Address Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, Ireland Similar Athclare Castle, Castle Caulfield, Ennistymon House, Bellevue House - County W, Archbishop's Palace - Armagh | ||
Cappoquin House also known as Belmont is an 18th-century classical-style mansion overlooking the town of Cappoquin in County Waterford, Ireland. The house is the seat of the Keane Baronets of Belmont and of Cappoquin.
Contents
Previous Castle
It is believed that the house was built on the site of an old Fitzgerald castle, of which the earliest known reference dates to 1598 when it was occupied by a Mr. Hayles and razed by Thomas Fitzgerald of Cappagh, who had probably forfeited it in the Desmond Rebellions. In 1641 Capt. Hugh Croker on behalf of the Earl of Cork occupied the castle, and successfully resisted an assault by the Confederate Catholics under General Purcell in 1643. However, it surrendered to Lord Castlehaven in 1645. It was subsequently captured by Cromwell in 1649. Nothing remained of the castle, apart from one wall with a narrow doorway leading to a garden when it was surveyed in 1918.
Current House
The current house was built in 1779. It is believed to have been designed by John Roberts, a noted Waterford architect. The building is a detached seven-bay two-storey over basement house surrounded by formal gardens and landscaped grounds. The house was burnt out in 1923 during the Civil War, but Sir John Keane fully restored it as economically as possible using direct labour. He built a flat concrete roof using a technique developed by Waller known as nofrango.