Mount Bellew House, Co Galway – ‘lost’

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. 212. “(Grattan-Bellew, Bt/PB) A house of predominantly late-Georgian appearance, remodelled ante 1820 by Sir Richard Morrison for C.D. Bellew. …Sold ca 1938, afterwards demolished.” 

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.

 http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2016/03/mount-bellew-house.html

THE GRATTAN-BELLEW BARONETS OWNED 10,516 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY GALWAY 

 
This family springs from a common ancestor with the BARONS BELLEW, of Barmeath Castle. 
 
Michael Bellew was a descendant of Christopher Bellew, brother of the first Baronet, Sir Patrick Bellew. 
 
MICHAEL BELLEW, of Mount Bellew, County Galway, married Jane, daughter of Henry Dillon, and had issue, 
 

CHRISTOPHER DILLON, his heir; 
Mary Catherine.  

Mr Bellew died in 1797, and was succeeded by his son, 
 
CHRISTOPHER DILLON BELLEW (1763-1826), of Mount Bellew, who wedded, in 1794, Olivia Emily, only daughter of Anthony, 4th Baron Nugent of Riverston, and had issue, 
 
MICHAEL DILLON BELLEW (1796-1855), of Mount Bellew, who espoused, in 1816, Helena Maria, daughter of Thomas Dillon, of Dublin, and had numerous issue, of whom 
 

CHRISTOPHER, his heir; 
Thomas Arthur, father of 3rd Baronet. 

Mr Bellew was created a baronet in 1838, denominated of Mount Bellew, County Galway. 
 
He was succeeded by his eldest son, 
 
THE REV SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLEW, 2nd Baronet (1818-67), a Catholic priest, whose brother, 
 
THOMAS ARTHUR BELLEW (1820-63), married, in 1858, Pauline, daughter of the Rt Hon James Grattan MP, and had issue, 
 

HENRY CHRISTOPHER, his heir; 
Mary Helena. 

Mr Bellew added the name and arms of GRATTAN in 1859. 
 
He was succeeded by his son, 
 
HENRY CHRISTOPHER GRATTAN-BELLEW (1860-1942), of Mount Bellew, who, succeeding his uncle as 3rd Baronet, wedded, in 1885, the Lady Sophia Maria Elizabeth Forbes, daughter of George, 7th Earl of Granard, and had issue, 
 

Herbert Michael, 1886-1906; 
CHARLES CHRISTOPHER; 
William Arthur; 
Thomas Henry; 
Arthur John (Sir), Knight, CMG; 
Helena Barbara; Moira Jane; Angela Mary. 

Sir Henry was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, 
 
SIR CHARLES CHRISTOPHER GRATTAN-BELLEW, 4th Baronet (1887-1948), MC, who wedded, in 1923, Maureen Peyton, daughter of Sir Thomas George Segrave, and had issue, 
 

HENRY CHARLES, his successor; 
Deirdre Maureen. 

Sir Charles, Lieutenant-Colonel, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was succeeded by his son, 
 
SIR HENRY CHARLES GRATTAN-BELLEW, 5th and present Baronet, born in 1933, who married firstly, in 1956, Naomi, daughter of Dr Charles Cyril Morgan; secondly, in 1967, Gillian Hulley; and thirdly, in 1978, Elzabe Amy, daughter of Henry Gilbert Body. 
 
By his second wife he had issue, 
 

PATRICK CHARLES, b 1971; 
Deirdre Sophia, b 1967. 

MOUNT BELLEW HOUSE, Mount Bellew Bridge, County Galway, was a house of mainly late-Georgian style. 
 
It was remodelled ca 1820 by Christopher Dillon Bellew. 
 
Mount Bellew comprised a three-storey centre block, with a single-bay entrance front. 
 
The central block had a Venetian window at the top storey of the centre block. 
 
It boasted a notable library which was said to have held one of the finest collections of books during its era. 
 
Mount Bellew was sold about 1938 and subsequently demolished. 
 
First published in March, 2016.