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The '''Crom Estate''' (pronounced ''crumb'') is a [[nature reserve]] located in the south of [[County Fermanagh]], [[Northern Ireland]], along the shores of [[Upper Lough Erne]]. It is one of three estates owned and managed by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] in County Fermanagh, the others being [[Florence Court]] and [[Castle Coole]] mansions. The estate comprises {{convert|1350|acre|km2}}, composed primarily of [[riparian forest]]. Some trees are so ancient that physical access is restricted.

==Features==
The estate features an award-winning visitor centre and a mammal hide with the chance of seeing rare [[European Pine Marten|pine martens]]. Fishing, boat hire and camping is also available.<ref>{{cite web | title=Crom Estate | work=National Trust | url=http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cromestate | accessdate=2008-12-22}}</ref> The ruins of the old castle, as well as the remains of a late 17th century formal garden and bowling green to the south of the site can also be visited. Crom is also home to some of the oldest yew trees in [[Ireland]], and possibly [[Europe]], at the entrance to the Old Castle Garden. The trees are reputed to be more than 800 years old and were nominated as one of the 50 Greatest British Trees for the Queen's Jubilee in 2002.<ref name="BB">{{cite web | title=Crom Estate | work=BBC - Hands on Nature | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/handsonnature/estates/crom_castle.shtml | accessdate=2008-12-22}}</ref>

==History==
Like many [[Ulster]] country estates, the first house at Crom was built by a [[Scottish people|Scottish]] Planter at the beginning of the 17th century. In 1611, as part of the [[Plantation of Ulster]], Michael Balfour, the Laird of Mountwhinney, constructed a house on the lough shore opposite Inishfendra Island. Following the usual pattern for a Plantation castle, it was built of lime and stone and enclosed within a bawn. It survived two [[Jacobitism|Jacobite]] sieges before being destroyed in 1764 by a domestic fire. The ruins of this castle still survive today. In 1840 a new neo-Tudor [[Crom Castle]] was built, designed by Scottish architect [[Edward Blore]]. It remains the property of [[Henry Crichton, 6th Earl Erne|The Earl Erne]] and is not open to the public. The estate was gifted by the present Lord Erne to the National Trust in 1987.<ref name="BB"/>

==References==
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