On the shores of Strangford Loch, in County Down, Northern Ireland lies the stately home of the Stewart family, Mount Stewart. I visited it this summer, and was able to uncover the imposing stone carved statues and some of the fascinating history behind them. in this grand setting.
Mount Stewart has entertained visitors for over two centuries with prominent family members such as Edith, Lady Londonderry.
Lady Londonderry made her debut in 1899 when she met Viscount Castlereagh, and they married in 1899. Mount Stewart became a family home.
Before the first world war she had been an active supporter of women's suffrage, speaking on public platforms. She founded the Women's League to help women play their part in the war effort. She suggested that women wear breeches for farm work instead of skirts. By 1918 the women's league were providing cooks for the Royal Flying Corp, mechanics, clerks and canteen workers.
In 1917 she was made a Dame of the British Empire. After the war Edith visited Mount Stewart more often. They had four children. They pursued a program of renovation and redecoration and bought beautiful art objects as they were a discerning and wealthy family.
Some interesting mosaics in one of the summer houses.
A zodiac sundial
She was especially interested in the gardens, which she took great pride in designing and were acknowledged to be amongst the most beautiful in Ireland. She inherited a gardener from her mother, Thomas W Bolas, who became her partner in this huge enterprise for 30 years.
The microclimate in this part of the Ards Peninsula "is really a gardeners paradise. Almost anything will grow" she wrote. Some of the gardens she planted were the Italian Garden, the Shamrock Border, the Spanish Garden and the Main Garden. She loved scented flowers and colour.
In the Italian Garden is a row of whimsical pillars on the terrace with herms with the faces of orangutans.
Also on the terrace are Dodos, which give the terrace its name. And griffins, a frog, a hedgehog, a mermaid , a horse and a fox, and a stegosaurus.
Frog and alligator
Beautiful depiction of a monkey
Horse
Everywhere you look there is an animal peeking out at you.
Even a pig!
It is fascinating the way that the animals have been humanised, giving their names to the prominent dignitaries of the day. Also to be associated in British history making!
We also make a lot of decisions which affect the animals on the planet, voluntarily or not...now the important issues of the age with biodiversity needs starting to fail.
The carvings and 'statues' are very prominent in the gardens, looking down on us mere mortals below. A slightly humerous stance reflecting something deadly serious.
The Ark
In the early years of WW1, Edith began to host a series of weekly dinners at Londonderry house for friends, Cabinet ministers, royalty, military men, writers and artists. These Wednesday meetings of 'the Ark' were intended to offer statesmen and soldiers a temporary refuge from the cares of wartime. Rather than being political, the Ark was deliberately light-hearted, frivolous even risque. Members were given names of animals according to their names eg Winston Churchill was Winston the Warlock, young Harold Macmillan was Harold the Hummingbird.
The Dodo Terrace displays figures representing the imaginary beasts and members of the Ark Club. The dodos were a homage to Edith's father, Lord Chaplin. There is a concrete cast ark, made by maison Thomas Bealtie, which is positioned 'floating' above the balistrade.
The two animals facing each other down obviously didnt get on!
The Ark
Mount Stewart contains links to magic and fairyland. In the Land of the Ever Young, there is a white stag, in which Gaelic folklore says the devil rescued from the Stewart's hunt. He now stands guard waiting to guide souls to Tir nan Og, the otherworld of Gaelic folklore, where the spirits of the dead are granted youth, health and joy.
The stone and the trees and the shrubs and great names intertwine. All passengers in this universe.
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