Baronscourt Fête

Hard to believe it was two years ago (June, 2015) that I travelled down to Baronscourt, the Duke of Abercorn's stately home in county Tyrone.

A summer fête was taking place within the grounds in order to raise funds for the Woodland Trust's Centenary Woods project, one of four flagship woods being created throughout the United Kingdom to mark the centenary of the 1st World War.

I began the day with a visit to Baronscourt House, where there were guided tours by Lord Anthony Hamilton, the Duke's brother.

I had earlier encountered the Duke and Duchess near the stately porte-cochère outside the house. 

Stable-yard entrance

Inside the mansion house, Lord Anthony conducted tours of the principal rooms, including the main hall, the Rotunda, the long gallery at the garden front (the present garden front used to be the entrance front).

There is a charming little children's play house (below) within the formal garden beside the House.

Baronscourt boasts an array of old masters, including portraits by van Dyke and Panini, to mention but a few.

Ducal arms

I reminisced with Lord Anthony about his period as custodian of Florence Court estate, County Fermanagh, during the late 1970s.

At lunch-time I made a beeline for the stable-yard tea-room, where ladies of Baroncourt parish were providing delicious cream teas, sandwiches, and pastries.

Later, I ambled towards a display of army trucks, including one mighty beast which had two bunk-beds behind the driver's seat.

At two o'clock, Peter Archdale conducted an informative woodland walk.

Deep in the woods, there is a replica of a Russian Dacha  (the Duchess is patron of the Pushkin Trust).

Dacha replica

Irish cobs

I left for home at about four-thirty.

First published in June, 2015