Robert M Chapple, Archaeologist

[** If you like this post, please make a donation to the IR&DD project using the secure button at the right. If you think it is interesting or useful, please re-share via Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. To help keep the site in operation, please use the Amazon search portal at the right - each purchase earns a small amount of advertising revenue **] < Main post on the house While the intention of the main post was to give some glimpses of the restoration and conservation works ongoing at Mount Stewart house, I also wanted to present some images of the fantastic gardens, originally laid out by Lady Edith Vane-Tempest-Stewart , Marchioness of Londonderry. Brief outlines of each of the gardens, their inspirations  and their histories may be found: here . The Harp topiary in the Shamrock Garden The garden is in the shape of a shamrock, with elements such as the  Irish Harp , and the  Red Hand of Ulster , along with references to the mytholog...

[** If you like this post, please make a donation to the IR&DD project using the secure button at the right. If you think it is interesting or useful, please re-share via Facebook, Google+, Twitter etc. To help keep the site in operation, please use the Amazon search portal at the right - each purchase earns a small amount of advertising revenue **] The Gardens > Early in this summer (2014) I was given charge of the Chapples Minor for the day and the instruction ‘you might like to take them to Mount Stewart’. Now the history bit: Mount Stewart [ Website | Facebook | Twitter ] is an 18th century house and decorative gardens on the Ards peninsula, Co. Down. The estate, then known as Mount Pleasant, was purchased by Alexander Stewart (1699–1781) in 1744. In 1789 Alexander’s son, Robert Stewart (1939-1821), was created Baron Londonderry, eventually being elevated to Marquess of Londonderry in 1816. On his death, the estate passed to Charles William Stuart (1778–1854...