Belvedere House — AGHAMORE (Farbill By.)

Detached five-bay two-storey over basement former country house/hunting lodge on L-shaped plan, built c.1740, with advanced bays to either end of the main elevation (west), bow projections to the side elevations (north and south) and a bow projection to the rear elevation west) housing the main staircase. Extension to rear, added c.1780. Now in use as a museum. Shallow-hipped natural slate roof, almost hidden behind a raised parapet, having a pair of central dressed limestone chimneystacks with terracotta chimneypots over. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Coursed dressed limestone walls over an ashlar limestone plinth and with extensive ashlar limestone trim, including raised quoins to the corners, cornice at eaves level and coping over parapet. Square-headed window openings to central three (recessed) bays having cut limestone Gibbsian surrounds to the ground floor openings with six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows and cut limestone surrounds to the first flour openings having three-over-three-pane timber sliding sash windows. Venetian window openings to ground floor of projecting bays with Diocletian openings over to first floor, all having cut limestone surrounds and timber sash windows. Central projecting doorcase with rusticated ashlar limestone surround having a cut limestone entablature over supported on a pair of Doric columns, and a timber panelled door with a spoke fanlight over. Very interesting interior with surviving Rococo plasterwork, an early staircase and marble or oak fireplaces. House set on a stepped limestone terrace with cut limestone balustrades, added c.1858. Located in extensive mature parkland grounds on the west shores of Lough Ennell with a number of follies to the site (‘The Jealous Wall’ (15402614), ‘The Gothic Arch’ (15402612), and ‘The Gothic Octagon’ (15402613). Located to the south of Mullingar.