Tonagh and Neave are new names of Rowallane lions

Tonagh and Neave are new names of Rowallane lions

23 May 2018

THE National Trust has unveiled the names of the two stone lions carved to replace a pair stolen from the entrance to the historic Rowallane Garden in Saintfield.

The imposing limestone sculptures  guarded the entrance to the Trust’s Northern Ireland headquarters for over a century but were stolen from their plinths on Boxing Day 2016 in a crime that left police baffled.

Despite an extensive campaign to highlight the theft, the statues’ whereabouts remained a mystery with Trust officials ordering two replacement lions to take pride of place at the entrance to the sprawling 50 acre estate.

The public was asked to help name the two new lions carved by stonemasons and last week the Trust revealed the new names — Tonagh and Neave — which when put together spell the old Irish name for Saintfield as chosen by former resident Justine Rea.

The fifth placed names choice was “Rowan and Allen’ followed by ‘Rowly and Armytage.’ Third place went to ‘Potter and Ponder, with ‘John and Hugh’ the runners-up.

A National Trust spokeswoman said it has been “brilliant” to see the new lions in place greeting visitors and staff each day. 

“Now, this chapter in our lions’ story is ending and we can finally match two strong names to our magnificent stone lions. Cheers to Tonagh and Neave, long may they be the guardians of Rowallane Garden,” she added.

A delighted Justine, speaking on social media, said she was “chuffed” to have been able to put forward names that people liked.

“I am a Saintfield girl born and bred but I live in England now. So lovely to have made the connection with the new lions,” she continued.

“My mum and sister are in Rowallane every day to dog walk and have promised to take a photo of the gorgeous Tonagh and Neave for me. I look forward to meeting them in person the next time I am home. Thanks to everyone who voted.”

Thousands of tourists enjoy the magnificent Saintfield garden which was laid out in the mid-1860s by the Rev John Moore, whose popular features include a walled garden, wildflower meadows, a large collection of rhododendrons and a farmland walk.

In 1875, the Rev Moore commissioned engineer James Coulter to create a new entrance to Rowallane Garden through the Avenue Ground.

He built two stone cairns from river-stone granite and installed a small bridge, which he finished off with the installation of the stone lions, which may have been purchased at auction or from another estate. 

The limestone lions were so much a fixture of the visitor experience to Rowallane that the National Trust decided to replace them after they had been stolen.

With the help of documentation and photographs from historical records, supplemented with many more photographs taken by visitors, the Trust commissioned Cliveden Conservation Ltd to work up small-scale maquettes.

The maquettes were then reviewed by the trust’s regional curator, conservator and the Rowallane Garden team and slight adjustments made, paving the way for a stonemason to begin the process of carving the new lions in sandstone to match the originals. Now in place, they have their new names which link the present and the past.

National Trust officials say it would have been “inconceivable” to leave the plinths where they sat empty, that was why they took the decision to commission two new lions.