The Mystery of Mountstewart

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The Mystery of Mountstewart: Episode 2

Episode 2

BBC Radio Ulster - The Mystery of Mountstewart, Episode 2

1895.  Eight people are lost when a boat sinks on Strangford Lough. How does it happen?

1895.  Eight people are lost when a boat sinks on Strangford Lough - senior servants of political influencer Lady Theresa Londonderry. How does it happen and what does she do next?

April 1895.  Lady Theresa Londonderry is the foremost political influencer of her day, holding court for part of the year at Mount Stewart house on the shores of Strangford Lough in County Down.  While she brings her powerful personal influence to bear on the aristocracy and politicians of the day, her servants create dazzling social events to entrance her guests.  Then, as a treat for the most senior servants of her household, she lends out her personal sailing boat for a picnic on one of the islands in the Lough.  But the boat is never seen again and eight people are missing – presumed drowned.  
To try and unravel this mystery, we retrace the route of the boat that day in 1895, giving us a real sense of the experiences of those onboard.  They are people who have struggled hard to ascend the Victorian social ladder.  Working for Theresa gives status to boatman William Hagan who, assisted by his 17 year old son, is the most respected skipper on the lough.  Housekeeper, Elizabeth Dougal, has switched jobs many times to improve her prospects – now she has landed a forever job with the Londonderrys.  William Rowe was born in rural Somerset but went to London in his teens to seek his fortune before becoming valet to Lord Londonderry.  These people and others on the boat have come from humble origins to make it to the top of their professions.  
After the boat is lost, Theresa and her husband refer to these servants as “friends”.  But can this really be possible in an age marked so deeply by social inequality?  Incredibly, Theresa organises another boat trip for herself out on the lough to “break the ice” after the disaster.  Is she heartless?  Or is this evidence of how driven she is as a person to let nothing stop her pursuing her political career?


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1895. Eight people are lost when a boat sinks on Strangford Lough. How does it happen?

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