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Castle Howard’s 21st Century Renaissance, now open 

Marvel at a once-in-a-generation transformation

After several years of planning, Castle Howard's 21st Century Renaissance has finally been revealed. The once-in-a-generation transformation includes the unveiling of the lost Tapestry Drawing Room, now restored to its 18th-century grandeur following a devastating fire in 1940.

Witness the breathtaking restoration using traditional heritage skills from craftspeople, and be among the first to see these magnificent historic transformations.

'This isn't just a facelift - it's a resurrection, a triumph of traditional craft.' -Tatler

Book House and Garden tickets and witness the transformation

Castle Howard's 21st Century Renaissance Events

Fri 25 Apr 2025 - Sun 02 Nov 2025
Included with House & Garden Ticket
Fri 20 Jun 2025 - Sun 22 Jun 2025

 

house

Discover the highlights

The Tapestry Drawing Room
The Tapestry Drawing Room was lost in a fire in 1940, and had remained an empty shell ever since. The 21st Century Renaissance project has completely restored the room, highlighting the tapestries originally woven for the room in 1706 by John Vanderbank. The restoration of the room championed traditional heritage skills, with the work of dozens of craftspeople bringing the room to life.
The Grand Staircase
Created in the 1870s, the Grand Staircase continues to provide an impressive first impression for visitors. Following the rehang, Castle Howard’s renowned collection of Grand Tour antiquities and treasures – gathered by the 4th and 5th Earls on their travels – is proudly displayed alongside specially commissioned plaster casts of antique bas-reliefs.
The Long Gallery
The Long Gallery has been transformed as part of the 21st Century Renaissance project, including a rehang of Castle Howard's unique art collection. It contains Italian and Grand Tour paintings, including Pannini capriccios of Rome, as well as portraits of previous generations of the Howard family.
The West Wing Bedrooms
The West Wing bedroom upgrades include the refurbishment of Lady Georgiana’s Dressing Room, featuring hand-painted ‘Abbotsford’ Chinese-style wallpaper by de Gournay and Colefax and Fowler fabrics, reflecting 18th-century Chinoiserie style. The Castle Howard Bedroom has been redecorated with gathered gold taffeta silk from Italy. The stunning 18th-century Linnell furniture is displayed together and the state bed rehung with red silk damask curtains from Lelievre, the oldest silk factory in France.

Celebrating Castle Howard and the Grand Tour

Castle Howard’s genesis was the Grand Tour. Inspired by Italy’s art and architecture, the 3rd Earl of Carlisle transformed his estate into an arcadia. Successive Earls continued this tradition, enhancing Castle Howard with exceptional works of art, sculpture, and furniture.

Castle Howard’s 21st Century Renaissance is this generation’s contribution to the evolution of the House, something that has been ongoing since the first stone was laid at the very beginning of the 18th-century.

Discover more about the Grand Tour history of the House and collections by booking onto a tour here.

 

What our visitors are saying

They have been restored beautifully and are very impressive.

The restoration is amazing.

I was blown away - far exceeded any expectations.

Amazing and very interesting considering all the work that goes into doing such a project.

We were so lucky these rooms had been completed before our trip to Castle Howard. We're from Australia so feel we have been treated to something very special.

The People Behind the Project

Planning for Castle Howard’s 21st-Century Renaissance began in 2019, 
and has involved numerous designers, advisors, and craftspeople as 
well as a dedicated team at Castle Howard.

Designers and Consultants

Alec Cobbe designer, artist and decorator, with Alexey Moskvin
Remy Renzullo, interior designer
Charles Marsden Smedley, museum and exhibition designer 
Francis Terry and Associates, architects and designers specialising in Georgian architecture and country houses
Simon Thurley and Architrave Historical Services, with Tori Reeve and Chezzy Brownen.

Craftsmen and Craftswomen

Atelier de Moulage and the Caproni Collection, plaster cast workshops in Belgium and the USA, have produced the plaster casts on the Grand Staircase.
Cliveden Conservation, stonework and decorative arts conservators, carried out preparatory works to the plaster casts and mounted them on the walls of the Grand Staircase.
Colefax & Fowler, interior decorators, have provided the curtains in Lady Georgiana’s Dressing Room in a partnership agreement with Castle Howard.
Constantine, art handlers, responsible for installing the new picture hangs.
Critchlow & Kukkonen, painting conservators, carried out remedial conservation to a number of paintings for the Long Gallery and South Front rooms.
A.T. Cronin Workshop, specialist historic upholsters, have created the curtains and hangings for the Castle Howard Bedroom, and re-upholstered the furniture in the Tapestry Drawing Room and the Long Gallery.
Duccio Conti Caponi Studio, architectual decoration, have supplied the ropes and stanchions along the visitor route.
Mark Fitzgerald, furniture specialist, restored the historic finish to the doors in the Tapestry Drawing Room and bookcases in the Long Gallery.
Clunie Fretton, sculptor, modelled the carving detail for the fireplace in the Tapestry Drawing Room
Philip Gaches, traditional plasterer, responsible for the plasterwork in the Tapestry Drawing Room.
De Gournay specialise in reproductions of 18th-century wallpaper, and in partnership with Castle Howard have provided the wallpaper in Lady Georgiana’s Dressing Room.
Grants Marble Manufactory, bespoke marble manufacturers, responsible for the scagliola columns in the Long Gallery, and fire surround in the Tapestry Drawing Room.
Heritage Lighting Matters, fine art lighting, sustainably upgraded the Long Gallery picture lights to LED.
Hesp & Jones, specialist decorators and painters have been involved across the entire project.
Houghtons of York have been responsible for the architectural joinery and carving in the Tapestry Drawing Room.
Pinnacle Conservation, specialists in restoring historic buildings, cleaned and repaired the glass skylight above the Grand Staircase and China Landing, and installed the picture fittings in the Long Gallery.
Cheryl Quinn, curtain making specialist, re-dressed the curtains in the Long Gallery.
Jeremy Rothman Carvers & Gilders created bespoke furniture, modelled on historical examples, for the Tapestry Drawing Room and Long Gallery.
Alison Stanton, textile conservator, stabilised the Four Seasons tapestries for the Tapestry Drawing Room.
Sculpsteel, specialists in metalwork, fabricated the picture fittings for the Long Gallery
Switched Solutions, electrical contractors, have installed picture lighting for the Long Gallery and Grand Staircase.
Watts 1874, textile designers and producers, created many of the fabrics and trimmings.
Wilkinson Ltd, chandelier makers and restorers, refurbished the two historic Tatham chandeliers in the Long Gallery, and created a third chandelier for the Octagon.