IGPS members visited Hillsborough Castle House and Garden on the 4th June. The House was built in the 1770s by Wills Hill 1st Marquis of Downshire and was remodelled in the 1800s and then again in the 20th century.
It passed to the British Goverment in 1922 and is now the official residence of the Royal Family when in N Ireland.
The Castle is set in 96 acres of garden and also has a lake. The front facade of the castle faces south on to the gardens. You will notice this in the pictures where the front patio has just had a complete makeover. Much work is still continuing at the moment so we were a little restricted on our visit. Strangely the sun did shine that day and everyone had a very pleasant afternoon, with many cafes in the village to visit afterwards.
Many thanks to Victor and Roz Henry for photographs
