Beaulieu House and Gardens facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beaulieu House |
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Beaulieu House, County Louth
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| General information | |
| Type | Country house |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne, Dutch style |
| Classification | Protected structure (LHS025-002) |
| Location | Beaulieu, near Drogheda, County Louth |
| Coordinates | 53°43′41″N 6°17′37″W / 53.72805°N 6.29358°W |
| Estimated completion | c. 1715 |
| Client | Tichbourne family |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Likely imported red brick |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Likely a Dutch architect |
Beaulieu House and Gardens is a beautiful old estate in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. People first thought it was built in the 1660s. However, newer studies suggest it was built around 1715. It might have used parts of an older building. The estate includes a lovely terraced walled garden. It is located about 2 miles east of Drogheda. It sits very close to the mouth of the River Boyne.
Beaulieu House is special because it's one of the oldest large houses in Ireland that wasn't built like a fort. It's also one of the few houses built in the unique Dutch style. Another similar house is the Red House in Youghal, which was built around 1703.
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History of Beaulieu House
The land where Beaulieu House stands belonged to the de Verdun family in the late 1100s. Later, in the early 1300s, the Plunkett family from Dublin married into the de Verdun family. This is how they became connected to the area.
In the mid-1600s, the English government took control of the lands of Christopher Plunket, 2nd Earl of Fingall. This happened after a big conflict called the Irish Confederate Wars.
Before the current Beaulieu House, there was an older manor house. It was built in 1628.
The Tichborne Family and Beaulieu
Sir Benjamin Tichborne, 1st Baronet of England had a younger son named Sir Henry Tichborne. Henry was a judge. He became famous for defending Drogheda when it was attacked in 1642. This was during the Irish Confederate Wars.
Because of his bravery, Henry was given the lands at Beaulieu in 1666. He was allowed to rebuild the manor house if he wanted. He did, and his family continued to work on it for two more generations.
Henry's oldest son was Sir William Tichborne. William's oldest son was another Henry Tichborne. This younger Henry was given the title of Baronet in 1697. Later, in 1715, he became Baron Ferrard of Beaulieu. However, this Henry had no sons who lived. His daughter inherited Beaulieu.
Later, the Tichborne family married into the family of the famous Admiral Nelson. The house is still owned by their descendants today. Two nearby villages, Beaulieu Cross and Beltichburn, are named after the house and the family.
The Gardens and Future Plans
The walled garden at Beaulieu is very large. It covers about 4 acres. It has many different types of plants and beautiful designs.
As of 2021, the owner had plans to add solar panels to the property. They wanted to install 20,000 panels on 23 acres of land. These panels would create 5 megawatts of electricity.
Visiting Beaulieu House
Tours and Events
You can take guided tours of Beaulieu House and its estate. These tours are offered on certain days during the summer. The house and grounds are also used for special events. People can host weddings, trade shows, conferences, or training days there.
Motor Racing Museum
The late owner of Beaulieu House was Gabriel De Freitas. She was from the Tichborne family, ten generations after the first Baron Ferrard. Gabriel was a famous female racing driver in the 1960s and 1970s. She raced under the name Gabriel Konig.
Gabriel collected many classic racing cars and rally cars. She also had a few other classic luxury cars. These cars are now part of a motor racing museum at Beaulieu House. This is similar to Beaulieu Abbey in England, which also has a famous National Motor Museum.
