Entrance Halls and Diningroom
The conducted tour begins within the entrance hall where
the walls carry antlers from the skeletons of two prehistoric deer found in a bog on the
estate in the early part of the 19th century when the ground was being drained for
agricultural improvement. The stags which carried antlers of this size were the woodland
predecessors of the present red deer of Scotland which live almost entirely on open
moorland. Beyond is the inner hall which was built in 1820 to enclose the Adam style
staircase that leads up to the first landing. The paintings on the first flight are family
portraits, the lady being the wife of the 5th Viscount.
Entrance is gained to the diningroom from the first
landing. This room is in a typical 18th century style with the family portraits on three
walls, that of the 1st Viscount (created 1641) being within the oval fram over the
fireplace. The notable pictures are those on the wall opposite the window and to the left
of the large cupboard. Five pictures of the exiled Stuart family include one of Price
Charlie, another of his brother the Cardinal, one of his father (the Old Pretender) and
two of his mother, Princess Sobieska. These five portraits were probably given to the
family after the rebellion in recognition for the loyalty of the 5th Viscount to the
Stuart cause. The 5th Viscount himself is in the large frame, full length on the right
hand side of the cupboard on the same wall. |
