The Walled Garden

The garden was also the perfect place for the Ward family and their guests to spend a leisurely afternoon.  

Although the garden eventually fell into disrepair, North Down Borough Council restored and opened it to the public in April 2009. Occupying 1.5 acres of land, the Walled Garden is divided into four sections, or quadrants, including the:

• Flower garden
• Herb and topiary garden
• Kitchen garden 
• Swamp garden

Garden sculptures

In addition to the myriad of plants located within the Walled Garden, Council also commissioned two pieces of art for the space. The first is a centrally located fountain from Hampshire-based artists Charles Normandale and Julie Brooks-Hill. Inspired by Northern Ireland’s links to the linen industry and North Down’s maritime and fishing heritage, it also evokes the Victorian tongue-twister, A Twister Twisting, which is etched into the coping stone around the piece.

The second sculpture is The Curved Horn, designed by Dungannon artist Diane McCormick, which celebrates Bangor’s maritime history with a Viking long ship-inspired design, complete with curved horn ‘prows’ representing the ‘curved horn’ meaning of the name Bangor (Beannchor). Shapes within the bronze sculpture also portray other elements of Bangor’s history, including the gold whale tooth sent to Beannchair in 739, the Bangor Bell and various Victorian plants.

Home Farm was once beside the Walled Garden, where Bangor Aurora Aquatic and Leisure Complex now stands. These buildings, located on the edge of the estate, also belonged to Robert Edward Ward.

Opening times

Monday – Sunday: 10am – 6pm