A Tour Of Scrabo Tower
Please watch: Carnfunnock Country Park
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Scrabo Tower is located to the west of Newtownards in County Down, Northern Ireland. Built in the 1850s as a memorial to the Marquess of Londonderry it was originally and formally known as the 'Londonderry Monument'. The turreted tower is a noted landmark and stands 540 feet (160 m) above sea level and is 125 feet (38 m) high.
The landmark, which is visible from most of north Down, was built above Newtownards in 1857 as a memorial to Charles Stewart, 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington's generals during the Napoleonic Wars. The 3rd Marquess, or Fighting Charlie as he was also known, inherited the title and family seat of Mount Stewart after his brother, the 2nd Marquess, committed suicide. The 2nd Marquis is better known as Viscount Castlereagh, the politician who served a term as Britain's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The tower houses two floors of displays, with access to a viewing level via a climb of 122 steps. In April 2014, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency said that the tower had suffered serious water ingress, which had damaged the electricity supply, and citing concerns for visitor safety, advised that the tower would close to visitors. By 2015, the tower opened occasionally, and by July 2017 was fully reopened to the public.
Scrabo Country Park, in which the tower stands is also open to the public, and has several woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood. The view from the hill extends across Strangford Lough, scattered with its many islands, to the Mountains of Mourne and the Scottish coast. Scrabo Golf Club is overlooked by the tower and park.
Killyleagh Castle Killyleagh, County Down, Northern Ireland
Killyleagh Castle dominates the small village and is believed to be the oldest inhabited castle in the country, with parts dating back to 1180. It follows the architectural style of a Loire Valley château, being redesigned by architect Sir Charles Lanyon in the mid-19th century. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century.
Killyleagh was settled in the 12th century by Norman knight John de Courcy who built fortifications on the site of the castle in 1180, as part of a series of fortifications around Strangford Lough for protection from the Vikings.
In 1602 Gaelic chieftain Con O'Neill of Clandeboye owned large tracts of North Down, including Killyleagh. O'Neill sent his men to attack English soldiers after a quarrel and was consequently imprisoned. O'Neill's wife made a deal with Scots aristocrat Hugh Montgomery to give him half of O'Neill's lands if Montgomery could get a royal pardon for O'Neill. Montgomery obtained the pardon but King James I divided the land in three, with the area from Killyleagh to Bangor going to another Scot, James Hamilton, later 1st Viscount Claneboye. A map of Killyleagh from 1625 showed the castle as having a single tower on the south side of a residence. In about 1625 Hamilton moved from Bangor to Killyleagh Castle, where he built the courtyard walls. It has been the home of the Hamilton family ever since.
Viscount Claneboye's son, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, built the second tower. He supported the Stuart monarch Charles I of England and the castle was besieged in 1649 by Oliver Cromwell's forces who sailed gunboats into Strangford Lough and blew up the gatehouse. The Earl fled, leaving behind his wife and children. Parliament fined him for the return of the castle and his land.
The 1st Earl's son, Henry Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil, rebuilt the castle in 1666. He erected the north tower and built (or perhaps restored) the long fortified bawn (wall) in the front of the castle. The 2nd Earl's castle is mostly what remains today.
In 1667 the 2nd Earl married Lady Alice Moore, daughter of the Earl of Drogheda, and their only child died in infancy. Lady Alice discovered that her father-in-law, the 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, had stated in his will that should Henry die without issue the estate should be divided between five Hamilton cousins, the eldest sons of his five uncles. She destroyed the will and had her husband make his own will in 1674, leaving the estate to her. Henry died of poisoning in 1675, then Lady Alice died in 1677, leaving the estate to her brother. The cousins, however, were aware of the 1st Earl's will and pursued their rights as inheritors. The matter was concluded 20 years later when a copy of the original will was discovered. By then, the cousins were all dead. The last to die was James Hamilton of Neilsbrook, County Antrim, son of Archibald Hamilton, the next brother of James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye. James Hamilton of Neilsbrook had been confident of a settlement in his favour and had bequeathed the estate to be divided in two, with one half going to his daughter Anne Stevenson, née Hamilton, and the other half to his younger brothers Gawn and William Hamilton. In 1697 the probate court divided the castle, with Gawn and William gaining the main house and the two towers and their niece Anne receiving the bawn and gate house. Gawn and William had to open a new entrance on the north side in order to enter their castle.
William died without children in 1716 and the castle passed to successive generations of Gawn Hamilton's descendants. Gawn's great-grandson Archibald Hamilton Rowan, an Irish nationalist of the United Irishmen, lived in the castle as one of his homes between 1806 and 1834 after his return from exile in America.
Hamilton Rowan's grandson, Archibald Rowan-Hamilton, and his wife employed architect Sir Charles Lanyon from 1850 to renovate the castle, creating its romantic silhouette with the addition of the turrets.
James Hamilton of Neilsbrook's daughter Anne married Hans Stevenson and her estate passed to her son James Stevenson, then to his daughter Dorcas, later Dorcas Blackwood, 1st Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye (1726–1807), and on to Dorcas's great-grandson Frederick Temple Blackwood, 5th Baron Dufferin and Claneboye (1826–1902). In 1860 the 5th Baron gave the bawn and gate house to the Hamiltons and commissioned a replacement gate house to better match the main castle.
The castle came under attack by the Irish Republican Army during the troubles of the 1920s. It has been owned by the Hamilton family since the early 17th century. It is currently the home of Gawn Rowan Hamilton and his family. Hi everyone if you would like to help the channel out even more you can donate to the channel in the youtube Banner link or in the about section link . thanks to everyone your support has been amazing its very much appreciated .
Scrabo Tower - Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland
Being in Newtownards means getting the chance to visit Scrabo Tower - and you should never miss such a chance! (
Scrabo Tower is located to the west of Newtownards in county Down, Northern Ireland, this turreted tower is a noted landmark which stands at 540 feet (which is 160 meters tall) above sea level and is 125 feet (35 meters) high; a tall building which is now banning people to go up for some security reasons.
For the length of this tower as well as for being placed on a hill, it could be actually spotted from almost all the north part of county Down. The history of Scrabo Tower began in 1857 as it was built as a memorial to Charles Stewart, the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry who was one of the Duke of Wellington's generals during the Napoleonic Wars.
Today, Scrabo Tower houses two floors of display with access to a viewing level via a climb of 122 steps, but in April 2014 it was closed for the safety of the visitors because the Northern Ireland Environment Agency said that the tower had suffered serious water ingress that had damaged the electricity supply. In 2015, the tower started to reopen occasionally until it opened completely once again in 2017, allowing all those who might be visiting Newtownards for Scrabo Tower to climb it and see the views from up there.
There is a country park just beside the tower - or which is considered part of the tower itself - which is always open to the public and has several woodland walks and parkland through Killynether Wood. As much as this is considered a historical building to check and know more about while being in Newtownards, the scenes and views which you will get the chance to receive are magnificent; actually the view from the hill extends across Strangford Lough to the Mountains of Mourne and the Scottish coast.
The name Scrabo which is given to the tower is said to come from the Gaelic word for a cow pasture for the days when there was a community pasture for cattle on the hill, but unfortunately the stone or hut circles were destroyed by the creation of the golf course.
Building this tower went through different stages and there were even different designs created before settling on the one given to this tower, and all that was just to commemorate the Marquis. The first tenant of the tower was William McKay, a foreman at the quarry, who with his wife brought the family of 8 children in the tower and even the keys of the tower were handed back to Londonderry Estate by his granddaughters.
Getting these mesmerizing views from Scrabo Tower and enjoying the green area that is surrounding it is only one thing that you could enjoy doing in Newtownards because there are still other things to be visited and other places to be considered.
If you came to check this tower in Newtownards then you should also consider some other places as well, such as the Greyabbey ( the Kiltonga wildlife reserve which will provide you with a walk along the birds' view ( and there is also Mount Stewart House and Gardens (
On the other hand, there are lots of places that are located in county Down, Northern Ireland, and even if they might not be all close to one another or within reach, we can mention some of those which we have been to: we have been to Rostrevor ( Donaghadee ( Portaferry ( Dundrum Castle ( Crawfordsburn ( Bangor ( Ballywalter ( and Tollymore Forest in Newcastle ( these are some of those which we have visited, but you could still find lots of other places in county Down.
We personally recommend visiting Scrabo Tower if you happen to be in Newtownards, not just to check this as an old historical building but also to indulge in the scene that you are going to receive if the tower is open and you are allowed to get inside, or even just by getting this view while standing on the hill right next to the tower; it is all worth it! We have already been there several times and we are happy about them all.
If you have been to Newtownards before and visited Scrabo Tower, tell us about the experience you have had and share with us any of the discoveries which you have managed to find out about the place - we will be very excited to hear from you all.
This was our trip to Scrabo Tower in county Down, Northern Ireland, and the the views we have managed to receive - just amazing!
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
Donaghadee - County Down, Northern Ireland
Donaghadee has a great landmark in the lighthouse over the pier facing into the Irish Sea. There is a beautiful coastal walk here - also into the town where there is an old moat/castle structure and a great view of the surrounding area. Very close to Bangor and Belfast.
There are some small towns scattered around Belfast that open the eyes of the visitors and tourists who are staying in Belfast and give them the chance to think outside the box and go out of the city to any of these towns if they have some spare time to spend and this is usually a good plan because it will give them the chance to explore more parts of Northern Ireland during their trip.
Donaghadee is one of these different options related to small towns which we have to refer to and mention, it is only 18 miles away from Belfast and only 6 miles away from Bangor - which is not a long distance for someone to go. Donaghadee is a small town situated in county Down, Northern Ireland, that lies on the northeast coast of the Ards Peninsula; it is in the civil parish of Donaghadee and the historic barony of Ards Lower. The history of Donaghadee town and the different attractions that could be seen in it add to the encouragement that fills the visitor's heart and mind about going there.
Donaghadee town was actually featured in the Irish Rebellion of 1798; in the morning of Pike Sunday 10 June 1798, a force of United Irishmen mainly from Bangor, Donaghadee, Greyabbey, and Ballywalter attempted to occupy the the town of Newtownards, they met with musket fire from the market house and they were defeated. In addition to this historical part, Donaghadee harbour is also important when it comes to this town since it has its historical part as well; Donaghadee was used in the period between 1759 and 1826 by couples going to Portpatrick, Wigtown, Scotland in order to get married since there was a daily packet boat going there from Donaghadee harbour.
Of course when it comes to any new place you are visiting, the first thing that you will be doing is searching for the different touristic attractions that you could visit there. When it comes to Donaghadee town, there are a couple of things to consider visiting, such as the Moat, the Harbour and the Marina along with the lighthouse, and there are other minor places to consider such as the Parish Church.
The harbour and the lighthouse of Donaghadee town are famous because that harbour almost dates back to the 17th century and this harbour is well known for its lighthouse - it might be one of the most famous attractions related to this town, it has actually been a haven for ships for years and years.
In addition to the harbour and the lighthouse, there is also the Moat - or as it is also known and referred to the Motte - which was actually built to house the explosives used in building the harbour. The Moat is also one of the most prominent features of the town that dates back to 1818 but today it is now part of a park, giving views across the town and seawards towards the Copeland Islands (
These are the most common things to be done in this small town but there are still other activities which one could also include and which might be a walk by the town that includes the marine walk by The Commons: this is a semi-cultivated open space with bowls, tennis, putting, and an adventure playground. There are also those restaurants, hotels, and bars which you could choose from and enjoy sitting at, one of them is the famous Grace Neill's bar which opened back in 1611 as the King's Arms and which is considered the oldest bar to be found in Ireland.
When you are visiting Donaghadee town, you should always check the events that might be taking place there because you could get the chance to enjoy your time attending any of them. There are also those shops and boutiques which might be offering different products that you could go back home with any of them - make your visit count.
There are some other small towns and cities which are close to Donaghadee - and that of course in addition to Belfast the capital city of Northern Ireland and the one mostly visited ( - from these places, there is Bangor which is the closest to Donaghadee and which is mostly known with its harbour ( there is also Portaferry which is mostly known with its Exploris Aquarium ( and there is also Ballywalter which is considered not far away from Donaghadee (
These were the things we managed to visit in Donaghadee, county Down, and this was the trip we went on and enjoyed. Have you ever been there before? Share with us more of your stories and adventures.
Some of the best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
WHEN THE BRUTAL IS BRUTALISED ...the end of Postmodern Brutalist architecture in Bangor
Since it first opened its doors in 1972, the complex, which boasts four swimming pools, has witnessed coming-of-age moments for thousands of swimmers as generations of parents taught their children to swim. It also witnessed the flourishing of talented swimmers including Bangor woman Julie Parkes who went on to compete at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984. Before the leisure centre opened, the only place to swim in the town was the outdoor Pickie Pool.
Bangor, Co.Down Promo
This is a short and improvised promotional video for Bangor Co.Down
Bangor Town Hall , Northern Ireland
This impressive building was built for the Hon Robert Edward Ward and his family in 1852. It is presently the headquarters of North Down Borough Council who use the mansions spectacular grand salon as the council chamber. The building is situated in the grounds of Castle Park alongside North Down Museum and is just a short walk from Bangor Castle Walled Garden.
DJI Phantom 3 Flight
County Down Walk | Northern Ireland | Irish Castles | NI
A walk through county Down in Northern Ireland...
Northern Ireland is formed of six different counties which county Down is just one of them, which is located in the northeast of the island of Ireland. County Down is one of the thirty two traditional counties of Ireland and is within the province of Ulster.
There are different things to be done in county Down and there are magical views and scenery to be spotted, and that is definitely one of the different reasons why the people of Belfast consider it their getaway since it is just a short drive away; they can hike, enjoy the calm and beautiful scenery, or just even play golf.
There are different things to be done in county Down - which you could definitely include in this walk - these things include climbing the Mourne Mountains, visiting Tollymore Forest ( enjoying a golf game, roaming Mount Stewart ( visiting the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum ( checking St.Patrick's ( enjoy the beauty of Strangford Lough ( visit Down County Museum ( and enjoy the beauty of nature in general which you will definitely fall in love with when it comes to county Down.
The combination between having a peaceful time, enjoying the nature, visiting some old Irish castles, playing around, and even checking some of the destinations that appeared in the famous movie series Game of Thrones, is considered the perfect combination that would be calling out for visitors and tourists to come and visit county Down with all the beauty that it tends to offer.
Game of thrones is one of the famous movie series that people all around the world are watching, and travelling to Northern Ireland in general will bring a dream true to all the fans because they will get the chance to see some of the locations in which the movie was filmed and even check some of the doors that appeared throughout the episodes. While being in county Down, checking Castle Ward will be one of the things to be done by those fans, which will tend to bring part of county Down to them as well.
County Down is divided into different towns, the largest of them is Bangor which is located on the northeast coast, and there are also three other large towns and cities on its border; Newry lies on the western border with county Armagh, while Lisburn and Belfast lie on the northern border with county Antrim.
County Down contains both, the southernmost point of Northern Ireland (Cranfield Point) and the easternmost point of Ireland (Burr Point). There are different interesting geographical information that one should know about county Down in Northern Ireland, such as the two significant peninsulas that it contains: Ards Peninsula and Lecale Peninsula.
Northern Ireland is known with its beautiful nature and the different greenery which the eyes will get to see and part of this is found in county Down. County Down has several islands off the Down Coast: Mew Island, Light House Island, and the Copeland Islands, all of which lie in the north of the Ards peninsula. Gunn Island lies off the Lecale coast, and this comes in addition to the number of small islands in Strangford Lough.
There are different places of interest to be visited when it comes to county Down in addition to the ones already mentioned. In county Down there is Exploris which is the Northern Ireland aquarium that is located in Portaferry, there is also Scrabo Tower which is located in Newtownards, Saul where St. Patrick said his first eucharist in Ireland, the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn is one of Ireland's oldest hostelries with records dating back to 1614, and lots of other beautiful places that one would not want to miss.
County Down borders county Antrim to the north, the Irish Sea to the east, county Armagh to the west, and county Louth across Carlingford Lough to the southwest, and this could pretty much sum up why county Down is considered one of the most favorite when it comes to tourists - it brings everything for them just like that.
This is all what you will need to know about county Down in Northern Ireland and the top attractions in it, and by now you should know where you want to go during your upcoming visit to Northern Ireland.
You could check more videos on our channel and get different suggestions and ideas about the places to go to, the things never to miss, and the destinations to choose in order to go and have some fun along the way.
Tell us about your opinion; have you been to county Down before? What did you enjoy the most? Share your experience with us.
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
CASTLES + TOWERS in Northern Ireland
Vlog 003 | November 30th, 2016 | Donaghadee, Northern Ireland
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The Moat is a little castle on a hill built to house a load of explosives. It is atop a previously Norman structure, and was made to store explosives that helped construct the harbor area. From the top of the hill you can see the town and lighthouse, and the Copeland Islands are off the coast.
Scrabo Tower is an 1857 memorial to Charles Stewart that stands over Newtownards.
Bangor Bell
Bangor Bell at Bangor Abbey dedication
A Test Of Stamina (1934)
Full title reads: A TEST OF STAMINA - Hard-fought T.T. race on Ards Circuit, Belfast.
Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Start of the 500 miles T.T. race on Ards Circuit, Belfast. Various shots of the cars driving very fast along the curvy track. Various shots of the cars driving through the town streets with houses barricaded with sandbags.
A man waves chequered flag and the winner passes it. The winner, Dodgson, with very dirty face, drinks Champagne and smiles.
Note: Very bad quality, the film seems to be badly damaged.
FILM ID:791.39
A VIDEO FROM BRITISH PATHÉ. EXPLORE OUR ONLINE CHANNEL, BRITISH PATHÉ TV. IT'S FULL OF GREAT DOCUMENTARIES, FASCINATING INTERVIEWS, AND CLASSIC MOVIES.
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British Pathé also represents the Reuters historical collection, which includes more than 136,000 items from the news agencies Gaumont Graphic (1910-1932), Empire News Bulletin (1926-1930), British Paramount (1931-1957), and Gaumont British (1934-1959), as well as Visnews content from 1957 to the end of 1984. All footage can be viewed on the British Pathé website.
Power Cut, Bangor High Street, Co Down
The power cut on a busy Saturday afternoon affected all businesses and traffic lights along Bangor High Street. At a hotel the staff had to use torches to show people to their rooms and in a coffee shop the staff learnt just how valuable electricity is to a business.
Antrim Town & Civil Parish, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
The Junction retail and leisure shop - this wasn't much of a trip for those trying to explore the touristic destinations in Northern Ireland, but it was more of a trip for those already living in county Antrim to know what this place has for them.
Every once in a while, you get to make a trip that is not cultural nor touristic or historical, but it is more of a trip to buy some treats - of course you will end up with getting things for the kids as well - which is exactly what happened with us.
The highlight of this trip was trying those jelly beans and seeing what color every single one of us prefers and likes the most - seems that I was the only one preferring the coffee ones, which is good to get them all :-) - and then comes the second part of this outing which is about getting some treats that are making it hard for us to stay a bit healthy.
If you want to get inside that shop - or supermarket - and you don't want your kids to come with you, you could leave them in the playing area outside and come back when you are finished - although we prefer that you stay with them even while playing outside - our kids loved it but they didn't get inside the arena and didn't try to play inside it, they instead chose to come with us to the shop.
The most exciting and interesting part for the kids inside that place was those small rabbits and chicks which they want to buy and keep - they looked really pretty and funny at the same time :-) and that of course came along with the part of choosing the treats they prefer and getting those jelly beans.
We all know that county Antrim is one of the six different counties that form Northern Ireland as a whole, with Belfast being its beating heart, which means that there are different things and several places and destinations that one could go to when it comes to co Antrim.
Since Belfast is the beating heart and the place people could start exploring county Antrim with, there are lots of cultural places and touristic destinations that people could head to, such as Belfast City Hall ( being the city where Titanic was built, there is also Titanic Museum which was built a century later ( the Cathedral Quarter is also a famous part of this city ( as well as lots of other places that might be related to the history and tourism of the city or else those which are more like restaurants, bars, pubs, and more, but which also have their names and clients.
From the things that highlight Antrim is Lough Neagh which is the largest lake in Ireland or even Britain ( where even one of the scenes in Game of Thrones was filmed, there is also the Giant's Ring which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site ( the nine Glens and Dunluce Castle ( and eventually reaching the area where the Giant's Causeway is located along with the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge which is also famously known about this area (
Belfast of course is the most famous destination that people could head out to when it comes to county Antrim because it is the capital city ( but there are still other destinations to be considered and one of those famous ones which also people love to visit and know more about is Ballymena which is a large town in county Antrim and which even stands as the eight largest in whole Northern Ireland.
So there are lots of different destinations in county Antrim, Northern Ireland, which you could choose from and head to according to your interests and the plan you have once placed. For those already living in Belfast and are close to the place we have been to and which we consider Antrim centre, we hope that this place was helpful and you would hit whenever you need to buy yourself something.
Have you ever been to county Antrim in Northern Ireland before? Where have you been exactly and what are the towns or places that you managed to visit and what are those which you loved the most and actually fell in love with? Share your experience with us!
Hope this video got your attention and hope you enjoyed it - and we are sure that you liked the debate about which colors of those jelly beans are more delicious than the others :-)))
This trip was a little bit quick because we were not exploring new places or trying to get people more into the details of a specific destination, but it was more about a fun day spent outside the house while the kids enjoy buying some of their favorite treats and things - me and Michelle also got our treats and tried those jelly beans with the kids, so it was fun for us as well :-))
The best locations around Ireland / Northern Ireland and further afield. A travel blog/vlog of the hidden treasures that are on our doorstep.
The Ards Peninsula & North Down
Preview of 'The Ards Peninsula & North Down' on DVD - Scenic treasures
Donaghadee Lighthouse 1838.
I am in Donaghadee. At the heart of the town is the ship saving lighthouse and harbour.
Location Donaghadee County Down Northern Ireland
Coordinates 54.645049°N 5.530944°WCoordinates: 54.645049°N 5.530944°W
Year first constructed 1836
Automated 2 October 1934
Construction cut limestone tower
Tower shape tapered cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern
Markings / pattern white tower and lantern, black plinth
Height 16 metres (52 ft)
Focal height 17 metres (56 ft)
Intensity 20,000 candela
Range white: 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi)
red: 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi)
Characteristic Iso WR 4s.
Admiralty number A5974
NGA number 6788
ARLHS number NTI-005
Northern Ireland number CIL-1210
Managing agent
Commissioners of Irish Lights
Helen's Tower Irish Landmark Trust
Helen's Tower recorded for the Irish Landmark Trust
Mount Stewart County Down - 19th Century House and Gardens-The National Trust Northern Ireland
Mount Stewart House and Gardens is a National Trust property based in County Down, Northern Ireland. Mount Stewart house is a home that was owned by the 7th Marchioness Edith, Lady Londonderry and her family and it has been beautifully restored to its spender from that era (
Mount Stewart Gardens overlook Strangford Lough and has been voted as one of the top 10 gardens in the world! Mount Stewart is listed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage tentative list.
The garden areas consist of - The Sunk Garden, Shamrock Garden, The Italian Garden, The Spanish Garden and the Mairi Garden.
Old houses, castles, and buildings in general are our number one interest when it comes to visiting the historical locations and attractions of a city we are heading to. Newtownards is not a town that we are visiting for the first time - we are locals :-) - but we love to come and cherish the beauty of this building which is being taken care of by the National Trust.
This 19th-century house and garden reflect the history of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family through the contents it still carries - for those who don't know, this family played a great leading role in the British and Irish social and political life; it was the Marquesses of Londonderry.
Back in time, when the house was first bought by Alexander Stewart in 1744, it was known as Mount Pleasant and it is also believed that the money that this family had to buy the house came from the sales of linen at that time.
Through the history related to this house and the different members of the family who took over taking care of the house, there were some changes done to it all, such as the temporary wing that the son of Alexander added in 1800 when he became the first Marquess of Londonderry. Actually, what brought this house all the wealth it has gone through and gave it the chance to keep growing and changing to the better was the third Marquess, Charles, who married two times and who his second wife was mainly the reason since she was the greatest heiress of her time.
Mount Stewart is not just about the house, but it is also about the gardens which started small and then were enlarged by the help of the Marchioness who was responsible for the different gardens which were added as well as the fountain pool and the walks, she was also the one who decided to give the gardens to the National Trust in 1957.
The National Trust took over the gardens to take care of and it received the remaining of the place in 1977 and it now operates the property under the name of Mount Stewart House, Gardens and Temple of the Winds.
We have walked through the whole place and we have to say that it always takes our breath away for the gardens that are there as well as seeing this old building - even if we didn't get the chance to enter it and see the interiors. What also attracted our attention to this place were the beautiful sculptures which are made in the shape of animals and which we believe are done in a different kind of way.
In addition to the place as a whole and the perfection of it, it is also situated on the east shore of Strangford Lough and this brings a beautiful view with those ducks swimming around - it could be a combination of a touristic visit and also getting some peace of mind by this magnificent view.
This is one of the most visited places which we will recommend when it comes to the town of Newtownards, but there are several other places which one could pass by and enjoy visiting and which include Kiltonga Wildlife Reserve which we have also been to before and which we definitely loved ( there is also the Grey Abbey ( another place is the Scrabo Tower in Newtownards which was built back in 1857 (
It is always interesting to get to know more about the place which you are heading to especially if it carries a great history behind that one should be well aware of, just like the case of the Mount Stewart which passed through different owners until it finally reached the point where the National Trust became the one responsible for it all and for taking care of it as well.
Mount Stewart in Newtownards, County Down, is very close to the Greyabbey (or Grey Abbey) so you could always choose to visit both locations during the same day and get the chance to see what they tend to bring to you from information and history.
Never been there? Go visit now! If you have already been to Mount Stewart before then we are waiting for your comments to tell us more about your experience and what you loved most about the place as a whole - we could not lie, but we loved it all; the building along with the beautiful garden that is part of it all.
Mount Stewart County Down - 19th Century House and Gardens-The National Trust Northern Ireland
co down countryside
A walk close to where I live.
Urban Exploring - Castle Caldwell, N.I [POV]
This time i decided to go and explore one of the nicest ruins ive seen Castle Caldwell in Northern Ireland, about 3 miles from Beleek, and about 20km from Eniskillen.
Hope you like it. I know it is a bit long but i managed to shorten it down from 11 minutes. in future im planning on doing more videos like that but with actual voice over ;)
And about Castle Caldwell? I definitelly want to shoot parkour video there ;)
Castle Caldwell was built between 1612 and 1619, during the time of the Plantation of Ulster, by the Blennerhassetts, in classic Planter style; a bawn with 2 semi-circular projecting flanker towers and a within it a strong house. In the 1660’s the estate was rented by the Blennerhassetts to the Caldwells, a well to do merchant family from Enniskillen, who eventually bought it about 1672. In June 1683 the head of the Caldwell family was granted an hereditary baronetcy and in the same year the first reference to a family home named ‘Castle Caldwell’ occurred. In the latter part of the 18th century the castle was renovated several times. It was inhabited until the early 20th century but is now in quite a ruinous state.
Source.
Music Used:
Audiomachine - The Last One
Killer Tracks - Cityscapes and Circuits
Focus Music - Hero's Journey
Places to see in ( Bangor - UK )
Places to see in ( Bangor - UK )
Bangor is a city in Gwynedd unitary authority, north west Wales, and one of the smallest cities in the United Kingdom. Bangor is the oldest city in Wales. Historically in Caernarfonshire, Bangor is a university city.
Bangor lies on the coast of North Wales near the Menai Strait which separates the island of Anglesey from Gwynedd unitary authority, the town of Menai Bridge lying just over the strait. Bangor Mountain lies to the east of the main part of the city, but the large housing estate of Maesgeirchen, originally built as council housing, is to the east of the mountain near Port Penrhyn.
Bangor has two rivers within its boundaries. The River Adda is a largely culverted watercourse which only appears above ground at its western extremities near the Faenol estate, whilst the River Cegin enters Port Penrhyn at the eastern edge of the city. Port Penrhyn was an important port in the 19th century, exporting the slates produced at the Penrhyn Quarry.
Bangor lies at the western end of the North Wales Path, a 60-mile (100 km) long-distance coastal walking route to Prestatyn. It is also on routes 5, 8 and 85 of the National Cycle Network. Bangor railway station, which serves the city, is located on the North Wales Coast Line from Crewe and Chester to Holyhead. The A55 runs immediately to the south of Bangor, providing road transport to Holyhead in the west and Chester to the east. The nearest airport with international flights is Liverpool John Lennon Airport, 83 miles away by road.
Garth Pier is the second longest pier in Wales, and the ninth longest in the British Isles, at 1,500 feet (460 m) in length. It was opened in 1893 and was a promenade pier, for the amusement of holiday-makers who could stroll among the pinnacle-roofed kiosks. The Cathedral Church of St Deiniol is a Grade I Listed building and is set in a sloping oval churchyard. The site has been used for Christian worship since the sixth century but the present building dates from the twelfth century. Bangor Cathedral has a two-bay chancel, transepts, a crossing tower, a seven-bay nave and a tower at the west end. The Archdeacon's House in Bangor was the setting for act 3, scene I of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1.
( Bangor - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Bangor . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Bangor - UK
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