Mystery of the Mountstewart

29th July 2021

Six years of volunteer research reveals the mystery of forgotten 19th-century boat disaster which killed eight on Strangford Lough.

A memorial near Mount Stewart in County Down sparked investigation
Eight people, four servants from Mount Stewart, two from Florence Court and two local boatmen were lost when the yacht sank in 1895.

Archive research reveals how a picnic outing ended in tragedy.
Drones, sonar and 3D images used to plot route doomed yacht Mountstewart took
Although almost forgotten today, the tragedy was deeply felt across the country at the time with Queen Victoria sending her sympathies.

Work had led to National Trust exhibition “The Mystery of the Mountstewart”
A chance discovery by a group walking on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down has led to a six-year volunteer project which has uncovered the history of the lough’s worst boating disaster in 1895, now detailed in a National Trust exhibition.

A memorial to the disaster still stands on the lough shore and was spotted by the group near Mount Stewart, now a National Trust house, in 2015. The cross was carved with an inscription recording that it was erected by the Marquis and Marchioness of Londonderry in “affectionate remembrance” of Eliza Taunt, Elizabeth Dougal, Joseph Grainge, William Rowe, William and Robert Hagan, their faithful servants, drowned in Strangford Lough on the 11 April 1895.

The four servants from Mount Stewart and two local boatmen, together with two servants visiting from Florence Court House in Fermanagh, Jane Cheshire and William Start, had perished together in the waters over 125 years ago. The party had set off on a picnic outing on the lough aboard the Mountstewart, Lady Londonderry’s yacht and never returned. Only four of the bodies were ever recovered.

At the discovery of the memorial, the group knew nothing of this tragic story, to date the single greatest loss of life on Strangford Lough – but they decided to find out more.

Delving into the archives to uncover the truth behind what happened to the Mountstewart yacht, the team of seven volunteers have spent over six years travelling around the country on a voyage of discovery.

From newspaper reports, family archives at Mount Stewart and public archives and other sources, they have traced descendants of those who died, including one lady in California whose great grandfather was Joseph Grainge, house steward at Mount Stewart.

Research has retrieved details of the event which was major news in its day with coverage in papers across the UK. The Marquis of Londonderry said the people lost were friends as much as servants, reflecting the impact it had on the household. Even Queen Victoria is recorded as having sent a telegram of condolences – although the telegram has not yet been found.

The group have also used technology in their research. Drones, sonar and 3D imagining have allowed them to plot the route taken by Mountstewart and produce a ‘probability box’, an area within which the boat is likely to have sunk. Although the wreck has not yet been located, the search is narrowing. They have identified a number of anomalies on the lough bed, mostly in depth of about 12-15 metres, although one is in the main channel at 27 metres. The team hope to explore them in more detail and discover the final resting place of the Mountstewart.

The work has led to an exhibition called “The Mystery of the Mountstewart” which answers some of the questions surrounding the fateful event.

“We have all been on an incredible journey and it’s not over yet,” said John Orr, a member of the research team. “To date we have uncovered a great deal, and through our research we have discovered images, artefacts and documents. We’ve been able to put faces to the names and identify the backgrounds and personalities of those who lost their lives. We’ve learnt a lot about the people involved, we’ve got to know them and what they did in their work in the houses in the late 1890s.”

Funded by the Department for Communities and The National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Heritage Recovery Fund, “The Mystery of the Mountstewart” exhibition presents some of the evidence gathered by the research team to date, including historic images, press clippings, eye witness accounts and more, and offers a poignant insight into life at Mount Stewart during the 19th-century.

The research group made some important discoveries including the existence of the unmarked grave of William Start in a churchyard in Portaferry and an original oar from the boat in a farmer’s barn on the Mount Stewart estate, all of which is explored in more detail in the exhibition.

Frances Bailey, Senior National Curator for the National Trust said: “This project has given us a glimpse into the lives of those lost and of those who searched and grieved for them in a powerful and sensitive way and provides an insight into their working environment as well as their private lives and families.  It has opened a window onto life at Mount Stewart in the late 19th century and greatly enriched our understanding and appreciation of the mutually respectful, even friendly, relationships between the Londonderrys and their staff.

“This research project was born from a chance discovery by a wonderful team of volunteers; it was fed by their enthusiasm, deep interest and empathy for those lost and those left behind; it was delivered with great professionalism and integrity. I can’t thank them enough for the work they have done and the rigour with which they have pursued it.”

Christopher Warleigh-Lack, Property Curator at Mount Stewart said: “This exhibition, the Mystery of the Mountstewart, is testament to the importance of research. It tells a story that had become almost forgotten, which piece by piece has been revealed and shared. What we see behind this exhibition is a long period of dedication from a group of committed volunteers, all bringing their own skills, experience, and nuance to the story. And for that, we are grateful.

Paul Mullan, Director, Northern Ireland, The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “We are grateful to the Department for Communities for providing this funding and enabling us to help a wide range of organisations and individuals as they recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This new National Trust exhibition highlights the intrinsic role that heritage plays in all of our lives. No matter where we come from, or what we do, we all have a story to tell. And although, this story is a tragic one, it’s an important part of local history that should be preserved.

“It also demonstrates how heritage can bring people together and it’s great that even more people will have the opportunity to better understand their local heritage through this project.”

The exhibition “The Mystery of the Mountstewart” opens on 29 June at Mount Stewart, Newtownards, County Down. Entrance is free for National Trust members and ticket holders. Pre-booking is recommended, especially at weekends. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/mount-stewart.

Featured photo shows Theresa, Lady Londonderry and William Hagan sailing the Mountstewart on Strangford Lough. Credit: The Estate of the Marquess of Londonderry / National Trust Images.