A labour of love

Mount Stuart is a shining example of the grand domestic architecture that came out of Britain's 19th Century Gothic Revival. It stands, cathedral-like, as a monument to an obsession with the medieval past.

The house arose from the ashes of the previous Mount Stuart, a building dating from the reign of Queen Anne, which was destroyed by fire in 1877. Under the direction of the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson, this extravagant new house was born, fusing powerful architecture with noble themes and lavish designs.

Like its creator, the 3rd Marquess of Bute, this sandstone palace is profoundly inspired by history, astrology, art and mythology. As the greatest architectural patron of his day, Bute poured his passion and imagination into the imposing marble hall, breathtaking chapel, pioneering swimming pool and ornate reception rooms you see today.

Yet the enormous house was never finished, much only being completed in an ambitious restoration programme begun by the late 6th Marquess in the 1980s. The careful development, refurbishment and investment into the fabric of Mount Stuart continues to this day.

Mount Stuart, Britain’s most astounding Victorian gothic house