Bellamont Forest, Palladian country house in County Cavan, Ireland.
Bellamont Forest is a Palladian country house in County Cavan, Ireland, built in red brick with limestone detailing on the exterior. A Doric portico marks the main entrance, and Venetian windows are placed symmetrically across the facade.
The house was built between 1725 and 1730 for Thomas Coote, to designs by the architect Edward Lovett Pearce. Pearce had spent time studying the Italian architecture of the 16th century before he took on this commission.
The entrance hall features a black and white marble floor and wall niches holding busts of Roman emperors. This kind of interior decoration was a deliberate way for the Anglo-Irish gentry of the time to signal their connection to classical traditions.
The estate is located near the town of Cootehill and is most easily reached by car. The grounds include woodland and lakes, so sturdy footwear is a good idea if you plan to walk around.
The piano nobile still has its original 18th-century fireplaces and plasterwork, which survived several changes in ownership over the centuries. Edward Lovett Pearce, the architect, was also a member of the Irish Parliament, which made him an unusual figure among the architects of his day.
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