<strong>Country house:</strong> Castle Ward is an 18th-century National Trust property on an 820-acre estate near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland.
Country house: Castle Ward is an 18th-century National Trust property on an 820-acre estate near the village of Strangford, in County Down, Northern Ireland.
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<strong>Lords of lockdown: </strong>Neil Watt (left), National Trust collections and house manager at Castle Ward, and his partner Kris Reid found themselves living alone in the mansion over lockdown.
Lords of lockdown: Neil Watt (left), National Trust collections and house manager at Castle Ward, and his partner Kris Reid found themselves living alone in the mansion over lockdown.
Liam McBurney/PA Images/Getty Images
<strong>Boudoir: </strong>Unusually, the house has a split architectural style: One half is Palladian Classical while in the other half -- such as the Boudoir -- it's gothic inside and out.
Boudoir: Unusually, the house has a split architectural style: One half is Palladian Classical while in the other half -- such as the Boudoir -- it's gothic inside and out.
Courtesy Neil Watt
<strong>Men about the house: </strong>The men used the time to give the huge mansion of more than 40 rooms a thorough makeover. <br />
Men about the house: The men used the time to give the huge mansion of more than 40 rooms a thorough makeover.
Liam McBurney/PA Images/Getty Images
<strong>Assistants:</strong> When restrictions eased over the summer, they were helped by colleagues and volunteers -- like collections assistant Emma McCullough.
Assistants: When restrictions eased over the summer, they were helped by colleagues and volunteers -- like collections assistant Emma McCullough.
Liam McBurney/PA Images/Getty Images
<strong>Reception hall: </strong>This magnificent chandelier in the reception hall was cleaned till it sparkled.
Reception hall: This magnificent chandelier in the reception hall was cleaned till it sparkled.
Courtesy Neil Watt
<strong>Painstaking:</strong> The elaborate lighting piece had to be taken apart and every piece cleaned carefully by hand.
Painstaking: The elaborate lighting piece had to be taken apart and every piece cleaned carefully by hand.
Courtesy Neil Watt
<strong>Fixing the damp: </strong>A new dehumidifying system has been installed to sort out a centuries-old damp problem.
Fixing the damp: A new dehumidifying system has been installed to sort out a centuries-old damp problem.
Courtesy Neil Watt
<strong>Spit and polish:</strong> All the metalwork was polished, including these very shiny doorknobs.
Spit and polish: All the metalwork was polished, including these very shiny doorknobs.
Courtesy Neil Watt