Episode
58. Behind the doors of Downton Abbey: Managing the 1,300-year-old Highclere Castle | Lady Carnarvon
- Published
- Dec 22, 2025
- Duration seconds
- 3455
- Processing state
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- https://james-reed-all-about-business.captivate.fm
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Summary
Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey, is one of the most famous houses in the world. But what does it really take to run it as a modern business? In this episode of All About Business , James speaks with Fiona, Lady Carnarvon, custodian of Highclere Castle, about managing a 1,300-year-old heritage estate with roots dating back to 749 AD. She shares how Downton Abbey transformed Highclere’s global profile, what it is like to live and work alongside a major film production, and how the castle evolved into a year-round destination. Lady Carnarvon discusses her entrepreneurial approach, from Christmas events and behind-the-scenes tours to virtual experiences, bestselling books, and Highclere Castle Gin, while confronting the hard economic realities of British farming and long-term stewardship. The conversation also explores Highclere’s ghost stories, its sense of community, and why heritage, kindness, and authenticity matter more than ever in a changing world. Timecodes 04:29 Christmas at Highclere 09:56 Tutankhamun and Downton Abbey 18:41 Challenges of modern farming 27:11 Ghost stories and blessings 36:45 The mysterious death of Lord Carnarvon 43:38 The success of Highclere Castle Gin 48:03 Building a brand and community 56:43 Final thoughts and future plans Follow James Reed on Linkedin: Find out more about Lady Carnarvon and Highclere Castle: All About Business is brought to you by Reed Global. Learn more here This podcast was co-produced by Reed Global and Flamingo Media. If you’d like to create a chart-topping podcast to elevate your brand, visit Flamingo-media.co.uk