Mount Stuart House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Stuart House |
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East front of Mount Stuart House
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| Location | Isle of Bute, Scotland |
| Built | 1879–1900 |
| Architect | Sir Robert Rowand Anderson |
| Architectural style(s) | Gothic Revival |
| Governing body | Privately owned |
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Listed Building – Category A
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| Designated | 20 July 1971 |
| Reference no. | LB12052 |
Mount Stuart House is a grand country home located on the east coast of the Isle of Bute in Scotland. It is the historic family home of the Marquesses of Bute. This amazing house was built in the Gothic Revival style, which means it looks like old medieval castles and cathedrals.
The famous architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson designed Mount Stuart House. Construction started in the late 1870s for the 3rd Marquess of Bute. It replaced an older house that sadly burned down in 1877. Today, Mount Stuart House is recognized as a very important "Category A" listed building.
Contents
The Stuart Family History
Mount Stuart House is the main home of the Stuarts of Bute family. Their family name comes from a very old job called "Steward of Bute," which they have held since 1157.
The Stuarts of Bute are direct descendants of King Robert II of Scotland. He was the very first king from the House of Stuart. This means they are also related to the famous Scottish hero, Robert the Bruce.
Building Mount Stuart House
The first house on this spot was built in 1719 for the 2nd Earl of Bute. However, a big fire on December 3, 1877, destroyed much of it. After the fire, the 3rd Marquess of Bute decided to build an even grander home.
He had already built other amazing places like Cardiff Castle and Castell Coch in Cardiff. So, he brought many of the same skilled builders and artists from South Wales to work on Mount Stuart. This included the architect William Burges, who designed a special small chapel, called an oratory, at the house.
Amazing Features of the House
The main part of Mount Stuart House is a stunning example of 19th-century Gothic Revival architecture. It is built from a reddish-brown stone. Two of the most impressive parts are the Marble Hall and the Marble Chapel.
- The Marble Hall is in the center of the house. It has tall columns and is made almost entirely of marble. If you look up, you can see amazing details.
- The Marble Chapel has a very tall, pointed tower. This tower is the highest part of the entire building.
Interestingly, two older parts of the house survived the fire. These wings look very different from the main building. They are smaller, have older-style windows, and are painted white.
Modern Touches for Its Time
Mount Stuart House was very advanced for its time. It claims to have the first heated swimming pool ever built inside a house. It was also the first home in Scotland to have electricity! Imagine how exciting that must have been.
Gardens and Furniture
Much of the furniture inside Mount Stuart House was specially designed for it. An architect named Robert Weir Schultz created these unique pieces in the early 1900s. He also helped design many parts of the beautiful gardens around the house.
Mount Stuart During Wartime
During World War I, Mount Stuart House was used as a Royal Naval Hospital. It was fully equipped with an X-ray room and an operating theater. Over 2,120 patients were cared for at the house during the war.
The Bute Collection
The house is home to "The Bute Collection." This is a private collection of incredible artwork and historical items. It also includes many old books, furniture, and silver pieces. These items show the interests of the Bute family over many generations.
The collection has about 25,000 books. These books cover many different topics, like religion, plants, farming, and Scottish history and stories. In April 2016, something very exciting was found in the house's library: a rare Shakespeare First Folio. This is one of the earliest printed collections of Shakespeare's plays. It once belonged to a person named Isaac Reed.
Mount Stuart House is open to the public, so you can visit and explore this amazing place yourself!
See also
In Spanish: Mount Stuart House para niños
