Powerscourt

Powerscourt is located in the Wicklow Mountains. Our friend Julian Girdham took us on a tour on Sunday. The day started out quite sunny, but we did get out daily spot of rain as well--the benefit was a rainbow! Here you see a picture of the estate with Triton Lake in the foreground. The fountain in the centre of the lake is based on the fountain in the Piazza Baberini in Rome. The Winged Horse has a mate on the other side of the patio as well--these are the heraldic supporters of the Wingfield arms and were executred in zinc by Professor Hugo Hagen in Berlin in 1869. You can get a view of the Wicklow Mountains in the background. You could see where several gardens were just getting set to bloom. Spring time here would be beautiful! Below, I've cut and pasted the official blurbs from the website. Truly a must see if you are here!

Powerscourt is one of the most beautiful country estates in Ireland. Situated in the mountains of Wicklow, it was originally an important strategic site for the Anglo-Normans who came to Ireland in the 12th century. By the year 1300 a castle had been built here and was in the possession of the le Poer (Power) family from which it takes its name. The succeeding centuries saw the castle held for different periods by powerful families such as the O'Tooles and the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Kildare.
In 1603 Powerscourt Castle and lands were granted to a new English arrival in the area: Richard Wingfield. Following a successful military career in Ireland, Flanders, France and Portugal, Wingfield was knighted and in 1600 was appointed as Marshal of Ireland. His descendants were to remain at Powerscourt for over 350 years.
Palladian Design Powerscourt was much altered in the 18th century when famous German-born architect, Richard Castle, remodelled the castles and grounds. The work was commissioned by Richard Wingfield (1697-1751) and involved the creation of a magnificent mansion around the shell of the earlier castle. The central courtyard was converted into an entrance hall beneath the remarkably beautiful ballroom. The north front was adapted to present a grand entrance in the Palladian manner, while the south and front faced the gardens and was initially only two storeys in height. An extra storey was added in 1787 and further major alterations were made in the late 19th century. The house contained some of the finest 18th century interiors in Ireland.

Powerscourt Estate History

Garden History The gardens at Powerscourt were laid out in two main periods. When the house was rebuilt in the decade after 1731, the surrounding grounds were laid out in a series of formal rides and parkland to the North, with carefully planned gardens and terraces to the South. The design reflected the desire to create a garden which was part of the wider landscape. To the north formal tree plantations framed the vista from the house, while a walled garden, fish pond, cascades, grottos and terraces lay to the south. Walks wound through the wooded grounds and a fine tree lined avenue was created. A century later the 6th Viscount Powerscourt instructed his architect, Daniel Robertson, to draw up new schemes for the gardens. Robertson was one of the leading proponents of Italianate garden design which was influenced by the terraces and formal features of Italian Renaissance villas and perfected in gardens in France and Germany. Robertson designed the terrace nearest the house. He is said to have suffered from gout and directed operations from a wheelbarrow, fortified by a bottle of sherry. When the sherry was finished, work ceased for the day! The death of the 6th Viscount in 1844 meant that alterations to the gardens ceased until his son resumed the work in the late 1850s. Using a combination of Robertson's designs and the plans of the other landscape experts, the terraces were completed, enormous numbers of trees were planted and the grounds adorned with an amazing collection of statuary, ironwork and other decorative items. By the time of his death in 1904, the 7th Viscount had transformed the Estate. Further generations of the Wingfields maintained the grounds, adding the Japanese Gardens, Pepper Pot Tower and continuing to plant specimen trees. In 1961 the Estate passed to the Slazenger family, under whose aegis the Gardens received more care and attention. The gardens were open to the public and in 1974 a major refurbishment was carried out so that the house could be opened to visitors.

The Fire
Tragically in the early hours of 4th November a fire broke out on the top floor and by the morning the main part of the house was a roofless shell. No one was injured, but all of the principal reception rooms and bedrooms were destroyed. The walls of the main house, revealing stonework dating back to the 16th century, stood as a stark reminder of the fire for over twenty years.

Powerscourt Today
Then in 1996 a process of regeneration began with the re-roofing of the house and the restoration of the windows as they were before the fire. The entrance hall now features an exhibition describing the fascinating history of Powerscourt, while shops, a terrace café and other visitor facilities are also located in the house. The ballroom has been restored and is now used for weddings and corporate functions. Powerscourt house is again a living, vibrant place.