Dining Room
The Saloon
The Saloon
Approximately how many acres of parkland surround Highclere Castle?
9,000 acres
9,000 acres
5,000 acres
5,000 acres
7,000 acres
7,000 acres
1,000 acres
1,000 acres
Which famous landscape designer is responsible for the design of the parkland surrounding Highclere Castle?
Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Gertrude Jekyll
Gertrude Jekyll
Humphry Repton
Humphry Repton
André Le Nôtre
André Le Nôtre
What was the official cause of death for the 5th Earl of Carnarvon shortly after the opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb?
A snake bite
A snake bite
A carriage accident
A carriage accident
Blood poisoning
Blood poisoning
A tropical fever
A tropical fever
In what capacity does the current Carnarvon family operate Highclere Castle today?
It is a private hotel chain property
It is a private hotel chain property
It is state-owned property
It is state-owned property
It is a private home that opens to the public periodically
It is a private home that opens to the public periodically
It is a private theme park
It is a private theme park
In which room at Highclere Castle is the notable collection of Spanish oil paintings traditionally hung?
The Smoking Room
The Smoking Room
The Music Room
The Music Room
The Saloon
The Saloon
The Library
The Library
Which English archaeologist was hired by the 5th Earl of Carnarvon to lead the excavation that discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun?
Sir Henry Rawlinson
Sir Henry Rawlinson
T.E. Lawrence
T.E. Lawrence
Howard Carter
Howard Carter
Sir Flinders Petrie
Sir Flinders Petrie
What is the title held by Robert Crawley, the head of the family in the television show ‘Downton Abbey’?
Marquess of Salisbury
Marquess of Salisbury
Earl of Wessex
Earl of Wessex
Earl of Grantham
Earl of Grantham
Duke of Norfolk
Duke of Norfolk
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoyed learning about Highclere, you might appreciate our pages on historic sites, famous master builders, and various art galleries.
