THE MANY FACES OF ALMINA CARNARVON
SUBJECT OF TWO BIOGRAPHIES
Today, 14 April 2026, is the 150th anniversary of the
birth of Almina Wombwell, later 5th Countess of Carnarvon, chatelaine
for almost 30 years of
There are two biographies of the extraordinary Almina, my book “ The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon”, and “Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey”, from Highclere’s stable.
The two works are polls apart in terms of sources used, in content and the years covered. The books stack up for closer scrutiny and integrity. One book was produced under the auspices of a worldwide kingdom of a major publishing house, whilst the other was compiled single-handed over three years, by me, an experienced historical researcher, antiquarian and a Fellow of the Antiquaries of Scotland.
I was refused access to the Herbert family sources at its stately home at Highclere and the files hidden and forbidden that lie within the Archives of Highclere Castle, Hampshire, England, a place now a veritable shrine, an iconic a structure that television has turned into a glorified biscuit- tin image in adverts and programme breaks.
My book is culled from devouring everything almost ever written about Almina and her first husband, George Herbert, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, the famed discoverer, with Howard Carter of Tutankhamun.
That assault course involved delving into numerous British, European and American Archives, The Royal Archives at Windsor Castle, the Rothschild Archives, London, the National Archives at Kew and the British Library among them- as well as papers and diaries held in private hands.
Testimonies were gathered far and wide from many people who knew Almina, or knew about her. This was an epic process which began long before television, press or public made Highclere a universal phallus. Importantly, my book draws on the personal testimony about Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon from her late godson, Anthony ( Tony ) Leadbetter ( 1938-2019). Tony actually lived with Almina for almost thirty years of her very long, colourful life. His Aunt Alice Butler and his mother, Anne Leadbetter, were Almina's housekeepers from 1935 until 1969. If anyone knows what Almina was like it is Tony Leadbetter. There is no one in the Herbert family who has this experience of living under the same roof, for the same duration with Almina over a number of the decades of life, and now, reliably, lovingly recalling her voice, her memories and from a time when she was finally free at last to speak out candidly and frankly about her life and about those she knew, and loved and some whom she hated.
A writer and a publisher should always strive for indisputable accuracy and objectivity. The unvarnished truth about Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon is much too big to be suppressed, and that's why one of these books about her whole life, not a half life, half told, but all her life, told with a sense for seeking out the truth, will endure, with integrity, as her definitive biography, whilst the other will surely only be a minor accompaniment to a highly overrated television fiction.
The Life Secrets of Almina Carnarvon, Third Edition, is still available on ebay .
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204794598968
For further details please contact William Cross, by e-mail, williecross@aol.com
William Cross, FSA Scot
14 April 2026, Newport, South Wales
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