A Future for Irish Historic Houses - Irish Heritage Trust

- From 1912, it was the home of Col. Charles Howard-Bury, a leading
member of the first European expedition to Everest in 1921, which also
included George Mallory.
- Unfortunately, the original contents of Belvedere were sold by Christies in
1980.
Westmeath County Council bought the house in 1982. Since then, the house and
surroundings have gradually been restored. The process has been a slow one, largely
because resources were not readily available. However, thanks largely to the fact that
it was chosen as a flagship project for the area, funding was secured through the
European Development Fund. Westmeath County Council also made a significant
financial contribution to the restoration and development. To date, an estimated
around €7 million has been spent on the restoration of the house and gardens.
- The stables and parts of the basement and ground floor of the house itself
have been developed and interpretation introduced. There is also an
education room, a courtyard café, a gift shop, a children’s play area, a
small animal sanctuary and the Belvedere Tram.
- The gardens were restored under the Great Gardens of Ireland Restoration
Programme in 1998. The objectives of this project were to reinstate the
historic gardens, to conserve the parkland, conserve and develop the
woodland and to restore and conserve ‘the jealous wall’.
- In the nineteenth century the original Diocletian windows had been
replaced by regular tripartite windows. These have now been restored to
their original shape.
The house/centre is currently managed by Ms. Sandra Peavoy on behalf of Westmeath
County Council. Admission fees of €6 for adults and €3.80 for children and €85 for a
season ticket are charged. The first floor of the house is closed to the general public
but is opened to corporate functions, private parties, recitals, product launches and so
on. Further income is generated through the shop and restaurant.
Last year the centre attracted almost 70,000 visitors, almost 13,000 more than the
previous year. However, because of the precarious nature of the tourist market, there
is always the fear that a major downturn will have grave consequences for such a
project as Belvedere. As it is, the house/centre is currently being run on a deficit.
Under these conditions, it is a major challenge for the county council, even if it does
at the moment consider it a valuable amenity to the county.
There is a need to generate more income. Proposals are being considered to attract
more conferences, to extend facilities to cater for more people, and to establish
accommodation elements. It remains to be seen to what extent these developments
would affect the historic fabric of the house or compromise the surroundings, but the
intention is to make any further development as sympathetic as possible to the nature
of the site.
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