Afternoon Tea with the Countess of Carnarvon: The Earl and the Pharoah: From the Real Downton Abbey to the Discovery of Tutankhamun

Friday 31 May, 2 - 3:30pm, Museum of Making

Kindly sponsored by Smith Partnership

The discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1923 would be the most astonishing archaeological find of the century, revealing not only the boy pharaoh’s preserved remains, but thousands of finely crafted objects, including the iconic gold mask.

Two men were ultimately responsible for the discovery: Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon, who held the concession to excavate and whose passion and ability to finance the project enabled it to take place.

The Earl and the Pharaoh tells the story of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon whose life, money and sudden death became front-page world news following the discovery of the tomb, fuelling rumours that persist today of ‘the curse of the pharaohs’.

His beloved home, Highclere Castle, is today best-known as the set of Downton Abbey.

The Countess will be in conversation with Dr Ruth Larsen, Senior Lecturer at the University of Derby.