Marjorie Congreve Garden Tour

The Marjorie Congreve Garden Tour – 19th March | 11:15 am

Duration: 1 hour | Fitness level: Low – Moderate | Members: €10 per person – Non Members €14 per person | Places are limited

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Enjoy an expert garden tour this Mother’s Day and see the stunning, year-round display of Mount Congreve House’s grounds. Enter into Mount Congreve House and embark on a gentle stroll from the house into the gardens as the Congreve’s would have. This guided visit will take you west through the terrace walk, past the ancient mass bush towards the Whitestone quarry surrounded by rhododendrons, highlights here include the delicately leafed Acer Tamukeyama and vibrant pink-green-tinged Pseudowintera, “Marjorie Congreve” named after Mr Ambrose Congreve’s wife. In the upper gardens, flowering camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas will lead to the beech lawn and the temple. Highlights here include a perfect example of the mass planting Mount Congreve is famous for and the temple itself with its timeless love story of Mr & Mrs Congreve. A stroll downhill past the rockery and towards the pagoda, from where we encounter the magnificent flowering magnolias overhead which is one of the highlights of the year in the garden. Past the gently flowing waterfall and head east towards the café or if time allows towards the bell gate lawn and walled garden which has been growing fruit and vegetables here for over 270 years. Return to the Stables Café for a beautiful lunch featuring fruit and vegetables from the walled garden or book our very special Afternoon Tea in the Chinese Room. PRE-BOOK NOW 

Discover More – Congreve, Mrs Ambrose, née Marjorie Gholson Glasgow

This is the only picture we have of Marjorie Glasgow, who Ambrose married in 1935.* The only child of Virginia socialite and engineer/banker father – Margaret Elizabeth Branch and Arthur Glasgow, Marjorie Congreve née Marjorie Gholson Glasgow was born in London. Marjorie met and married Ambrose Congreve in London in 1935. Interestingly, Marjorie gave up her US citizenship on marrying Ambrose. After their marriage, Ambrose joined the board of Humphreys & Glasgow the next year. Marjorie’s father had founded the firm in partnership with Alexander Humphreys in 1892. With operations based in London and New York, Humphreys & Glasgow’s business was the erection of gas manufacturing plants and apparatus and the firm’s gas plants were to be installed all over the world. He sold the company and retired in 1983. Timeline 1904 – Marjorie Gholson Glasgow is born in London 1935 – Majorie married Ambrose in London 1960 – Ambrose Christian Congreve and his wife Marjorie Glasgow of Virginia USA move into Mount Congreve following the death of his mother and in 1968 make it their personal home, modernising it and beginning extensive work on the surrounding gardens. 1995 – Marjorie Congreve passes away Ambrose and Marjorie had no children, but the Glasgows’ influence continues, specifically in Richmond where the family was one of education and affluence.   What we know Margaret Glasgow’s father was a prominent figure in the Richmond banking and investment groups. In 1909, he opened one of the city’s first bathhouses across the street from Monroe Park. The facade of the bathhouse became the facade for VCU’s GRC dorms. James Branch Cabell, the namesake of the Monroe Park campus library, was a cousin to Mrs. Glasgow. Mr. Glasgow was an engineer from 1885 to 1891. The next year, he created a partnership with Alexander Humphreys to create Humphreys & Glasgow, an engineering firm in London. He served as chairman for the company until 1939. Mr. Glasgow’s sister was the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Ellen Glasgow. Mrs. Glasgow died in August 1952 and Mr. Glasgow died in October 1955. Both are buried in Hollywood Cemetery. Perhaps Mount Congreve is a recipe for a long life. Marjorie died aged 92, and Ambrose reached the grand age of 104. A Tomb with a View  The Greek-inspired Temple was built by Ambrose Congreve at his favourite place in the Garden – to be his last resting place. There are many wonderful views in the garden, and this stunning view of the River Suir was the one Ambrose loved the best. His ashes were buried here in 2011 after he died at the extraordinary age of 104. The Temple is also the last resting place of Marjorie.   *Painting of Marjorie Gholson Glasgow in 1920 by Philip de László. Photography by John Kellett, Dublin Ireland © de Laszlo Foundation

Price: Members: €10 per person – Non Members €14 per person

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Mar 19 2023 to Mar 19 2023