Tudenham Park (formerly Rochfort), Mullingar, Co Westmeath
Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.
p. 26. “(Rochfort, sub Belvedere, E/DEP; Hopkins, Bt, of Athboy/PB1860; Tottenham/IFR) p. 26. “(Rochfort, sub Belvedere, E/DEP; Hopkins, Bt, of Athboy/PB1860; Tottenham/IFR) A large three storey block of ca 1742 by the side of Lough Ennell; attributed by the Knight of Glin to Richard Castle. Built for George Rochfort, brother of 1st Earl of Belvedere, who lived alongside him at Belvedere; and who, having quarrelled with him, built a large sham ruin to shut out the view of his brother’s house. Faced with ashlar which appears to have been re-pointed mid-C19. Entrance front with central niche and oculus above a Doric columned doorcase. Side elevations with central curved bows. Large hall with a fireplace on either side; large and lofty reception rooms, some with covered cornices in the style of Robert West. Two storey upper hall with well gallery and glass dome which, like the staircase widow, was reglazed with stained glass. Terrace near house overlooking the water. Immense Victorian entrance gates, railing and lodge. Sold ca 1836 to Sir Francis Hopkins, 2nd Bt, who left it to his sister, Anna Maria, wife of N.L. Tottenham; its name was subsequently changed from Rochfort to Tudenham Park. Used as a hospital during WWI, and occupied by the military in WWII. Stood empty and derelict for some years, demolished ca 1957, now a shell.”
Listed in Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland by The Knight of Glin, David J. Griffin and Nicholas K. Robinson, published by The Irish Architectural Archive and The Irish Georgian Society, 1988.
p. 144. “A large three storey house of very high quality built c. 1742 for George Rochfort and attributed to Richard Castle. Very fine interior which included a large entrance hall with screens of columns at both ends. Some reception rooms and the main staircase were altered c. 1790 and had good neo-classical plasterwork. The house was stripped c. 1957-58 and is now a ruin which should be preserved.”
In Blake, Tarquin. Abandoned Mansions of Ireland. Collins Press, Cork, 2010.
Detached seven-bay three-storey over basement country house, built c.1743, with projecting full-height bows to the centre of the west and east side elevations. Later return to rear (south). Later in use as a military hospital (1914-1919). Now out of use and a roofless overgrown shell. Shallow hipped natural slate roof, now collapsed, having a pair of cut limestone chimneystacks to the centre, aligned parallel with former roof ridge, having moulded ashlar cornices over. Constructed of ashlar limestone with extensive cut limestone detailing, including a heavy moulded eaves cornice, raised quoins to the corners and a string course at first floor level. Square-headed window openings, diminishing in size towards eaves, with moulded cut stone architraved surrounds and cut stone sills. Central round-headed pedimented tripartite Doric doorcase to south façade having four columns supporting entablature and pediment over. Fittings to all openings now gone. Round-headed niche flanked by Ionic pilasters over central doorcase at first floor level with a circular/oculus niche over to second floor having a scrolled console bracket to base. Interior now gutted but retaining some fragments of original plasterwork to ground floor walls. Located in extensive grounds on the western shores of Lough Ennell to the south of Mullingar. Remains of former outbuildings to the northeast and former main entrance gates and attendant gate lodge (15402616) to the east.
Appraisal
Though Tudenham Park sadly now survives only as a roofless shell, this building is of high architectural and artistic significance and retains good quality cut stone detailing throughout. This enormous Palladian edifice was built for George Rochfort, a brother of Robert Rochfort of Belvedere House (15402615), and was designed by the same architect as Belvedere, namely Richard Castle. Tudenham Park shares with Belvedere the bow projections to the side elevations, but it is built on a much larger scale than its neighbour to the north and does not display as much ingenuity in its design. The regularity of the main façade is only broken by the central arrangement of architectural motifs to the centre of the main façade, namely the tripartite doorcase with a blank Venetian niche over and the oculus opening to the second floor. This central arrangement is a typical feature of much of Castle’s work and of Palladian architecture in this part of Ireland in general. Tudenham Park played an important role in the development of the planned landscape at Belvedere to the north and its scale probably pre-empted the erection of ‘The Jealous Wall’ (15402614) to the north, which was built to shield Robert Rochfort’s view of his brother’s enormous pile to the south. Tudenham House was later sold to Sir Francis Hopkins, c.1837 and to the Tottenham Family c.1870. It was later used as a hospital during World War I and was still in military ownership until after 1945 and was gutted and de-roofed in 1957. Although the building is badly overgrown it is pleasing to find surviving fragments of plaster panelling to the interior. In addition the remnants of the former service buildings to the rear are of note and have some good examples of brick vaulting. Tudenham Park is beautifully sited on the shores of Lough Ennell and is an important part of the architectural heritage of Westmeath.
Detached three-bay single-storey former gate lodge on cruciform plan, dated 1865, with a projecting open two-bay porch to the north side. Originally served Tudenham Park (15402617) to the west and now in use as an office for the Fisheries Board. Later return to rear (south). Shallow hipped natural slate roof hidden behind a raised moulded limestone parapet perforated with circular openings. Constructed of bush-hammered dressed limestone over a moulded ashlar plinth with extensive ashlar limestone trim, including a string course, eaves cornice and garland panels. Round-headed window openings having cut limestone surrounds with projecting keystone detail over, moulded sills to west and east elevations and one-over-one pane timber sliding sash windows. Paired round-headed openings to east elevation with replacement windows. Paired round-headed openings to porch on north elevation, supported by a central shared cut stone column with a foliate capital over. Further paired cut stone pillars on square plan to east and west ends of porch (north). Central recessed square-headed doorcase to porch having a timber panelled door with a cut limestone surround having rounded corners to head and flanked to either side (east and west) by narrow window lights with cut stone surrounds. Cut limestone datestone over centre of porch with polychrome tiles to porch floor. Located adjacent to attendant gates (east), erected 1865, comprising five moulded ashlar limestone gate piers with cornices and recessed panels, linked by sections of ashlar limestone plinth walling with decorative cast-iron railings over. Gate piers to the north of the lodge support cast-iron double gates. Located to the east of Tudenham Park (15402617) and to the south of Mullingar.
Appraisal
A highly appealing and well-executed Italianate gate lodge and associated main entrance gates serving Tudenham Park (15402617). The building and associated gates are richly decorated with cut stone and cast-iron work of a high artistic standard and value. The juxtaposition of the bush hammered stonework and the smooth ashlar dressings, offers a pleasant textural contrast to the façade of this robust structure. Of good proportions and embellished with a full decorative scheme, this building contrasts sharply with a number of the more modest former gate lodges to the north. The Italianate style of this gate lodge also contrasts appealing with the more rigid form of the earlier Palladian style used at Tudenham Park itself. It is now rare to find a gate lodge in such good condition, which retains its original ground plan and which has not been altered significantly to accommodate new owners or a new use. This fine lodge and its attendant gateway replaced an earlier gateway and lodge to the south, now demolished, and forms part of an important group of related structures with Tudenham Park (15402617), representing an integral element of the architectural heritage of Westmeath.
https://theirishaesthete.com/2022/06/04/tudenham/
The Cause of Jealousy
As mentioned a few days ago, in the mid-18th century the first Earl of Belvedere quarreled with his brother George Rochfort and so built the ‘Jealous Wall’, a sham folly that obscured the view of the younger man’s house further south on Lough Ennell. Here is the property in question, Tudenham Park, which, like Belvedere itself, is believed to have been designed by Richard Castle. However, whereas Belvedere is really a villa, this is a proper country house, of three storeys over basement with bowed projections on either side and a seven-bay entrance front, its plainness relieved by the pedimented tripartite Doric doorcase with round-headed niche above and then a circular bracketed niched below the parapet. Occupied by successive families until the early 20th century, Tudenham Park then became a hospital and was in military ownership until the 1950s when unroofed and left a shell. Some 15 or so years ago, plans were hatched to rescue the building and restore it to use but these came to nothing, so it remains the ruin seen in these pictures.
For sale Sept 2023
Tudenham Park House, Mullingar, Westmeath
POA
Description
Summary 18th Century period house on 2.33 Hectares 24.06 Hectares of Grassland with 2km of lake frontage Description This 18th century estate on 65 acres of grass land on the banks of Lough Ennell is a unique chance to own a piece of history. Located beside the Belvedere House estate and separated by the “Jealous Wall.” The house is three storeys over a basement and is in need of renovation, with the roof having been removed in 1957. The land comes with 2km approx. of lake frontage and a boathouse. History Tudenham Park House, originally called Rochfort House, is an 18th-century Palladian limestone country house located in Tudenham Park on the Rochfort Demesne near Belvedere House and Gardens beside Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, Ireland. The construction on the house began in 1717, and it was completed in 1742 for George Rochfort. It was purchased by Sir Francis Hopkins in 1836, and the name was subsequently changed from Rochfort to Tudenham Park. The house is known for being involved in an ordeal with Robert Rochfort’sbrother, George, which resulted in Robert constructing The Jealous Wall so he would not have to look at his brother’s grander house. During World War II, the house was used as a convalescent home for army officers. Special Features & Services – 18th Century Period House – 26.39 Hectares / 65.2 acres approx – 2km of Lake Frontage – Beside Belvedere House – Overlooking Lough Ennell – House In Need of Renovation – Exceptional Development Potential Joint Agents: Property Partners McDonnell Contact David McDonnell 086 2586403 Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt & Davitt contact Alan Bracken 087 9257346
Features
on c.65 acre Lakeside farmland overlooking Lough Ennell.
Irish Historic Houses 