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Garden Owners,
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Armchair Travel Co Ltd
http://www.armchair-travel.com
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Garden Name: Bantry House & Gardens
Last Modified: 18/01/2011
Garden ID: 0516

pic: 0516_Bantry.jpg

Owner: Mr. & Mrs. Shelswell-White
Address:
Bantry
Co. Cork

Postcode: 
County: Republic of Ireland

tel: +353 (0)27 50047
fax: +353 (0)27 50795
website: www.bantryhouse.com
email: info {at} bantryhouse.com

Features: 
Wisteria Circle, Hundred Steps, Italianate Gardens & Fountain and spectacular views
House contains an important collection of furniture, tapestries and objets d'art

English Heritage Grade:


Opening Times:
17th March - 31st Oct; daily; 10am-6pm

Best Times of Year to Visit: 
May, June & July

To see: 
Wisteria Circle, parterre, hundred steps, woodland walks sunken garden

National Collection: 


National Garden Scheme days: No
Comments: 

Parties / Coaches: Yes 
Comments: No appointment necessary unless guided tour for groups desired

Viewing by Appointment: Yes
Comments: No appointment necessary unless guided tour for groups desired 

House Open for Viewing: Yes
Comments: Mid-March - end Oct; daily; 10am-6pm; last admission 5.30

Admission Prices:
Adult €10; Concessions €8; Child €3; Family day ticket €24; Season Garden Pass €7.50
Garden only: €5
Includes (self-guided) tour of the house.

Parking: Yes
Lavatories: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
Shop: No
Plants for Sale: No
Lunches: Yes
Teas: Yes
Refreshments: Yes
Picnics: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes
Only on Lead: Yes
Events: Yes

Other Facilities:
Limited access for the disabled. Groups needing lunch should book in advance.
Please check for upcoming events on own website.


Designer: Second Earl of Bantry
Description of Garden:
The second Earl of Bantry terraced the land around the house, seven terraces in all, with the house sitting on the third terrace. A parterre facing south surrounding a wisteria circle, which again surrounds a fountain was also created. From there rise the famous Hundred Steps, a monumental staircase built of local stone, set amidst azaleas and rhododendron.


History: 
The structure of the garden as we know it today, dates back to the second Earl of Bantry's travels. Both he and Mary, his wife, travelled with notebooks and sketchbooks (now in the Archive at University College Cork) at hand, which helped to transform the small house at home into a "palazzo" comparable to those he had seen on the continent. 
The 'Cardinal Rule' to be applied was that house, garden and site must be a unit, as if one could not have been conceived without the others. 
The garden, indeed the whole demesne, had fallen into great neglect over many years. In 1997, due to the offer of EEC grant, the decision was taken to start restoration work on the garden. 
The grant came to an end in 2000, but thankfully work in the garden is ongoing. Woodland is being cleared and maintenance of the restored areas kept to a high standard.
Bantry House is the ancestral home of the Earls of Bantry, still lived in by their descendant Egerton & Brigitte Shelswell-White, and their family.

Local Inns: 


Accomodation: 
Accommodation available on B&B basis in the east and west wing

Restaurants: 
On site

Village/Town/Sightseeing: 
Bantry 
West Cork