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with one of his books on appraising the authenticity of the Turin Shroud  by including classified information that was not to be published.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

Rev H. David Sox : Highclere Guide - The Man With Two Faces

 

The Two Faces of Rev. H  David Sox

Highclere Insider - David Sox

 The Man Who Knew Too Much

 An Investigation by William  Cross, FSA Scot

In the 1990s, in the shadow of being snubbed for unprofessional conduct by his past colleagues in the Turin Shroud Community, Rev. H.David Sox,  author and part time clergyman,  took a job as a visitor guide at Highclere Castle working for the 7^th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.   

Sox soon had his feet under the dining room table, sitting pretty, like King Charles I on his horse. 

Sox was ingenious at acting out his two faces,  one as Mr Nice Guy, the other the Serpent underneath. 

Highclere obviously knew nothing about Sox's chequered past and tarnished reputation.

The new guide soon  saw an opportunity to stand out  from the herd, and  endear himself to  his employers by  writing a biography of  Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon, the 7th Earl’s beloved ‘granny’ – the widow of George Herbert,  the 5th Earl of Old King Tut fame.

Sox's research went ahead, he collected information and interviewed many of Almina's family, friends and enemies.  

Almina had skeletons in the closet. The material Sox unearthed  was highly controversial, laced with details of Almina's  colourful life that Highclere could never let enter the public domain. 

To dwarf it all,  several informants  spoke of  the rumours around one issue that was earth shattering and damning -  namely, that Almina's only son,  Porchey,  later 6th Earl of Carnarvon was illegitimate. 

Sox  had his big headline grabber and - an expert on forgery and faking -  claimed in a letter that he'd found details  in Highclere Archives  to support  the paternity scandal.  

The Carnarvons were troubled. Sox was the man who knew too much. 

The Carnarvons dithered.  In a clever stroke, to provoke  a result,  Sox  sent his  Almina manuscript around would-be publishers. Although there was no mention of the paternity issue it still  portrayed Almina in a very bad light. 

What happened thereafter  and the bizarre events since,  has given rise to decades of leaks, questions and prevarication. 

William Cross, FSA Scot, author of several books on the Carnarvons, investigates the  story and reveals a trail of lies, deceit and hypocrisy.

 

ISBN 10 1905914741  ISBN 13 9781905914746

Published by William P. Cross Book Midden Publishing

Newport Gwent  NP19 7JF, United Kingdom 

THE NEW BOOK WILL BE PUBLISHED IN 2022

EMAIL ENQUIRIES  : williecross@aol.com 

David Sox : Highclere Guide : Did Sox Fake His Letter to Tony Leadbetter About Prince Victor Duleep Singh?

                                  PRINCE VICTOR DULEEP SINGH 

                AND PORCHEY CARNARVON

                      PROOF OF PATERNITY

Left : Victor Duleep Singh -Middle : Porchey Carnarvon 

Right : Lord George Carnarvon

WAS  DAVID SOX’S LETTER  OF 1 JUNE 1996 FAKED?

David Sox ( 1936-2016)  : A Guide at Highclere Castle in the 1990s, author of books on the Turin Shroud and on forgery and faking

Tony Leadbetter ( 1938-2019)  : Godson of Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon

 A letter  was sent  by  David Sox to Tony Leadbetter on 1 June 1996. FACT

The letter claims that Sox made a discovery in Highclere Archives ( quite by accident)  that Prince Victor Duleep Singh was the father of  the Sixth Earl of Carnarvon. FACT
 
The letter is flawed, as it contains historical errors about the name of Prince Victor’s own father. FACT

Sox was questioned in 2014 about what he found in Highclere Archives  he answered that he found nothing. FACT

If Sox found nothing in Highclere Archives  did he lie in the letter of 1 June 1996  to Tony Leadbetter?

 
It has been mooted by others that when Sox was asked in 2014 to cite details of his source in Highclere Archives,  he'd forgotten ( or chose to forget) that he'd written  a letter to Tony Leadbetter in 1996. 

Based on Sox’s underhand  methods of leaking and lying to suit his own ends on the carbon testing of the Turin Shroud his antics almost answers the question and the trail researched  raises a reasonable doubt about Sox's integrity and truthfulness.

This Author was cautioned by a contemporary of Sox’s who was  involved in the Shroud history. The advice was  that nothing Sox claimed should be believed unless there is independent proof of it or corroboration.

No one has ever verified that Sox  found anything in Highclere Archives on Porchey's father being Prince Victor. FACT  

Sox was told by several people ( who knew)  that Porchey Carnarvon was believed to be the son of Prince Victor Duleep Singh. FACT

It was a common belief on the Highclere Estate that Porchey was Victor’s son. FACT

This Author has been told by a number of credible  informants that Prince Victor Duleep Singh was the father of Porchey, later 6th Earl of Carnarvon 

If Sox knew  this information about Victor  before 1 June 1996 ( and received it from a source elsewhere)  it casts doubts on his letter to Tony Leadbetter as being anything other than  skulduggery and deception on Sox’s part.

By making a claim of  the discovery of something in Highclere Archives, was Sox  looking to hold a gun to the head of the Carnarvons? 

Or, more likely,  was this  act a part of a cunning plan to shower himself in glory as he did when he leaked the carbon dating results and then went on to write a book ?

Did Sox tell anyone other than Tony Leadbetter of his discovery ?

Sox began his researches into Almina, 5th Countess of Carnarvon in July 1995, ( supported evidence is held). i.e.  so a considerable time elapsed before his letter of 1 June 1996  

William Cross, FSA Scot

All Will Be Revealed In A Book in 2022

 

"Highclere Insider - David Sox : The Man Who Knew Too Much"

 

By William Cross, FSA Scot

 

ISBN 9781905914746

 

https://highclere-truths.yolasite.com/

 Any queries contact the Author  by email
williecross@aol.com
4th   January 2022 

Lord Porchester, later Henry, 6th Earl of Carnarvon

 

Highclere Castle Insider : Rev. H. David Sox
“The Man Who Knew Too Much”

The Carnarvons of Highclere (Downton Abbey) know a thing or two about raising revenue to pay for fixing dry rot, damp patches and mending 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  Downton Abbey has increased its coffers on 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 incumbents, 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 oldy world history and offer them lavish pampering, supreme hospitality and the high life's 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 was exhaustive and thorough. Then a bomb dropped upon him when he made an startling discovery in the Archives about a family scandal that, if true, could have monumental consequences to undermine the Herbert family’s succession.

Sox realised he was the man who knew too much. What was he to do with his secret?

The nature of what David Sox found in the 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 and discovery in Highclere Archives, the unpublished biography of Almina has tantalised and teased  various researchers, journalists and even TV companies, and Sox frequently pursued for enquiry, comment and the hidden truth.

Only the Society author William Cross, FSA Scot has revealed in past publications, the nature of Sox’s find and Highclere’s quandary. Sox died in 2016, leaving behind fears of a wider disclosure. He has left behind much confusion but still unanswered questions about his original discovery. 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.

E-MAIL ALL ENQUIRIES ABOUT THIS POSTING

 

williecross@aol.com