Belvedere House is a Georgian villa located near Mullingar in County Westmeath, Ireland. Built in 1740 for Robert Rochfort, the 1st Earl of Belvedere, the house is an outstanding example of 18th-century Palladian architecture in Ireland. Set amidst carefully landscaped parkland and overlooking Lough Ennell, it reflects the tastes and ambitions of the Irish landed gentry of the period.
The architect, Richard Castle (also known as Cassels), was among the most important figures in Irish architectural history. Belvedere House is one of his notable contributions, designed with symmetry, elegance, and restraint typical of the Palladian style.
The estate gained notoriety for the personal dramas of its original owner, particularly the infamous imprisonment of Lady Mary Rochfort by her husband, Robert. She was kept confined in the family’s other residence, Gaulstown House, for over 30 years—an episode often cited as one of the most tragic in Irish domestic history.
Another iconic feature of the estate is the so-called Jealous Wall, a dramatic Gothic-style folly built by Lord Belvedere in the 1760s to block the view of his brother's nearby estate. The wall remains one of Ireland's largest follies and serves as a testament to both personal rivalry and 18th-century landscape design.
Today, the house and grounds are preserved as part of Ireland’s cultural heritage, offering visitors a glimpse into Georgian architecture, landscape artistry, and the complex social history of the Anglo-Irish elite.