David Sox : Highclere Guide "The Man Who Knew Too Much" : A New Book for 2022

 

Highclere Insider 

David Sox

                 The Man Who Knew Too Much                                

The Rev. Harold David Sox, (1936-2016), was an American,  part-time clergyman, and author of several books on the Shroud of Turin. 

In the 1990s, in the shadow of being snubbed for unprofessional conduct by his colleagues in the Shroud Community, Rev. Sox took a job as a visitor/tour guide at Highclere Castle (the backdrop to TV's "Downton Abbey").   

During his long association with the Turin  Shroud history Sox was charged with  underhand methods of research and leaking secret data to the press on attempts to carbon date the mysterious relic. 

To his delight and bank balance Sox scored a major coup with one of his books on appraising the authenticity of the Turin Shroud  by including classified information that was not to be published.   

Not  quite what you would expect from a man of the cloth. 

Sox was a convincing double dealer. Engaging, dapper, a popular figure with everyone at Highclere Castle working for Henry Porchester, the 7th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.  Visitors adored him, especially Americans.

                                                              

                                             Ophiuchus! The Serpent Bearer

David Sox's style was to "look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent under it". 

It was well staged. 

 

Sitting Pretty : King Charles I on horseback

Sox very soon had his feet under the dining room table sitting pretty like King Charles I does on his horse inside Highclere Castle.

The Highclere Earl and Countess clearly knew nothing about Sox's chequered past. 

Before too long Sox saw an opportunity to  write a biography of  Almina, 5th 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 research full speed  ahead. He interviewed many of Almina's family, friends and others but soon found a downside - Almina had several skeletons in the closet.

                                  

                            Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon in her glam period

It became clear that some material supplied to Sox by Almina's godson, the late Tony Leadbetter, was controversial, laced with details of the Countess's colourful life that Highclere could never let enter into the public domain. 

To dwarf  all that,  several people on Highclere Estate and elsewhere told Sox of the rumours around one issue that was the most damaging - that Almina's only son was illegitimate. 

Sox also claimed  he'd found in Highclere Archives details of this  a scandal relating to the paternity of the 6th Earl of Carnarvon.  But Sox was an expect on forgery, did he really find anything in Highclere Archives?

One thing was clear - Sox  was 

 " The Man Who Knew Too Much"

NB : Based on an investigation by William Cross, FSA Scot, author of several book on the Carnarvons, a new book in 2022 will try to 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

David Sox : Highclere Insider

The Man Who Knew Too Much

A NEW BOOK BY WILLIAM CROSS FSA SCOT