 The first roses were planted in 1964 and the Trial roses were judged for the first time in summer 1965.A permanent panel of judges is provided by the Rose Society of Northern Ireland, formed by Craig Wallace in 1964.Wilmont House, in the grounds of the park, was built in the early 1760s by Scottish farming family the Stewarts, who were among the first to grow carrots on a large scale in the early 19th century.