Mount Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Stewart |
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Mount Stewart, April 2011
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| Built | 1820–1839 |
| Built for | Marquess of Londonderry |
| Architect | George Dance, William Vitruvius Morrison |
| Owner | National Trust |
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Listed Building – Grade A
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| Designated | 20 December 1976 |
| Reference no. | HB24/04/052 A |
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Mount Stewart is a beautiful house and garden from the 1800s. It is located in County Down, Northern Ireland. The National Trust now owns it.
Mount Stewart sits on the eastern shore of Strangford Lough. It is close to the towns of Newtownards and Greyabbey. This was once the home of the Stewart family, also known as the Marquesses of Londonderry. The house and its treasures show the family's important role in British and Irish history.
Contents
History of Mount Stewart
The Stewart Family Home
The story of Mount Stewart began in 1744. A man named Alexander Stewart bought the original property, called Mount Pleasant. The Stewarts were a wealthy family of farmers and linen merchants. Their money grew even more when Alexander married the sister of Robert Cowan. Robert Cowan was a governor in India for the East India Company.
The Stewarts became very important in the area. Alexander's son, Robert Stewart, became the Earl of Londonderry in 1795. Later, in 1816, he became a Marquess. His son, Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (often called Castlereagh), became a key political leader.
Castlereagh helped unite Ireland with Great Britain. He then became Britain's Foreign Secretary. He played a big part in forming alliances that defeated Napoleon.
In 1803, Castlereagh decided to make the house grander. He chose the architect George Dance to design new rooms. Some furniture in the house today shows Castlereagh's career. This includes a portrait of Napoleon and special chairs. These chairs were made for the leaders who met at the Congress of Vienna to redraw the map of Europe.
Mount Stewart During the 1798 Rebellion
In 1798, there was a rebellion in Ireland. For a few days in June, rebels briefly took over Mount Stewart. After the fighting, the wife of a local minister, James Porter, came to the house. She begged for her husband's life. Lady Londonderry was moved by her plea. However, James Porter was later hanged outside his church.
The Vane-Tempest-Stewarts and House Changes
Castlereagh passed away in 1822. His half-brother, Charles, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry, then owned the house. Charles had been an ambassador in Europe. He married Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest. She was a very rich heiress.
Charles decided to make Mount Stewart much larger. He changed the outside of the house to how it looks today. The small Georgian house was replaced. A large entrance with columns was added.
Lady Frances Anne was also known for her kindness. During a difficult time in Ireland, she helped her tenants. She lowered their rents and even cancelled them for some. This was a big help to many families.
The marriage also brought a lot of land and coal mines in England to the family. The family bought other grand homes, including Wynyard Park and Londonderry House in London.
In 1854, a memorial tower was built for the 3rd Marquess. It is called Scrabo Tower and is north of Mount Stewart.
For a while, later Marquesses lived in other family homes. This meant Mount Stewart was not always looked after as well.
Mount Stewart and Politics
Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry (1852–1915) returned to live at Mount Stewart. He and his wife, Lady Theresa Talbot, became leaders against Irish Home Rule. This was a movement for Ireland to have its own government.
Lady Theresa was a strong organizer. She helped prepare for possible armed resistance. She even offered Mount Stewart as a place for injured people if there was a conflict.
In 1913, the German Emperor visited Germany. He talked about the gardens at Mount Stewart. He said they must be very beautiful. He compared managing gardens to managing countries.
A Visit from a German Ambassador
In 1921, the 7th Marquess, Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, became a minister in the new Northern Ireland government. Later, in 1935, he had to leave his job as Air Minister in London.
In May 1936, the 7th Marquess entertained the German Ambassador, Joachim von Ribbentrop, at Mount Stewart. This visit became a big news story. The house still has a small porcelain statue given as a gift from a German official.
The 7th Marquess, Charles, passed away in 1949. He is buried in the family graveyard on the estate.
The 7th Marchioness, Edith Halen Chaplin, loved gardens. She was inspired by the gardens at her childhood home in Scotland. She redesigned the gardens at Mount Stewart. She created themed areas like the Italian, Spanish, and Mairi gardens. She also added the Dodo Terrace with its fun animal statues. Lady Edith also redecorated many rooms inside the house.
Given to the National Trust
The last family member to live at Mount Stewart was Lady Mairi Bury. She was the daughter of the 7th Marquess. In 1977, Lady Mairi gave the house and most of its contents to the National Trust. She also gave money to help care for it. Lady Mairi was born in the house and lived there full-time. She passed away at Mount Stewart in 2009, at the age of 88.
Mount Stewart Today
The National Trust took over Mount Stewart in 1977. They manage the property for everyone to enjoy.
In 1999, the gardens were considered for a special list. This list is for places that could become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 2015, the National Trust finished a big project. They restored the house and its contents. They also bought more land around the estate. This means more of the estate can now be visited by the public.
The House at Mount Stewart
The house you see today was mostly built by the 3rd Marquess. He started making changes in the 1830s. He wanted a neo-classical style.
The main entrance was moved to the center of the north side. A large entrance porch with Ionic columns was added. Two domes were put on the roof. One lights the main hall, and another lights a room nearby.
Some parts of the old house were kept. But many new rooms were added. The most important new room is the Drawing Room. It looks out onto the beautiful gardens.
A private chapel was added after the 3rd Marquess died in 1854. It has stained glass windows and Italian paintings.
The National Trust's restoration in 2015 brought the house back to how it looked in the 1950s. This was when Lady Edith, the seventh Marchioness, lived there. The main hall has a restored checkered stone floor. This floor was first laid by the 3rd Marquess.
Mount Stewart Gardens
The 7th Marchioness, Lady Edith, redesigned the gardens. She made them very grand. She took advantage of the mild climate in the area. Mount Stewart is on the Ards Peninsula. It gets warm, humid weather from the North Atlantic Drift. This allows many tropical plants to grow well here.
Before Lady Edith, the gardens were mostly plain lawns. She added many new features. These include the Shamrock Garden, the Sunken Garden, and the Spanish Garden. She also created the Italian Garden and the Dodo Terrace with its fun cement animals. She made the lake bigger and created walking paths.
Lady Edith realized that the area's climate was perfect for plants. The Gulf Stream warms Strangford Lough. There is little frost, and the air is humid. This means many plants that usually need a greenhouse can grow outside.
In 1957, Lady Edith gave the gardens to the National Trust.
The Estate
The Mount Stewart estate today covers about 950 acres (360 hectares). It has a large lake, many old buildings, and monuments.
Temple of the Winds
The Temple of the Winds is a special building on the estate. It looks out over Strangford Lough. It was designed by architect James 'Athenian' Stuart in 1782–83.
The building was inspired by an ancient tower in Athens, Greece. This tower showed the eight wind gods from Greek mythology. Many large country houses in the UK have similar "temples." These were inspired by buildings owners saw on their travels.
Filming Location
The house was used as a filming location for a children's TV show. It appeared in the third series of the BBC show The Sparticle Mystery.
See also
In Spanish: Mount Stewart para niños
- Dunduff Castle, South Ayrshire, property of the ancestors of the Stewarts of Mount Stewart
Other homes of the Marquesses of Londonderry:
- Londonderry House in London
- Plas Machynlleth in Wales
- Seaham Hall in County Durham
- Wynyard Park in County Durham
- Loring Hall in Kent
