Family outing to Mount Stewart

Family outing to Mount Stewart, on the shores of Strangford Lough - mid way between Newtownards and Greyabbey. It was a beautiful sunny spring day, well the first day of British Summer Time - there were a lot of visitors around enjoying their Sunday afternoon walk.

Mount Stewart was formed by the Stewart family (later Vane-Tempest-Stewart), holders of the title Marquess of Londonderry since 1816. The family bought the estate in 1744with money acquired by Alexander Stewart (1699–1781). This new wealth came from the sales of materials like linen. At the time, the house was known as Mount Pleasant. Alexander Stewart's son, Robert Stewart, became the first Marquess of Londonderry.


In about 1800 he added a temporary wing to the west. He died in 1821 leaving the house to his son, also Robert, better known as Viscount Castlereagh, a prominent politician. Robert lived in Mount Stewart during his childhood until he went to University in Cambridge.

The inscription on the sundial below reads:

Serene I stand among the flowers

And only count life's sunny hours

For me dark days do not exist

I'm a brazened faced old optomist

Then up to Cafollas at the Square for a dipped 99 - GREAT.

HMA