Crom Estate
Encyclopedia
The Crom Estate is a nature reserve
located in the south of County Fermanagh
, Northern Ireland
, along the shores of Upper Lough Erne. It is one of three estates owned and managed by the National Trust
in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court
and Castle Coole
mansions. The estate comprises 1350 acres (5.5 km²), composed primarily of riparian forest
. Some trees are so ancient that physical access is restricted.
, and possibly Europe
, at the entrance to the Old Castle Garden. The trees are reputed to be more than 800 years old and were nominated as one of the 50 Greatest British Trees for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002.
country estates, the first house at Crom was built by a Scottish
Planter at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1611, as part of the Plantation of Ulster
, Michael Balfour, the Laird of Mountwhinney, constructed a house on the lough shore opposite Inishfendra Island. Following the usual pattern for a Plantation castle, it was built of lime and stone and enclosed within a bawn. It survived two Jacobite
sieges before being destroyed in 1764 by a domestic fire. The ruins of this castle still survive today. In 1840 a new neo-Tudor Crom Castle
was built, designed by Scottish architect Edward Blore
. It remains the property of The Earl Erne
and is not open to the public. The estate was gifted by the present Lord Erne to the National Trust in 1987.
Crom Estate was the location of a great Classic yacht and steamboat regatta in August 2010 when the races of the 1890's were recreated in Trial bay using Norfork Broads One-Designs (brown boats), Lough Erne Fairies, Fife One Designs from Anglesea, and a pair of Colleens. Racing took place on Upper Lough Erne within sight of the castle, and the boats moored each evening off the boathouse in Crom Bay.
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
located in the south of County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh
Fermanagh District Council is the only one of the 26 district councils in Northern Ireland that contains all of the county it is named after. The district council also contains a small section of County Tyrone in the Dromore and Kilskeery road areas....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, along the shores of Upper Lough Erne. It is one of three estates owned and managed by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court
Florence Court
Florence Court is a large 18th century house and estate located 8 miles south-west of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is set in the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain. The nearby village is distinguished by the one-word name Florencecourt. It is owned and managed by the National...
and Castle Coole
Castle Coole
Castle Coole is a townland and a late-18th-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.Set in a 1200 acre wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the...
mansions. The estate comprises 1350 acres (5.5 km²), composed primarily of riparian forest
Riparian forest
A riparian forest is a forested area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir. -Etymology:...
. Some trees are so ancient that physical access is restricted.
Features
The estate features an award-winning visitor centre and a mammal hide with the chance of seeing rare pine martens. Fishing, boat hire and camping is also available. The ruins of the old castle, as well as the remains of a late 17th century formal garden and bowling green to the south of the site can also be visited. Crom is also home to some of the oldest yew trees in IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and possibly Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, at the entrance to the Old Castle Garden. The trees are reputed to be more than 800 years old and were nominated as one of the 50 Greatest British Trees for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002.
History
Like many UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
country estates, the first house at Crom was built by a Scottish
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Planter at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1611, as part of the Plantation of Ulster
Plantation of Ulster
The Plantation of Ulster was the organised colonisation of Ulster—a province of Ireland—by people from Great Britain. Private plantation by wealthy landowners began in 1606, while official plantation controlled by King James I of England and VI of Scotland began in 1609...
, Michael Balfour, the Laird of Mountwhinney, constructed a house on the lough shore opposite Inishfendra Island. Following the usual pattern for a Plantation castle, it was built of lime and stone and enclosed within a bawn. It survived two Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
sieges before being destroyed in 1764 by a domestic fire. The ruins of this castle still survive today. In 1840 a new neo-Tudor Crom Castle
Crom Castle
Crom Castle is situated on the shores of the Upper Lough Erne in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and set within a estate. The present structure was built in 1820 in the Victorian style and has been the home to the Crichton family, Earls of Erne for centuries...
was built, designed by Scottish architect Edward Blore
Edward Blore
Edward Blore was a 19th century British landscape and architectural artist, architect and antiquary. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ....
. It remains the property of The Earl Erne
Henry Crichton, 6th Earl Erne
Henry George Victor John Crichton, 6th Earl Erne , is an Irish peer and the current Lord Lieutenant of Fermanagh. He often styles himself simply as Harry Erne....
and is not open to the public. The estate was gifted by the present Lord Erne to the National Trust in 1987.
Crom Estate was the location of a great Classic yacht and steamboat regatta in August 2010 when the races of the 1890's were recreated in Trial bay using Norfork Broads One-Designs (brown boats), Lough Erne Fairies, Fife One Designs from Anglesea, and a pair of Colleens. Racing took place on Upper Lough Erne within sight of the castle, and the boats moored each evening off the boathouse in Crom Bay.
External links
- Virtual Tour of Crom Estate Northern Ireland - Virtual Visit Northern Ireland