Castle Howard is located in North Yorkshire, in the walled city of York in England. The 3rd Earl of Carlisle began building the Baroque castle in 1699, but it took a hundred years to complete. After Carlisle’s passing in 1738, the house was completed by son-in-law, Sir Thomas Robinson. Robinson added the fourth wing, which was designed in a conservative Palladian style, so instead of two identical wings, the castle has two mismatched wings. The castle suffered a devastating fire in 1940, which caused considerable damage, with nearly one-third of the structure lost, including the dome. Restoration efforts were achieved due to George Howard and Lady Cecilia. A hundred years ago, the castle had 140 rooms and twelve staircases, but due to the fire, the interior spaces were altered. Unfortunately, there is still a great deal of repair work to do. Castle Howard has three main levels with a cellar space in one wing and attic space in the central section. The pre-Raphaelite decorated chapel is part of the west wing of the house. The castle sits on nearly 9,000 acres in the Howardian Hills. Six thousand acres are farmland, and the property is tenanted with five fully equipped farms and 15 bare land agreements. The property boasts woodlands, temples, lakes, a walled garden, a stable block, and the Atlas Fountain. Castle Howard has served as the private home of the Howard family for more than 300 years. The estate has a house gift shop, a carriage shop, a farm shop, a garden center, a tree nursery, three cafés, and a coffee shop. Currently, the castle and chapel are closed to visitors.
