Mount Stewart and a Famous Race Horse

 Hotel Le Mons

 Today we visited Mount Stewart, an impressive house overlooking Strangford Lough. I say the house is impressive but when you go to web sites about Mount Stewart it is the gardens that seem to take the eye and they are stunning. So relaxing - not that we relaxed as we had to walk round them all. It really felt like an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of life.

 

We had a guided tour of the house from a delightful Irish man. I couldn't help thinking about the comedian Jimmy Cricket. He had the same mannerisms and accent. Come to think of it he was a bit like Roy Walker as well. He kept asking questions and our answers were met with a "that's good but it's not right or "I like that but it's not right." You have to say those phrases in a Northern Ireland accent with a smile and mischevious twinkle to get it right. Anyway George the Guide made it a very enjoyable hour in the house, continually making interesting asides. The main points about the house seem to be the fact that it was the former home of political leaders and society figures, it has embroidered chairs from the Congress of Vienna of 1815, it has views across Strangford Lough and it has a painting worth millions by George Stubbs over the main staircase.

Apparently some visitors came all the way from the USA to sit on the staircase and stare at the painting of Hambletonian. There are plenty of other clues to the fact that the house was owned by racehorse enthusiasts.

 

Above is the painting of Hambletonian by Stubbs which is literally worth millions of pounds. Below it is the paiting in situ at Mount Stewart. The horse itself was one of the top thoroughbreds of the 1790s and he was a winner of the St Leger in 1795. The painting is very large being 12 feet across and seven feet tall and the artist was well into his 70s. Apparently the power of the painting lies in the fact that the horse is stationary but has been painted to evoke power and movement. Can't see it myself but there you are. All you can say is it is worth a bob or two.

 

 

 

After leaving Mount Stewart we had a coach drive around Strangford Lough. No matter how many times we were told about its temperate climate it was difficult to see this on a cold and subsequently wet day. Ended the trip around the Ards peninsular.