Couple left on their own in mansion revive its faded glories
A COUPLE who found themselves living alone in a stately manor during the pandemic used the time to revitalise its historic interior.
Neil Watt, 36, moved into the top floor of the Castle Ward mansion in Co Down with his partner Kris Reid, 29, in March after being appointed collections and house manager of the National Trust property.
Mr Watt was preparing to welcome thousands to the 18th-century attraction – famous for its contrasting architectural styles of Classical and Gothic – on the banks of Strangford Lough, but that was quickly halted by lockdowns.
Instead, Mr Watt and Mr Reid spent most of 2020 with the huge home to themselves.
As the months wore on, the experienced conservationists tackled project after project – restoring parts of Castle Ward’s shabby chic interior back to former glories.
First there was the installation of a new dehumidifying system to address a centuries-old damp problem.
Then they set about cleaning and cataloguing the house’s collection of 2,000 books, most dating from the 18th century.
Castle Ward also boasts one of the finest sets of cooking pots and pans in Ireland, but over the centuries it had become blackened and tarnished.
The pair took on the job of polishing the 100 pieces one by one.
They did the same with many other fixtures and fittings, including all the brass door handles.
The good weather in the early summer enabled them to clean the antique window blinds and beat down the luxury carpets and rugs.
There was also the delicate job of cleaning the crystal Victorian chandeliers.
Mr Watt said that in any other year, the amount of work would not have been feasible.
“You only have so many hours in the day and if the house is open from 11am until 5pm you can’t do all this work in front of the public, because it would detract from their experience,” he said.