News/Events
Castle Hill will be hosting its first Wedding Fair organised by Wow Wedding Shows on Sunday 18th April. There will be numerous exhibitors to talk to including photographers, florists, jewellers, caterers, entertainers, marquee companies to mention a few. There will be two fashion shows during the day and the chance to wander around the spectacular gardens and appreciate all the wonderful photo opportunities for yourself. Be sure to put it in your diary. More details will follow shortly with a link to the Wedding Fair website.
Castle Hill will also be exhibiting at the Powderham Castle Wedding Fair on the 27th and 28th February 2010.
AN EPIC ADVENTURE AT CASTLE HILL
Many of you will have watched BBC2’s The Restaurant on 17th December which was filmed at Castle Hill. For those of you who missed this epic culinary adventure, well all I can say is you missed an extraordinary programme.
The final was filmed in July and so none of us had actually seen the potential finalists and so there was great anticipation as to the marvelous banquet we were going to enjoy. Lady Arran had suggested the menu of truly mouthwatering dishes that are frequently cooked by first class chefs in the Castle Hill kitchens – a clear soup with a julienne of vegetables - notoriously difficult to execute well, a risotto using wonderful vegetables from the kitchen garden, scallops, locally produced beef and a hot soufflé for dessert which is a specialty of the Castle Hill kitchens. The final contestants should have no problem in producing this wonderful menu – after all they had got through seven rounds to make it to Castle Hill.
Greeted at the door by Robert, the Butler, the four finalists looked absolutely petrified. They were then shown into Lady Arran’s sitting room and the rather bemused looks that passed between them as they listened to the proposed menu were the first signs of the disaster that lay ahead. Preparation for the dinner caused more consternation as one team followed orders and selected their veg from the Castle Hill kitchen garden, whilst the second team ordered everything by phone from the supermarket…
The guests arrived oblivious to the culinary adventure they were about to embark on. Blinis overloaded with salmon and crème fraiche were impossible to eat without dribbling down one’s chin or dropping on a blazer front. Once seated we all waited in trepidation as one disastrous course was followed by another. JJ and Jamie’s risotto was the piece de resistance – wallpaper paste was a polite way of describing it. The soufflé was another highlight – Robert watched aghast as JJ added flour to the soup which was the soufflé. The upside of the whole evening was the hilarity and the fact that none of us succumbed to food poisoning.
With the numerous private dinners, weddings and corporate events that are regularly held at Castle Hill, the kitchens have never seen the like before! Role on Masterchef…
110 Years of Service ends
3 people have reached retirement after a total of 110 years working at Castle Hill.
Pictured here with Lady Arran are John Hussell (46 years), Dick Cross (34 years) and Raymond Harris (20 years). John and Raymond will still continue to work part time.
John worked in the forrestry department, Dick on the farm and in the gardens and Raymond in the gardens.
A dinner to celebrate 25 years of the North Devon Hospice was held in the West Wing at Castle Hill on the 21st August 2009.
 © Jayne Poole Photography | | | | |  © Jayne Poole Photography | | A couple of models exhibiting bridalware at Castle Hill |
Rehearsal for a Baroque concert being held in Castle Hill's West Wing.
We were delighted to continue welcoming groups of Brend Tours and Shearings Holidays visitors.
Lunch is a good opportunity for guests to discover more about the family history, the house and the gardens. | |  | |
Other News
Country Life Magazine (May 7th 2008 page 116) have nominated Castle Hill Gardens as one of the 10 Best Days Out in the West Country. www.countrylife.co.uk
In the January 7th 2009 edition of Country Life Magazine a feature on Castle Hill was published, written by Tony Russell with photographs by Clive Nichols. Read Feature 
| On the Estate's East Clatworthy Farm milking has started of the new herd of British Friesian and Friesian X cows following a major refurbishment of the dairy. | |  | |