After a major renovation, Castle Howard’s 21st Century Renaissance will open to the public tomorrow (April 25) – giving visitors a chance to see the historic home in all its glory for the first time in decades.
This includes the unveiling of its lost Tapestry Drawing Room, which has been restored to its original 18th-century splendour for the first time since a fire in 1940.
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The Long Gallery and Grand Staircase have also been renovated, and the entire collection of Castle Howard’s paintings, sculptures and tapestries have been rehung and displayed.
The work is revealed prior to the 300th anniversary of Sir John Vanbrugh’s death in 2026.
A devastating fire in 1940 destroyed the iconic dome and more than 20 rooms in the house whilst it was being used as a girls’ school during the Second World War.
Upon his return from war, George Howard made the decision to keep the house and estate in family ownership and he embarked on the restoration of the house, which in opened to the public in 1952 with the dome restored 10 years later.
Restoration of the Tapestry Drawing Room (Image: Tom Arbor) The filming of Brideshead Revisited two decades later enabled the reconstruction of the Garden Hall and New Library with new projects, such as Bridgeton still being filmed at the iconic property.
This round of restoration work is being continued by the present generation of custodians, Nicholas and Victoria Howard, with work led by architect Francis Terry and designers Remy Renzullo and Alec Cobbe.
Nicholas and Victoria Howard said: “Every one of the nine generations who have lived in Castle Howard has enjoyed dancing with its particular aesthetic. We are no exception.
“The re-creation of the Tapestry Drawing Room is at the centre of our contemporary evolution. The evisceration of more than 20 rooms in the 1940 fire had the silver lining of once more allowing us to step into the creative process here.
“Spreading out from the Tapestry Drawing Room, we have re-purposed, re-hung, and re-decorated, re-vivifying the house that has refused to die.”
Four tapestries, which woven for the Tapestry Drawing Room in 1706 by John Vanderbank and depict ‘The Four Seasons’ (in scenes taken from the work of David Teniers), will be rehung and returned to to their original positions for the first time since since the beginning of the 18th century.
This theme has continued with the Long Gallery – a room which showcases Italian and Grand Tour paintings, including the noted Pannini capriccios of Rome commissioned by the 4th Earl and pictures of Castle Howard. Portraits of previous generations of the Howard Family are also displayed there.
