The Carnarvons of Highclere
(Downton Abbey) know a thing or two about
raising revenue to pay for dry
rot, damp patches and fixing the proverbial leak in the roof.
The exposure of the Herbert family’s Highclere Castle
as the back drop to the well known TV/
film epics has increased its coffers on to a grand scale.
In the late 1980s Highclere first opened its doors to the public with a flurry of
excitement and neat timing about previously unknown Tutankhamun artefacts. The 5th Earl was of course
co-discoverer with Howard Carter of the tomb of the boy King.
Later in the 1990s Highclere’s then incumbent, the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, better known as Lord Porchester, the Queen’s Racing Manager, together with his American Countess wife, Jeanie Wallop,
were keen to attract American visitors,
with American dollars to their Berkshire Estate.
With a reputation for forking out mega bucks to hear all about
the English gentry’s life style, past
and present, it was a sure money spinner to seek and aim at Americans craving
history and offer them lavish pampering, supreme hospitality and old style hunting, shooting and fishing.
So grabbing the huge American tourist
market became part of Highclere’s business plan.
What better sweetener for the would be visitors from New York,
Los Angeles and Wyoming than for a fellow American to act as the house
guide to receive them.. The guide had to be someone who stood out as suave, articulate, personable, witty, equally attractive
to the eye and ear. It all made perfect business sense.
Enter Rev. H. David Sox as Highclere’s resident history expert
in the 1990s.
The idea worked, the
Americans came and for several years this man Sox continued
as one of Highclere’s most popular insider figures above and below the Castle’s hierarchy, respected by the 7th Earl and
Countess, adored by visitors and liked if not more often revered by other Highclere staff.
Sox was a part-time clergyman, author of books on the Shroud of Turin, and
an art aficionado. He oozed self- importance and had an inherent ruthlessness
that made him reach out for any
opportunity to raise his own reputation and notoriety.
That opportunity came
when Sox approached the 7th Earl about writing a biography
of Almina, Countess of Carnarvon, the
Earl’s beloved ‘granny’ – the widow of the 5th Earl of Old King Tut fame.
The idea of Sox’s biography received the green light. He was
given unfettered access to Highclere Archives, and although Almina had died aged
93, in 1969, there were many people still alive who knew her and numerous sources to tap into about her extraordinary
life and times.
Sox’s work although flawed in places was fairly exhaustive and thorough. Then a huge bomb dropped on him when he made a startling discovery in the Archives, about a family scandal that, if true, could have
monumental consequences to undermine the Herbert family’s succession.
Besides what Sox says he found in Highclere Archives, several of the people Sox interviewed revealed stories about Almina that were none too pleasant.
Sox realised he was the man who knew too much. What was he
to do with his secrets?
The nature of David Sox secrets, especially what he says he found in Highclere Archives and what he did with the information has lain
festering in the long grass for 25 years. Now in the run up
to the Tutankhamun centenary it
is time to reopen this other tomb with an examination of Rev. H. David Sox, his life’s work, research and legacy and
revisit and update the facts with
reflections on the circumstances that forced him to abandon the Almina project – that led to Highclere burying the
proposed biography.
In the long aftermath
of David Sox’s study of Almina and discovery in
Highclere Archives, the unpublished biography of the 5th Countess of Carnarvon has tantalised various researchers,
journalists and even TV companies,
and Sox was frequently pursued for enquiry,
comment and truth.
In 2011, as a further money spinner, Highclere produced its own biography of Almina, a watered down accompaniment for Downton Abbey fans.
Only the Society author William Cross, FSA Scot has revealed some of Almina's misdeeds in his past publications, including reference to Sox’s researches and Highclere’s quandary. Sox died in 2016, leaving behind fears of a wider disclosure of further scandals about Almina.
Sox has left
behind much confusion but still unanswered questions about his original
discoveries.
Did Sox - an expert on forgery and fakers- really find anything incriminating in Highclere Archives?
Who knows the truth? Who is willing to tell what they know? Who is
too scared ?
It is time to settle this part of Highclere’s history once
and for all.
NB : A new book in 2022 will provide the answers.
"Highclere Insider - David Sox : The Man Who Knew Too Much"
ISBN 9781905914746
MORE INFORMATION WANTED
Enquiries about this article contact williecross@aol.com
