Grand Hillsborough Castle is the official residence for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and is where members of the British Royal Family customarily reside when in the country. In 1920, this 18th century Georgian manor was sold by the sixth Marquess of Downshire to the British government (it is not actually a castle and the name Hillsborough derives from the Hill family that built it, and the surrounding village). Since then, it has played host to numerous British and foreign dignitaries, including former President George W Bush.
Steeped in history, Hillsborough Castle is where the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985 was signed, aimed at bringing an end to the troubles. Crucial talks leading to the treaty that actually achieved that goal, the Good Friday Agreement, were also held here. The ashes of Mo Mowlam were scattered within the grounds.
Tours of Hillsborough Castle and almost 100 acres of pretty gardens are available, but check online before visiting as house visits operate to a schedule. You can wander through elegant staterooms, including the Throne Room, and see portraits of those who have stayed here, from regal personages to humble pot-washers. The gardens, featuring ornamental landscaping, scenic woodland and trickling streams, are a joy to wander around any day of the year. What began as a simple country home has now become the heart of a scenic Georgian village and a royal favourite, but more than that, a fixture of Northern Ireland’s turbulent history.
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