Castle Howard’s 21st-Century Renaissance: Restoring Britain’s Grandest Home
A lost tapestry room, an art-filled gallery, and a baroque masterpiece brought back to life.
It’s not every day you get to step inside a house that’s seen its fair share of drama: catastrophic fires, wartime repurposing, and a starring role in both Brideshead Revisited and Bridgerton. Sitting amid 1,000 acres of rolling Yorkshire countryside, this Baroque titan is about to unveil a meticulous restoration that promises to reawaken its lost glory—and possibly upstage its own cinematic legacy.
Come April 25, 2025, the public will get to see Castle Howard’s Tapestry Drawing Room restored to its 18th-century grandeur, complete with tapestries that have been in hiding for decades. Add to that a reimagined Long Gallery brimming with Grand Tour art and a refreshed Grand Staircase, and you have a stately home that’s not just been revived—it’s been reborn.
A House That Refuses to Die
Castle Howard’s story is one of survival. Designed in 1699 by Sir John Vanbrugh—best known for Blenheim Palace—it was always meant to be a statement of ambition. Over the centuries, the Howards have added their own touches: neoclassical interiors, Palladian wings, and even Arts and Crafts-style stained glass. But in 1940, disaster struck. A fire tore through the house, destroying 20 rooms, including the iconic dome, while the estate was being used as a girls’ school during the war.
Most families would have cut their losses, sold the estate, and moved on. Not George Howard. Returning from war, he decided to rebuild. By 1952, the house was open to the public, its dome restored a decade later, and filming for Brideshead Revisited in the 1980s brought fresh funds for further repairs. Now, his descendants, Nicholas and Victoria Howard, are picking up the baton, bringing a new wave of creativity to a house that’s always embraced reinvention.
“We’ve re-purposed, re-hung, and re-decorated, re-vivifying the house that has refused to die,” says Nicholas Howard.
The Highlights: What to Expect in 2025
Photographer Castle Howard
- The Tapestry Drawing Room: Left a burnt-out shell after the 1940 fire, this room has been painstakingly restored to its original splendor. Its tapestries, woven in 1706, are back in pride of place, depicting The Four Seasons through scenes inspired by David Teniers. Once reserved for royalty, it’s now open to everyone who’s curious enough to visit.
- The Grand Staircase: Built in the 1870s, this impressive entrance now doubles as a celebration of Castle Howard’s Grand Tour treasures. Busts, sculptures, and artefacts collected by the 4th and 5th Earls are displayed alongside newly acquired plaster casts—a blend of old-world charm and modern vision.
- The Long Gallery: At 160 feet, it’s one of Britain’s longest. Once a showcase of neoclassical architecture, it’s now home to Castle Howard’s finest art collection, including portraits by Kneller, Lely, and Hoppner, as well as Pannini’s vibrant capriccios of Rome. If walls could talk, these would have tales of aristocrats, artists, and a house forever on the cusp of reinvention.
Why Castle Howard Matters
Yes, it’s a beautiful house with stunning interiors, but Castle Howard is also a reminder of the power of perseverance. It’s a house that’s faced destruction and decline yet managed to rise again—each time more glorious than before. Historian Simon Thurley puts it best: “If anyone doubted the ability of this greatest of houses to be reborn for a new generation, they should come and admire the sensitive but confident way the state rooms have been brought back to life.”
For those planning a visit, there’s no better time. With the 300th anniversary of Sir John Vanbrugh’s death in 2026, the house is gearing up for a year of celebrations that will solidify its place not just as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing part of Britain’s cultural fabric.
Plan Your Visit
- When: From April 25, 2025
- Where: Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
- Tickets and Info: www.castlehoward.co.uk
Elena Leo is the Arts & Lifestyle Editor of Ikon London Magazine.