Saturday, 16 September 2023

Botanic Gardens Visit


I spent a pleasant and relaxing hour at Belfast's Botanic Gardens this afternoon [6th April, 2015].

The Ulster Museum is a "must see" for visitors to Northern Ireland, particularly Belfast.

The Gardens themselves, with the magnificent Palm House, are well worth a visit.

The Tropical Ravine is temporarily closed [now reopened] for major restoration work.

The Palm House, however, is open and Big Urn (top) welcomes visitors!

In the Museum, it's a joy to wander through the various galleries.

Theodosia, Countess of Clanwilliam (1743-1817)

There's an exquisite Gainsborough of Theodosia Magill, 1st Countess of Clanwilliam.

It was delightful to see so many portraits of figures that I've written articles about, or their families.

1st Earl Macartney (1737-1806)

George, 1st Earl Macartney, is on display; as is James Stewart, of Killymoon Castle, County Tyrone.

John, 1st Viscount O'Neill (1740-98)

John, 1st Viscount O'Neill (1740-98), wore a fine tricorn hat for his sitting.

James Stewart
James Stewart (1742-1821), of Killymoon Castle, County Tyrone, was MP for the county from 1801-12.


My favourite portrait by Sir John Lavery is, I think, called The Bridge at Grez.

Can any readers recognize the coat-of-arms on the silver 18th century tureen? It bears a viscount's coronet.


It might have belonged to Clotworthy Skeffington, 4th or 5th Viscount Massereene.
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3 comments:

  1. Kyle Leyden17 August 2015 at 23:42

    The Arms on the left of the blazon on the tureen are: Quarterly: 1st and 4th, Argent three Bulls' Heads erased Sable armed Or (Skeffington); 2nd and 3rd, Azure a Chevron between three Chaplets Or (Clotworthy) as borne by the Viscounts Masereene. On the right are the arms of Anne Eyre (b. c. 1716; d. 20 May 1805), daughter and heiress of Henry Eyre, of Row Tor, Derbyshire, by his first wife Elizabeth Hickman, dau. of Sir Willoughby Hickman, Bt. Argent on a chevreon sable three quatrefoils or, a
    bordure azure. So these are the marital arms of Clotworthy Skeffington, 5th Viscount Masereene and the tureen must have been made between 11th Feb 1738 when the 4th Viscount died and 28th July 1756 when the 5th Viscount was created 1st Earl Massereene.

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  2. Timothy Belmont18 August 2015 at 08:07

    Many thanks, Kyle. Coincidentally, I'm reading a book by Anthony Malcolmson about the 2ns Earl of Massereene.

    Tim.

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  3. Andrew16 September 2023 at 08:49

    Belfast is very fortunate to have such a wonderful green space so close to the city and the river. It is so freely accessible too with fine glasshouses. I was very impressed.

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