Downton Abbey to host Tutankhamun exhibition (VIDEO and GALLERY)

Feb 19 2013 By Cheryl Mullin

HIGHCLERE Castle is best known as the set of hit period drama Downton Abbey.

But the aristocratic Carnarvon family who live at the Berkshire country house are hoping to attract visitors for a different reason.

Ninety years ago, in the Valley of the Kings, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun, discovering a wall of gold.

To mark the anniversary of that achievement a visitor attraction has been created in the cellars of Highclere Castle to give an impression of what was found in November 1922.

The Egyptian Exhibition contains replicas from the tombs, including the pharaoh’s middle coffin and his death mask.

At the exhibition’s launch, the Countess of Carnarvon said: “This is the defining thing for Highclere. Downton is lovely, but it will come and go.”

She went on: “The discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb is the greatest archaeological discovery ever.

“I want people to feel they’re inside the tomb and they have a sense of history.”

Show Caption

Egypt's Ambassador to the UK Ashaf El Kholy looks at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
One of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Countess Carnarvon looks at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
One of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Countess Carnarvon at Highclere Castle in Berkshire at the opening of the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Egypt's Ambassador to the UK Ashaf El Kholy looks at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Countess Carnarvon with Egypt's Ambassador to the UK Ashaf El Kholy look at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
One of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
One of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Countess Carnarvon at Highclere Castle in Berkshire at the opening of the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of the castle to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
Countess Carnarvon with Egypt's Ambassador to the UK Ashaf El Kholy look at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun
A woman looks at one of the exhibits in the Egyptian Exhibition in the cellars of Highclere Castle in Berkshire, to mark the 90th anniversary when of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter broke down the gold wall into the Shrine Room in the tomb of Tutankhamun