Belview Tower, folly in County Offaly

This does not grant access. Most recorded buildings are privately owned; view them only from public ground unless the owner allows entry.

What is recorded here

Detached cylindrical viewing tower, built in 1817, with roughcast rendered walls, tooled limestone surround surmounted by carved stone date plaque 'AD1817'. Stone spiral staircase leads up…

Read the whole record

Detached cylindrical viewing tower, built in 1817, with roughcast rendered walls, tooled limestone surround surmounted by carved stone date plaque 'AD1817'. Stone spiral staircase leads up tower.

Belview Tower was built as a folly to Belview House, which now remains in a ruinous state. The tower is located within the Kilclare Demesne and was built on a height, commanding views of its surrounding countryside. The tower itself resembles the round tower of the early Christian period with its roughcast render covering random coursed stone walls with small loop windows. The beautifully tooled door surround and carved stone date plaque highlight this structure's artistic quality. It continues to stand tall, beacon like in the Offaly landscape, while the house, with which it was associated has fallen into a state of disrepair.

From the Buildings of Ireland (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage) record 14908007

Places near here

Photo credits

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
Mike Searle, Geograph · CC BY-SA 2.0
Maker not stated on source page, za.pinterest.com
Dalenevada, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maker not stated on source page, www.pinterest.com
Maker not stated on source page, commons.wikimedia.org
kevin higgins, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0
Willow, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5
Kmcnamee, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Maker not stated on source page, pl.pinterest.com

Lismoyny BridgeBridge · 1271 yd

Explorer Tom Lismoyny Bridge in Ballynagall is playing two-step with history. Two lads bet a pint that they could build it twice…

Durrow AbbeyGate lodge · 1687 yd

Explorer Tom Durrow Abbey gate lodge would describe itself to a stranger as 'the fancy doorbell that went too far with the…

Durrow MoatCastle, motte · 1.4 mi

Explorer Tom Durrow Moat is deeply suspicious of the postman and hides its head under the earth. Hugh de Lacy died there, so don't…

St. Columbkilles Abbey (Site of)Religious house, Augustinian canons · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom St. Columbkilles Abbey in Durrow was designed by a mother-in-law who really wanted everyone to follow her rules…

CrossCross, High cross · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Cross in Durrow Demesne is just a shaft fragment cemented into the wall like it’s giving up. There’s a tall tale about…

St Columba's GraveyardGraveyard · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom St Columba's Graveyard in County Offaly has this local who swears he invented the concept of burying people there. He…

Stone head in Durrow DemesneStone head · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Stone head in Durrow Demesne looks like it lost an argument with the church wall. It stares down at the doorway like…

St Columbas Ch (Disused)Church · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom St Columbas Ch (Disused) in Durrow Demesne has been rebuilt so many times it should have asked for a refund by now. Its…

Durrow High CrossVisitor attraction · 1.5 mi

Explorer Tom Durrow High Cross is absolutely sick of being asked if it’s still standing, like it’s some kind of fragile antique that…

European ash1.9 mi

Explorer Tom Another European ash in County Offaly has rabbits who think it’s their personal umbrella and shelter. They’ve been…

Durrow GAA pitchGAA ground · 2.3 mi

Kilbeggan CemeteryCemetery · 2.7 mi

Explorer Tom Kilbeggan Cemetery is famous for its shortcut, which is basically the long way round with extra steps. The dead are…

More historic places in County Offaly · All of County Offaly

Add to this placeAdd a picture Add a detailed tip Add a story

Explore the map1,095,414 places to discover