The house from "Morris's Views of Seats," circa 1875.
Built / Designed For: 8th Earl of Abercorn
House & Family History: Baronscourt is, at its center, a block that is seven bays by two stories, designed in 1779 by George Steuart (most famous for designing Attingham Park) for the 8th Earl of Abercorn. On its garden facade the main block features a three-bay pedimented breakfront with urns along the roof parapet and two-story four-bay wings on either side. The entrance facade of the main block has a large porte-cochere of four giant Ionic columns with wreaths on the frieze and the Abercorn arms carved in the tympanum by Terence Farrell. The 1st Marquess of Abercorn engaged John Soane to remodel the house between 1791 and 1795 (all of Soane's work was lost in the 1796 fire), followed in the early 19th century by enlargement of the house and the remodeling of the interiors in a sumptuous Neoclassical style by Vitruvius Morrison, who worked with father, Sir Richard Morrison, on the project. The very fine interiors include the yellow-walled rotunda, lit by an oculus in a coffered dome and supported by gray stone shaft scagliola Ionic columns. The staircase hall has a ceiling of rectangular coffering with an acanthus frieze and fluted engaged columns. The gallery, 88 feet long, takes up the entire garden façade of the original house. In the 1940s the gallery was divided into three rooms for the 4th Duke by Sir Albert Richardson; in the 1970s it was restored to its original configuration (as designed by Vitruvius Morrison) by interior designer David Hicks, leaving Desmond Guinness to write in "Great Irish Houses and Castles," that the gallery is "...probably the finest Morrison room anywhere..." The old dining room has a mantel brought from another Hamilton house, Duddingston, near Edinburgh. The 2nd Marquess of Abercorn served twice as lord lieutenant of Ireland (1866-68 and 1874-76) and was created 1st Duke of Abercorn in 1868.
Collections: The old dining room contains a life-sized portrait of the 1st Marquess of Abercorn by Thomas Lawrence, as well as a Lawrence of the marquess's mistress, Frances Hawkins, with their son, Arthur Fitz-James. Furniture from Baronscourt was sold at Christie's on December 6, 1984. Bernardo Bellotto's "Two Views of Vaprio d'Adda with the Villa Melzi" was sold on December 13, 1991 at Christie's for £2,090,000.
Architect: Raymond Charles Erith
Date: 1973Architect: John Soane
Date: 1791-95Architect: Robert A. Woodgate
Date: 1791-99Architect: William Vitruvius Morrison
Date: 1819-41Architect: Richard Morrison
Date: 1819-41Architect: Albert Edward Richardson
Date: 1947-49Country Life: CLXVI, 86, 162, 232, 1979.
Title: Guide to Irish Country Houses, A
Author: Bence-Jones, Mark
Year Published: 1988
Reference: pgs. 32-33
Publisher: London: Constable and Company
ISBN: 0094699909
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - HARDBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 2008
Reference: pgs. 968, 983
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 9780300125085
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Great Irish Houses and Castles
Author: O'Brien, Jacqueline; Guinness, Desmond
Year Published: 1992
Reference: pgs. 204, 206, 209
Publisher: New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
ISBN: 0810933659
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 1990
Author: Kidd, Charles; Williamson, David (Editors)
Year Published: 1990
Reference: pg. P 3
Publisher: London: Debrett's Peerage Limited (New York: St. Martin's Press, Inc.)
ISBN: 0312046405
Book Type: Hardback
Title: Disintegration of a Heritage: Country Houses and their Collections, 1979-1992, The
Author: Sayer, Michael
Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Norfolk: Michael Russell (Publishing)
ISBN: 0859551970
Book Type: Hardback
House Listed: Grade A
Park Listed: Listed
Current Seat / Home of: James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn; Hamilton family here since 1612.
Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust
Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home
Ownership Details: Owned by Mount Castle Trust and available for corporate events and accommodation in outbuildings.
House Open to Public: By Appointment
Phone: 02881-661-683
Fax: 02881-662-059
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://barons-court.com/
Historic Houses Member: No