Mount Stwart is an impressive 19th-century manor house in County Down, Northern Ireland. Situated near the town of Newtownards, on the eastern shore of Strangford Lough, the manor was the seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, one of whose members was then Marquess of Londonderry. Today, the manor house and grounds are owned by the National Trust, and are open to visitors!
The Stewart family (later named “Vane-Tempest-Stewart”) bought the property in 1744, thanks to the fortune amassed by the family patriarch: Alexander Stewart (1699-1781), then a leading linen merchant.
At the time, the house was named“Mount Pleasant“, because of its idyllic setting and forest park.
Years go by, and Alexander Stewart’s son, Robert Stewart, is named Marquis of Londonderry. Around 1800, he decided to enlarge the manor house by adding a temporary wing to the west of the building.
On his death, the house passed into the hands of the family’s heirs, until it came to be owned by Charles Stewart and his wife Lady Frances Anne Vane-Tempest . The latter possessed considerable wealth, and decided to renovate and enlarge the manor house, while giving it a new name: “Mount Stewart”. The work cost them £150,000, an astronomical sum for the time, and earned them the wrath of the local population! The family was criticized for having spent more than they should have on their manor house, when they would have made a ridiculous donation of £30 to relieve the local population suffering from the Great Irish Famine. An act that made them quite unpopular!
Whatever the case, the work brought a new cachet to Mount Stewart: the building is imposing, marked by neo-classical pediments and porticos. From now on, the manor evokes luxury and comfort, and makes a statement!
Nevertheless, the mansion was eventually abandoned for a time, the heirs preferring to live in Dublin rather than Newtownards. This temporary abandonment precipitated the decline of the manor and its estate.
However, the 7th Marquis Stewart eventually inherited the manor and decided to move in. Determined to renovate, the couple breathed new life into Mount Stewart. The gardens were then redesigned and inspired by those of Dunrobin Castle in Scotland. They added a clover garden, a Japanese garden and an Italian garden, extended the surface area of the estate’s lake, and created a menagerie, a terrace, a swimming pool and a walking area.
The manor’s interior has also been redesigned.
At the end of their lives, the couple decided to hand over their estate and then the manor house to the National Trust, which has since cared for it and opened it to visitors.
The manor house and estate are open to the general public, much to our delight. You’ll be able to explore the building’s architecture, visit its large rooms, and admire the surrounding luxury and period furnishings.
You can also take a stroll around the estate, following the tree-lined paths, delving into the forest park or admiring the various themed gardens.
The location is beautiful, bucolic and highly historic. Enjoy temporary art exhibitions and learn more about the manor’s history.
A must-see!
Rates : £7.72 per adult | £3.86 per child | £19.22 per family
Opening hours :
hours vary according to the period. Visit the manor’s website.
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