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

 

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

Highclere Insider : David Sox

The Man Who Knew Too Much

 A NEW BOOK 

 CONTENTS

                         Due for Publication in 2022

                          By William Cross, FSA Scot

William Cross is the author of “The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon”  ( 2011)  - the first published account that raised  the question of the paternity issue involving Henry “Porchey” the 6^th Earl of Carnarvon.

 

Book Chapters in Outline currently  include:

 

Who  was David Sox? A Biographical Sketch including his life/ career in USA and UK and anecdotes from people who knew him.

 

David Sox and his links with the Shroud of Turin.

 

The Betrayal of Trust by David  Sox: The Conspiracy  re: The  Carbon Dating of the Turin Shroud : 1988

 

BBC Timewatch : David Sox As A Documentary  Presenter – An Insight from the director/producer NC

 

David Sox As Author of books on  The Turin Shroud, Bohemian Artists,   Art Forgeries and  The Quakers - Reviews

 

Highclere Castle – Seat of the Carnarvon Family : A Pictorial  History

 

A Note on Highclere Castle’s  Earls and Countesses –  Lords- Ladies- Sinners and Bastards

 

Opening Up Highclere Castle to the General  Public- 7^th Earl of Carnarvon- From 1988

 

Early  Biographies of Almina,  5^th Countess of Carnarvon 1990-2006 by Winstone/ OH

 

The Paternity Question : Henry   6^th Earl of Carnarvon  And Prince Victor Duleep Singh :  “A Mess of Pottage” – Who knew of the rumour/gossip  and when? A further appraisal.

 

1994 : David Sox Becomes a Guide at Highclere Castle

 

1996 : The  Proposed Biography of Almina Carnarvon by David Sox 

 

Tony Leadbetter  - Leadbetter’s Collection of Almina memorabilla, his history and interaction with  Sox and Almina’s other biographers Winstone/OH/Cross

 

1996 : The Great Deceit : An appraisal of the infamous letter on what Sox  claimed he found in Highclere Archives – first mentioned in Cross’ 2011 Almina biography

 

1996-2001 : David Sox  Unmasked : The Aftermath  of Sox’s Biography of Almina  : “The Man Who Knew Too Much”

 

A Review by WPC of the Sox Biography of Almina – Why Highclere could never publish the Sox manuscript

 

2001 and 2006: Some of Almina Carnarvon’s Secret Life Exposed in Two Books

 

2011 : Two New Biographies  Published on Almina, Countess of Carnarvon one by William Cross, FSA Scot, the other by Highclere Castle for Downton Abbey fans

 

2012 : “Lordy! ” A Book on the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon Published – The new evidence on the paternity question

 

2013 : “Catherine and Tilly: Porchey Carnarvon’s Two Duped Wives” -Published- More new evidence on the paternity question

 

2013 – The Documentary That Never Was: Broken Promises and Missed Chances

 

2016-2022 – Obituaries on David Sox and Reflections ( gathered by William Cross)  by those who knew him, friends and foes

 

2016 – “Carnarvon,  Carter and Tutankhamn Revisted” – Published-  additional new evidence on the paternity question revealed

 

2019 : “ Prince Victor Duleep Singh and The Curse of the Carnarvons” –Published  new evidence added on the paternity question

 

2019 –  To date : Interest Sparked by a New Documentary to come in 2022-

 

2022 – Revisiting the authenticity of the Shroud of Turin – Easter 2022

 

2022 – A New Book “ More on Prince Victor Duleep Singh and The Curse of the Carnarvons” The Final Twists – From William Cross, FSA Scot

Epilogue, Conclusions,  Last Thoughts

Appendices: Various : Verbatim Testimonies: Including  evidence revealed  to WPC ( on tape) then  withheld by some too scared to  go public on what they know

Enquiries - Please contact the Author William Cross 

                                        By email

                                williecross@aol.com

David Sox: The Man Who Knew Too Much- An Investigation by William Cross, FSA Scot

 

Highclere Insider - David Sox

The Man Who Knew Too Much

         An Investigation  

 By William Cross, FSA Scot

 

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

In the 1990s, in the aftermath of being snubbed for unprofessional conduct by his 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 (the backdrop to ʻDownton Abbey’).

Sox, an American by birth, soon had his feet under the table and proved a popular figure with tourists and the 7th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.

The new guide soon saw an opportunity to endear himself to his employers by suggesting a biography of Almina, the 5th Countess of Carnarvon, the 7th Earl’s beloved ʻgranny’ and the widow of the 5th Earl, of ʻOld King Tut’ fame.

Sox’s research went ahead and with access to the Highclere Archives he collected information and interviewed a dozen people who knew Almina. There were skeletons in Almina’s closet, Sox found himself the man who knew too much. One controversy arose around tales of Almina’s only son, Porchey later the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, that his true father was Prince Victor Duleep Singh, a close friend of the 5th Earl and son of the last Maharaja of Lahore.

In a letter written by Sox he confided the paternity issue to Almina’s godson, Tony Leadbetter, implying he had found something in the Highclere Archives about it. But had he? The Carnarvons dithered about what they should do next. In a clever stroke, in order to provoke a result, Sox sent his manuscript around the world to would be publishers. What happened thereafter and the bizarre events ever since, has given rise to decades of leaks, questions and prevarication.

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

ISBN 10 1905914741 ISBN 13 9781905914746

ENQUIRIES : PLEASE EMAIL WILLIAM CROSS

williecross@aol.com

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

David Sox : Highclere Guide : Some Secrets Are NO Secrets At All

 

                          

                              Highclere Castle, Berkshire : Seat of the Carnarvon/Herbert family

Highclere Castle Guide :  David Sox

Some Secrets Are No Secrets At All

 

David Sox ( 1936-2016) – full name  Rev. Harold David Sox  was a guide at Highclere Castle for close on  3 years.

 

Highclere is,  of course,  the Carnarvon– Herbert family seat near Newbury, in Berkshire. Now-a-days the backdrop to TV and Movieland’s  famous Downton Abbey.

                                                           Prince Victor Duleep Singh

In the 1990s and the decades that followed :

It was NO SECRET amongst some of Highclere’s  senior staff  that Prince Victor Duleep Singh  was the father of Henry,  the 6^th Earl of Carnarvon (Almina’s only son)

It was NO SECRET amongst tenants  living on the Highclere Estate that Prince Victor Duleep Singh  was the father of Henry,  the 6^th Earl of Carnarvon (Almina’s only son)

It was NO SECRET amongst many in the ranks of the British Aristocracy that Prince Victor Duleep Singh  was the father of Henry,  the 6^th Earl of Carnarvon, (only son of the 5^th Countess, Almina).

 

Henry, 6th Earl of Carnarvon

                                       In Short

      Some Secrets Are NO SECRETS At All

 

More in a New Book In 2022

“ David Sox: Highclere Insider

The Man Who Knew Too Much”

 An Investigation by William  Cross, FSA Scot

                        ISBN 13 9781905914746

ENQUIRIES : PLEASE CONTACT  THE AUTHOR WILLIAM CROSS, FSA SCOT 

BY EMAIL

 

williecross@aol.com 

 

William Cross is the Author of several books on the Carnarvons of Highclere Castle including   the best selling  " The Life and Secrets of Almina Carnarvon" -from 2011 - the first published biography of the Countess. 

 

David Sox : Highclere Guide : A Snake In The Grass

                                                                                                        

                                         David Sox

A Snake In The Grass

                                

Rev H. David Sox  was  a part-time clergyman,  author of books on the Shroud of Turin. 

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

During his long association with  Shroud history Sox was charged with deceit,  of underhand methods of research and leaking secret data to the press. He scored a big success with one of his books on the authenticity of the  Shroud  by including classified information that was not to be published.   

Sox was the ultimate snake in the grass. Always waiting, but ready to pounce.

Yet, he was an engaging, dapper,  and convincing character and popular with everyone at Highclere Castle working for the 7th Earl and Countess of Carnarvon.  

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

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

Highclere 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 went ahead and he interviewed many of Almina's family, friends and deadly enemies. 

Almina had many skeletons in the closet.

The material supplied to Sox by Almina's godson, the late Tony Leadbetter, was highly controversial, laced with details of Almina's  colourful life that Highclere could never let enter the public domain. 

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

Sox claimed he'd found in Highclere Archives details of this  a scandal relating to the paternity of the 6th Earl of Carnarvon.

The Rev. H. David Sox had his big headline grab for a book and knew it was a money spinner. 

But  Sox  was the " The Man Who Knew Too Much"

Did Sox - an expert on forgery and fakers- really find anything incriminating in Highclere Archives?

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.

NB : A new book in 2022 will provide the answers. 

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

ISBN 9781905914746

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

MORE INFORMATION WANTED

Enquiries about this article contact williecross@aol.com

Highclere’s Insider : David Sox “The Man Who Knew Too Much”

 

Highclere’s  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 dry rot, damp patches and fixing 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  has increased  its coffers on to 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 incumbent, 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  history and offer them  lavish  pampering,  supreme hospitality  and old style 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 although flawed in places was fairly exhaustive and thorough. Then a huge bomb dropped on him when he made a startling  discovery in the Archives, about a  family scandal that, if true, could have monumental consequences to undermine the Herbert family’s succession.

Besides what Sox says he found in Highclere Archives, several of the people  Sox interviewed revealed stories about Almina that were none too pleasant. 

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

 The nature of  David Sox secrets, especially what he says he found in Highclere 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 of Almina  and discovery in Highclere Archives, the unpublished biography of the 5th Countess  of Carnarvon  has tantalised various   researchers,  journalists  and even TV companies, and Sox was  frequently pursued for enquiry, comment and truth.

 

In 2011, as a further money spinner, Highclere produced its own biography of Almina, a watered down  accompaniment for Downton Abbey fans. 

Only the Society author William Cross, FSA Scot  has revealed some of  Almina's misdeeds in his  past publications, including reference to Sox’s researches  and  Highclere’s quandary.  Sox  died in 2016, leaving behind  fears of a wider disclosure of further scandals about Almina.

The real "scandal" revolves around the integrity of David Sox.

Sox has left behind much confusion but still unanswered questions about his original discoveries.

Did Sox - an expert on forgery and fakers- really find anything incriminating in Highclere Archives?

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.

NB : A new book in 2022 will provide the answers. 

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

ISBN 9781905914746

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

MORE INFORMATION WANTED

Enquiries about this article contact williecross@aol.com