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10 Best Facts about Mount Stewart House

Mount Stewart House is located on the shores of Strangford Lake in County Down, in Northern Ireland.

Following a restoration programme, this 19th- century house has been significantly transformed, making it a must-see attraction on the island of Ireland.

It was the Irish seat of the Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry mostly associated with the 7th Marquess. 

The interiors of Mount Stewart range from splendid, monumental to sophisticated work. For example the music room and the beautiful domed staircase hall.

Filled with the spirit and character of Edith, Lady Londonderry, the house, gardens and lands reveal the history and grandeur of Mount Stewart, giving you a snippet of people, power and plants.

Learn about the 10 best facts about Stewart House.

1. Mount Stewart Gardens are Amongst the most Outstanding Gardens in the World

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Voted as one of the top ten gardens in the world, Mount Stewart reflects a rich tapestry of design and planting artistry

The gardens boast arboricultural and horticultural collections of global significance.

The splendid 80-acre garden, which dates back to the 19th century CE, encloses a sophisticated series of formal gardens of specimen trees, brilliantly planted around the house.

The 鈥淔ormal Gardens鈥�, is where the real magic is found at Mount Stewart, through a labyrinth of flowers and topiaries watched over by the residence and various beast-shaped statues.

Some of the more famous installations in the gardens include the Irish Harp shaped hedge next to a Red Hand of Ulster flowerbed made up of red tulips.

The splendid design indicates a time when the garden design had reached its peak.

2.  Lady Edith Created the Fantastic Mount Stewart House Gardens

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Lady Londonderry, who initially thought Mount Stewart was “the coldest, darkest, dampest” location on the planet set about altering the environment around the house in a creative and colourful manner.

She transformed The Ard’s Peninsula, situated between Strangford Lough on one side and the Irish Sea on the other into the most talked-about garden in the empire at the time.

Lady Edith, a society hostess, developed a series of formal gardens, including a sunken garden enclosed by a rose-covered pergola, designed by Gertrude Jeykll to be an explosion of colour in which she could lavishly entertain.

 Records have preserved the planting schemes.

3. The Gardens are a Red Squirrel Sanctuary

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There is a decreasing population of native red squirrels these days in the UK which is due to the takeover of the non-native grey squirrels from America which spread disease and steal all their food. As well as the destruction of woodland through the years.

But Mount Stewart is now one of the few places in Northern Ireland where the 鈥楴ear Threatened鈥� red squirrel are preserved and continue to thrive.

 Northern Ireland law protects the red squirrel.

The National Trust is an active member of the Northern Ireland Red Squirrel Forum and Mount Stewart is a Red Squirrel Sanctuary.

While at the gardens follow the 鈥淩ed Squirrel Trail鈥�.

4. The Estate is an Interesting Day Trip Destination

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The Mount Stewart estate is roughly 950 acres in size. With every visit, you will find new corners as you follow different walks and off-the-beaten-track trails throughout the estate.

Find new scenic spots to set up picnics.

But all the main features are easily signposted including the massive lake which seems to be in the centre of the estate.

Discover walks and trails on the grounds of Mount Stewart passing various landscapes, monuments and farm buildings.

5. Mount Stuart is a Remarkable Feat of Architecture  

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The original home was damaged by fire in 1877. However, the building’s wings as well as the majority of the contents survived.

The wings’ Georgian architecture contrasts sharply with the otherwise Victorian style, creating a really unique architectural mix.

The result was a spectacular architectural feat a building that surpassed its predecessor in grandeur, scale and ingenuity.

 The Marble Hall’s ceiling features a map of the stars.

Following the fire, the new build was led by Scottish architect Robert Rowand Anderson.

It was Scotland’s first house to be wired for electricity,

This house is filled with innovations, from an early telephone system to a Victorian passenger lift and a central heating system.

Take the spiral staircase to the storied world鈥檚 first domestic heated swimming pool

Surprisingly, all are still working today!

6.  A Burglar Stole from the House During an Open Day

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The Lady Rose鈥檚 bedroom was burgled during a National Trust open day.

Two days later, Lady Rose Lauritzen, daughter of the late Lady Mairi Bury, discovered between 拢35,000 and 拢40,000 worth of her jewellery had been taken from her bedroom.

Ards magistrates’ court charged Carlo Holmes with the burglary at Mount Stewart on the Ards peninsula.

Members of the Londonderry family continued to live there in private quarters despite the property having been given to the National Trust.

The CCTV footage captured a man fitting Holmes’ description “wandering” around corridors in a private area of the estate wearing a National Trust hat.

Holmes, who has previous burglary convictions, planned the hit on  Lady Rose’s bedroom.

7. Mount Stewart House  hosts a Robust Arts Programme

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Created in 2001, the Mount Stuart Contemporary Visual Arts Programme presents work by significant Scottish and international artists.

The programme invites contemporary artists to bring new perspectives to the extraordinary Neo-Gothic mansion, its collections and its location.

Complementing each exhibition is a programme of events, publications and educational activities.

The evolving cultural programme draws on their rich historical collection as well as promotes employs the use of technology.

Delve into the shelves of the ornate library or immerse yourself in a musical performance against the stunning backdrop of Mount Stuart.

Here you’ll experience the arts in a unique way.

8.   Mount Stuart House offers Learning Opportunities  

Real education is lifelong so whatever your age or stage there is something to intrigue and inspire you: from Baby Days to Academic research; from conversations with their guides to celebrating those on ongoing professional development.

They offer themed workshops for nursery, primary and secondary schools, within the house, grounds and island at large.

Furthermore, they have opened opportunities for apprenticeships in horticulture.

The apprentices work five days in the gardens alongside highly knowledgeable gardening staff, learning all the skills necessary for working in the horticulture industry.

Get more information from and explore the range of programmes and activities available.

9. The House is a property of the National Trust of Northern Ireland

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The National Trust is a charity that works to preserve and protect Ireland’s natural and built heritage.

They are an independent charitable voice for the environment and for heritage issues.

They take care of historic houses, forest trails, grand gardens and beautiful beaches in Northern Ireland.

From the eye-catching wonder of the Giant’s Causeway to the spectacular gardens of Mount Stewart, they present world-famous and world-class sites.

With children’s play parks, cosy cafes and cool campsites, explore the coast and countryside on action-packed adventures.

Mount Stewart House and Gardens is in fact the 2nd most expensive National Trust attraction in Northern Ireland after the Giant鈥檚 Causeway visitor centre, but it is definitely a lot better value for money.

10.  Mount Stewart House Boasts a Collection of  10,692 Items

The Arms of the Marquess of Bute: Stewart quartering Crichton. Image by MJ Richardson from Wikimedia

It houses one of the UK鈥檚 foremost collections of artwork and artefacts which they share with the public.

Works include an outstanding collection of 18th and 19th-century British portraiture by Ramsay, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Lawrence and Raeburn

Further, there are 16th-century Italian masterpieces and a significant collection of Dutch and Flemish Old Masters.

You can still find the interests of several Bute family generations in the archives, books, furniture, silverwork and porcelain in the house today.

The library stores 25,000 books on theology, botany, agriculture, ornithology, travel, English fiction, Scottish history and literature.

In addition, in the collection are architectural drawings dating back years and significant artefacts such as a Shakespeare First Folio.

With imagination, colour and passion, Lady Edith created a sanctuary for world-renowned guests, a playground for children and a place alive with her spirit of adventure and fun.

Mount Stewart is open all year-round, although times do vary with the opening of the house being slightly later than the gardens.

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