Information about Castle Coole
Castle Coole (pronounced cool) is a late-eighteenth-century neo-classical mansion situated in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.
Set in a 1200 acre (5 km²) wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the Crom Estate.
Following the passage of the 1800 Act of Union, the law politically uniting Britain and Ireland, the family moved from their main residence, a small townhouse in Sackville Street, Dublin to Castle Coole, as the raison d’être for living in Dublin, to be in close proximity to the Parliament, no longer applied.
In 1951, the 7th Earl of Belmore sold the mansion to the National Trust, prompted by two sets of death duties or inheritance tax when his cousins, the 5th and 6th Earls of Belmore, died without issue 18 months apart. The National Trust opens the mansion to visitors during the summer months, and the estate can be visited year-round. Between 1980-1988, the mansion was closed to the public while the National Trust undertook restoration work involving the dismantling of the façade to replace metal connectors holding it in place. To celebrate the re-opening, the now deceased Queen Mother was invited to Castle Coole.
Notable aspects of the mansion include the Portland stone façade, floorings and double-return cantilever staircase. An unused State Bedroom, prepared for King George IV in 1821 (who failed to arrive) retains original furnishings and flock wallpaper. A Drawing Room, furnished in a French Empire style, a Grecian staircase hall and a Ladies Workroom furnished in a Chinese style, reflect the importance of worldly knowledge and awareness during the Regency period. Family motifs engraved into Italian marble chimneypieces and adorning the plaster frieze of the Entrance Hall, reflect the pride of the 1st Earl of Belmore in his ancestral heritage.
Curiously, Castle Coole has no external back door or a driveway extending completely around the mansion; a deliberate feature by James Wyatt to discourage tradesmen from making surprise visits.
An extensive basement, unseen by visitors due to disrepair, contains the Kitchens, Servants Quarters, a Roman style bath and a Brewery.
Much of the native oak woodland remains, although a considerable portion of the estate has been historically given over to agriculture and let to local farmers, a practice which continues today. Numerous out-buildings can be found on the estate, those of interest include a Grand Yard, a general workplace housing stables, a Tallow House originally used for candle-making, now a gift shop and reception area, a Servants Tunnel leading ultimately to the basement of the mansion and the only route from which servants could enter and exit the main building, a Laundry House, a Dairy and an Ice House. A ha-ha, a sunken ditch to control livestock movements without the disturbance on the landscape resulting from a fence or a wall, can be found near the mansion.
Though the origins of the Corry side of the family can be found in Belfast, there is more uncertainty with the Lowry side. The Lowrys may originally have been from Dumfries in Scotland.
Despite the fact that the present Earl, the 8th Earl of Belmore holds the title Lord Belmore, he has no seat in the House of Lords at Westminster. Rather, he is a member of the former Irish House of Lords; an institution abolished over 200 years ago.
Like in many mansions, a hierarchy amongst servants formed. The Head Cook for instance enjoyed a two-room apartment above the warmth of the Kitchens. The Butler too enjoyed a personal apartment. A boot boy on the other hand had communal accommodation with other lower ranking servants.
Admission to Castle Coole is by guided tour only. Please consult the National Trust's webpage via the external link for opening times in 2006.
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Set in a 1200 acre (5 km²) wooded estate, it is one of three properties owned and managed by the National Trust in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court and the Crom Estate.
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Castle Coole
Background
Castle Coole was constructed between 1789 and 1798 as the summer retreat of Armar Lowry-Corry, the 1st Earl of Belmore. Lord Belmore was the Member of Parliament for County Tyrone in the former Irish Houses of Parliament in Dublin and a wealthy heir to 70,000 acres (283 km²) of land throughout Ireland, acquired by ancestors with a successful background in merchantry. The income generated by the estates allowed Castle Coole to be constructed at a cost of £57,000 in 1798, equivalent to approximately £20 million today. The siting on the comparatively small 1200 acre (5 km²) estate in County Fermanagh was primarily due to its unspoilt rural location and natural beauty amongst ancient oak woodland and small lakes, yet with close proximity to the market town of Enniskillen for the domestic labour necessary for a large mansion. Additionally, several smaller family residences had been built on the Castle Coole estate preceding the mansion, including a dwelling of the King James period, later deliberately destroyed by fire and a Queen Anne house built in 1709.Following the passage of the 1800 Act of Union, the law politically uniting Britain and Ireland, the family moved from their main residence, a small townhouse in Sackville Street, Dublin to Castle Coole, as the raison d’être for living in Dublin, to be in close proximity to the Parliament, no longer applied.
In 1951, the 7th Earl of Belmore sold the mansion to the National Trust, prompted by two sets of death duties or inheritance tax when his cousins, the 5th and 6th Earls of Belmore, died without issue 18 months apart. The National Trust opens the mansion to visitors during the summer months, and the estate can be visited year-round. Between 1980-1988, the mansion was closed to the public while the National Trust undertook restoration work involving the dismantling of the façade to replace metal connectors holding it in place. To celebrate the re-opening, the now deceased Queen Mother was invited to Castle Coole.
Mansion
Officially defined as Neo-Classical Georgian in architectural style, Castle Coole is unique in that it was the work of two architects who did not collaborate. Initially, an Irish architect, Richard Johnston was commissioned and completed the design of the basement. Johnston however was later dismissed in favour of the more popular and fashionable English architect James Wyatt, who rather than starting the project afresh, began at the point where Johnston left and completed the mansion design from the ground floor upwards. Aspects of Georgian architecture which Wyatt followed very closely at Castle Coole included near-perfect symmetry throughout. Additionally, Wyatt also designed some of the major furniture items in the mansion. However, furniture dating back to the Georgian period when the house was constructed is relatively rare. Much of the furniture was provided later by Somerset Lowry-Corry, the 2nd Earl of Belmore, by which stage the Regency style was in vogue. The finely-detailed decorative plasterwork throughout the mansion was entirely the work of the English artist Joseph Rose.)
Detail of Castle Coole portico, with Ionic columns
Notable aspects of the mansion include the Portland stone façade, floorings and double-return cantilever staircase. An unused State Bedroom, prepared for King George IV in 1821 (who failed to arrive) retains original furnishings and flock wallpaper. A Drawing Room, furnished in a French Empire style, a Grecian staircase hall and a Ladies Workroom furnished in a Chinese style, reflect the importance of worldly knowledge and awareness during the Regency period. Family motifs engraved into Italian marble chimneypieces and adorning the plaster frieze of the Entrance Hall, reflect the pride of the 1st Earl of Belmore in his ancestral heritage.
Curiously, Castle Coole has no external back door or a driveway extending completely around the mansion; a deliberate feature by James Wyatt to discourage tradesmen from making surprise visits.
An extensive basement, unseen by visitors due to disrepair, contains the Kitchens, Servants Quarters, a Roman style bath and a Brewery.
Estate
The Castle Coole estate was purchased in 1656 by the Belfast merchant John Corry, the grandfather of the 1st Earl. The orientation of the mansion was so that the grand entertaining rooms to the back overlooked the main lake on the estate, Lough Coole. Derived from the Irish Gaelic cúil meaning seclusion, Lough Coole, “the secluded lake”, is nestled in a basin surrounded by the Killynure hills. A ráth here and a crannog in Lough Coole itself are reminders that the area has been settled since prehistoric times. Other lakes on the estate include Lough Yoan and Brendrum Lough.Much of the native oak woodland remains, although a considerable portion of the estate has been historically given over to agriculture and let to local farmers, a practice which continues today. Numerous out-buildings can be found on the estate, those of interest include a Grand Yard, a general workplace housing stables, a Tallow House originally used for candle-making, now a gift shop and reception area, a Servants Tunnel leading ultimately to the basement of the mansion and the only route from which servants could enter and exit the main building, a Laundry House, a Dairy and an Ice House. A ha-ha, a sunken ditch to control livestock movements without the disturbance on the landscape resulting from a fence or a wall, can be found near the mansion.
Family
The title of the Belmore family is derived from the nearby Belmore Mountain, 7 miles west of Enniskillen. Prior to reaching noble status, the Enniskillen title had been sought after, however this had already been taken by the Cole family at Florence Court.Though the origins of the Corry side of the family can be found in Belfast, there is more uncertainty with the Lowry side. The Lowrys may originally have been from Dumfries in Scotland.
Despite the fact that the present Earl, the 8th Earl of Belmore holds the title Lord Belmore, he has no seat in the House of Lords at Westminster. Rather, he is a member of the former Irish House of Lords; an institution abolished over 200 years ago.
Workforce
At its peak, Castle Coole employed around 90 staff, both indoor and outdoor. The basement of the mansion was entirely the domain of the indoor staff, and accommodation for the outdoor staff was mainly found in the buildings surrounding the Grand Yard. During the early stages in the mansion's history when the main residence of the Belmore family was in Dublin, a caretaker staff of 5-10 servants remained in the mansion when the family were away. This may help explain the excellent condition of the mansion today; continuous occupancy prevented decay and may have helped prevent major disasters, such as fires.Like in many mansions, a hierarchy amongst servants formed. The Head Cook for instance enjoyed a two-room apartment above the warmth of the Kitchens. The Butler too enjoyed a personal apartment. A boot boy on the other hand had communal accommodation with other lower ranking servants.
New in 2006
Castle Coole re-opened to the public for the 2006 season on March 17. A re-design of the Victorian Bedroom layout now commemorates four years of Australian influence at Castle Coole. Somerset Lowry-Corry, the 4th Earl of Belmore, became the Conservative Governor of New South Wales on January 8, 1868 and served until February 23, 1872. At Government House, Sydney, the 4th Earl’s first son was born on May 1, 1870, later to become the 5th Earl of Belmore. Lady Belmore found the summer climate of Sydney oppressive and despite frequent retreats to Moss Vale, concern over his wife’s health prompted the Lord Belmore to resign his governorship on June 26, 1871 allowing the Belmore family to return to Castle Coole the following year. Belmore Park, Sydney and Belmore Park, Goulburn testify to New South Wales railway developments brought about by Lord Belmore’s governorship and his own personal popularity in Australia. As the bedroom of the 4th Earl and Countess at Castle Coole both prior to and following their four years in Australia, the Victorian Bedroom commemorates the connection.Admission to Castle Coole is by guided tour only. Please consult the National Trust's webpage via the external link for opening times in 2006.
References
- Marsen, P (1997) ‘The Belmores at Castle Coole 1740-1913’ Enniskillen: Print Factory (not in print)
- Room, A (1994) ‘A Dictionary of Irish Place Names’ Belfast: Appletree Press. ISBN 0-86281-460-X
- Unpublished material relating to Castle Coole at Castle Coole in possession of the National Trust
External links
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, both as a reaction against the Rococo style of anti-tectonic naturalistic ornament, and an outgrowth of some classicizing features of Late Baroque.
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A mansion is a large dwelling house typically built for the wealthy. The word itself derives (through Old French) from the Latin word mansus the perfect passive participle of manere "to remain" or "to stay".
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Enniskillen
Irish - Inis Ceithleann
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Irish - Inis Ceithleann
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County Fermanagh (Contae Fhear Manach or Fear Manach in Irish), is the westernmost of the six counties that form Northern Ireland, and the westernmost part of the United Kingdom. It is part of the province of Ulster.
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The Union Flag is the official flag used by the government to represent Northern Ireland. The former official flag, the Ulster Banner, continues to be used by groups (such as some sports teams) representing the territory in an unofficial manner (see Northern Ireland flags issue).
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National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Trust does not operate in Scotland, where there is an independent National Trust for Scotland.
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Florence Court is a large 18th century house and estate located 8 miles south-west of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is set in the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain. The nearby village is distinguished by the one-word name Florencecourt.
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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 in County Fermanagh, the others being Florence Court
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A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. In many countries the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a unique title, such as senate, and thus also have unique titles for its
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County Tyrone (Irish: Contae ThÃr Eoghain) is the second largest of the nine counties of Ulster and the largest of the six counties of Northern Ireland. Area: 3,155 km² (1,218 square miles).
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Ireland
Éire
Airlann <nowiki />
Northwest of continental Europe with Great Britain to the east.
Geography <nowiki/>
Location Western Europe <nowiki />
Archipelago
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Éire
Airlann <nowiki />
Northwest of continental Europe with Great Britain to the east.
Geography <nowiki/>
Location Western Europe <nowiki />
Archipelago
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James VI and I (19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scots as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James I.
He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old, succeeding his mother Mary, Queen of Scots.
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He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old, succeeding his mother Mary, Queen of Scots.
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worldwide view.
The Queen Anne Style of British and American architecture reached its greatest popularity in the last quarter of the 19th century, manifesting itself in a number of different ways, not identically in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States of..... Click the link for more information.
Economic policy
Monetary policy
Central bank Money supply
Fiscal policy
Spending Deficit Debt
Trade policy
Tariff Trade agreement
Finance
Financial market
Financial market participants
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Monetary policy
Central bank Money supply
Fiscal policy
Spending Deficit Debt
Trade policy
Tariff Trade agreement
Finance
Financial market
Financial market participants
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Queen mother is a title or position reserved for a widowed queen consort (a queen dowager) whose son or daughter from that union is the reigning monarch.[1] The term has been used in England since at least 1577.
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James Wyatt, (August 3 1746 – September 4 1813), was an English architect, a rival of Robert Adam in the neoclassical style, who far outdid Adam in his work in the neo-Gothic style.
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Symmetry in common usage generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically-pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection.
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The Regency style of architecture refers primarily to buildings built in Britain during the period in the early 19th century when George IV was still Prince Regent, and also to later buildings following the same style.
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Portland stone is limestone from the Jurassic period quarried on the Isle of Portland, Dorset. The quarries consist of beds of white-grey limestone separated by chert beds.
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The First French Empire, commonly known as the French Empire or the Napoleonic Empire, was the regime of Napoleon I in France, through which he dominated much of continental Europe.
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Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture.
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Belfast
Irish - Béal Feirste
Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus
"What shall we give in return for so much"
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Irish - Béal Feirste
Pro Tanto Quid Retribuamus
"What shall we give in return for so much"
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hill is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area. Hills often have a distinct summit, although in areas with scarp/dip topography a hill may refer to a particular section of scarp slope without a well-defined summit (e.g. Box Hill).
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Ringforts are fortified settlements that are generally agreed to be from the Early Medieval period in Northern Europe, especially Ireland. They are also known as ráth, caiseal, cathair and dún in the early Irish sources.
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A crannóg (pronounced /krəˈno:g/ or /ˈkrɑno:g/ or /ˈkranag/) is an ancient artificial island or natural island in Scotland and Ireland, used for a settlement.
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Belmore Mountain is a hill in the west of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. With a summit roughly 398 metres above sea level,[1] it is the second highest point in Fermanagh, the highest being at Cuilcagh on the Northern Ireland–Republic of Ireland
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Florence Court is a large 18th century house and estate located 8 miles south-west of Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is set in the foothills of Cuilcagh Mountain. The nearby village is distinguished by the one-word name Florencecourt.
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Dumfries
Gaelic - Dùn Phris
Scots - Dumfries
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Gaelic - Dùn Phris
Scots - Dumfries
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Motto
Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin)
"No one provokes me with impunity"
"Cha togar m'fhearg gun dioladh"
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Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin)
"No one provokes me with impunity"
"Cha togar m'fhearg gun dioladh"
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Westminster
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