Thursday 3 November 2016

GOOD FENCES - Mount Stewart

These are some fences I took last Thursday when I visited Mount Stewart House and Gardens.  You will have to use your imagination a little  with the ones I took of the boys in ‘The Thursday Gang’.  It was their last day of doing Thursdays as guides until the spring as the house is only open at weekends in the winter.  So for their final day, they all worn bow ties.  When they are at their post/ room, they are ‘fenced’ in until someone comes to relieve them.






This is Gary and Pete




The restoration work is still continuing and part of the main entrance hall is now fenced off as they are lifting the black and white tiles to restore the original stone floor beneath.




This is Stephen in the Drawing room.  Behind him is a painting of Robert Stewart,  2nd Marquess of Londonderry, better known as Lord Castlereagh.



Now Paul did NOT have a bow tie on and I wanted to know why!!  I told him he was a rebel and to explain!   He said he was going to wear his full evening suit and got it out last night to see if it needed pressed.  He had not worn it since he had brought it home from the cleaners 2 years prior to this.  He tried it on, only to discover it did not fit and although he has added a few pounds over the past 2 years, he knew there was more to this than being a little heavier these days.  He discovered the suit was NOT his and he was going to have to take it back to the cleaners!  Well that seems a good enough excuse, so I took his photograph.


Chas standing in Lord Castlereagh’s Sitting Room  



John, better known as The Admiral by the Thursday Gang is standing holding the book called The Magic Inkpot which was written by Edith, Lady Londonderry and I will explain more about that tomorrow. (Don't miss that)



I am linking this post with GOOD FENCES.  

I take off my hat to all the guides who give up their time to show people round the house and let them know some of the history of it and then point them to the many beautiful gardens in the grounds.

Many thanks for visiting and also to all who comment.

24 comments:

  1. Très belle visite ;-)
    Céline & Philippe

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  2. That is a HUGE restoration job.
    Love the bow ties.

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  3. Thanks Margaret for showing us around the big house.

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  4. Your Thursday gang must have a lot of fun! Great photos around this beautiful home!

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  5. Hello Margaret, looks like a fun day for you and your friends. The gardens and pond are beautiful. Great collection of photos. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend ahead!

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  6. Wonderful photos - the restoration work looks a big job! Love the autumn colours too.

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  7. I love the third photo, of the orange tree and the fence beneath it.

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  8. Pretty scenery, and the guys look very handsome all dressed up!

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  9. The fall colors are pretty in your first couple of photos!

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  10. Good to see all that restoration work going on Margaret. It looks like a Labour of Love and huge fun for all concerned.

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  11. Nice looking group of guys to be guides for this splendid home and grounds.

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  12. Love those first few shots! Gorgeous! The last one looks like a beehive on a wheelbarrow???

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  13. The guides look very sharp indeed! Maybe once the floor is restored you will show us? Love this staircase and the path with the beautiful tree, so lovely!

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  14. nice, snappy looking "young" men!!! that restoration project looks like a big undertaking, it's nice that it is being done!!!

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  15. Wooow!
    Margaret, wonderful relationship and photos.
    Oh, but fantastic men!
    Greetings.
    Lucja

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  16. A lovely tour and some snappy gentlemen for sure ;o) Side note, I quite liked the large horse painting on the turquoise wall. Thanks for sharing!

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  17. ow wonderful that this place is bein restored. All the Gentleman looks so dapper. - Beautiful grounds with very nice fences & some lovely autumn foliage to enjoy too.

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  18. Nice set of photos- I wonder how your friend made out at the cleaners after having the wrong suit for 2 years. I like the fences in your first few photos!

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  19. What a delightful experience. These guys certainly appear to enjoy their "work". Nice post.

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  20. neat place. i like the gents, too.

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  21. Interesting photos.The colourful foliage is beautiful.

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  22. Hi Margaret. Awesome post as always. Chris looks like a Lord himself. Have a great day. Jo

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  23. A most interesting post, Margaret, with some fine images. It's a place I'd love to visit - thanks to your coverage of it!

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  24. What a great place. It's always more fun when you have enthusiastic guides.

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