The Temple of the Winds, Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down, BT22 2RU

The Temple of the Winds is an octagonal, two-storey hipped banqueting house built between 1782 and 1785 by James 'Athenian' Stuart. It stands on a promontory to the east of Mount Stewart house, commanding views over Strangford Lough. The building represents one of the most important pieces of architecture in Northern Ireland and is considered more aesthetically significant than the house itself.

The design is based directly on the 1st century BC Tower of the Winds in Athens. Stuart, a pioneer of neo-classical architecture in Europe, had made this ancient structure well known in the British Isles through the publication of his Antiquities of Athens, the earliest accurate survey of Classical Greek buildings, which appeared in 1762. Robert Stewart, the owner of Mount Stewart at the time, engaged Stuart to design the Temple; Stuart's account records show he was paid £54 3s 4d in June 1783 for the cost of plans and designs.

The building is constructed in fine Scrabo sandstone and features a pitched main roof with a central octagonal chimney, both roofed in slate. Two of the eight faces—the south-east and south-west—are distinguished by porticoes with entablatures and dentilled cornices, each supported on two fluted Corinthian columns with respondent pilasters lacking bases but possessing leaf capitals. Small balconies enclosed by balustrades sit above these porticoes. On the north face, a three-quarter-round stair projection with a domed roof projects from the main structure, standing slightly lower than the main building.

Each of the eight faces of the main section contains a sash window with Georgian panes on both ground and first floors. The portico entrances are fitted with similar window frames, and windows above the porticoes have pediments, while the remainder have narrow plain surrounds. At the base of the stair tower are three openings: the eastern one contains a timber panelled double door, while those to the north and west hold windows matching those elsewhere. The upper level has corresponding windows. A string course runs between the floors, and an eaves cornice tops the walls. The entire building rests on a stepped base.

A basement level is accessible via a subterranean passage, the entrance to which lies a few metres to the north. Light wells set into the stepped base allow views into the basement above its windows.

Stuart's involvement brought the Temple to prominence, though he was never a prolific architect. He likely came to Robert Stewart's attention through either James Gandon or through Stewart's brother-in-law, Lord Camden. The chief craftsmen employed on the project were masons David McBlain and Michael Campbell, carpenter John Campbell, and plasterer William Fitzgerald. A chimney piece was sent from London, and ornamental work executed in Birmingham was also acquired.

The Temple of the Winds was given to the National Trust by Lady Mairi Bury in 1962 and underwent extensive restoration shortly afterwards, with both main rooms being redecorated. Further restoration work was carried out in 1994.