Restoration plans for Mount Congreve are unveiled
One of the most unexpected features within Mount Congreve Gardens is set to be transformed, as plans are unveiled for the restoration of the Chinese Pagoda.
Commissioned by Ambrose Congreve in the late 1970s and inspired by his extensive travels throughout Asia, the structure was originally constructed in timber before later being adapted with fibreglass roof elements during the 1980s.
Following decades of exposure to the elements and significant deterioration, the pagoda is to undergo a conservation project that aims to restore the structure.
Planned conservation works will focus on stabilising the structure, restoring key architectural features and securing the long-term future of one of Mount Congreve’s most distinctive landmarks.
The project forms part of a broader programme of heritage conservation and interpretation taking place across the estate.
Sara Dolan, CEO of Mount Congreve Gardens, said: “The Chinese Pagoda represents Ambrose Congreve’s deep curiosity about the world and his desire to create moments of surprise, beauty and discovery throughout the gardens. It is a unique and much-loved feature of the estate and an important part of Mount Congreve’s evolving story."
Primrose Wilson of the Irish Follies Trust added: “This is a fascinating and unusual conservation project. Garden follies form an important part of Ireland’s designed landscapes, and the Mount Congreve Pagoda is particularly distinctive in both its setting and design. We are delighted to support Mount Congreve in ensuring the structure is conserved with care, integrity and appropriate expertise.”
As part of the conservation process, historic drawings, photographs, and oral histories connected to the pagoda’s construction are now being gathered to help document the structure’s history and inform the restoration approach.
Visitors will be able to follow the restoration journey through new interpretation panels at the pagoda site, digital storytelling initiatives and wider public engagement activity across the estate.
Funding applications are currently being explored with restoration works anticipated to commence in 2027, subject to approvals and funding, a spokesperson said.
