Becoming a member Downhill House Downhill — The House...elevated to the earldom. Bringing with it...
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Downhill House The ruin of Downhill dominates the exposed headland on which it stands and can be seen from many miles around. This fantastic place was built by Frederick Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. The house began life in the early 1770s as a narrow, compact villa. By the mid 1780s it had assumed massive proportions, with the addition of long wings and great, castellated service yards to the north. In May 1851 a devastating fire destroyed approximately two-thirds of the house, including the Gallery and the Library where most of the Earl-Bishop`s fine collection was displayed. The fire left the west wing entirely gutted; and the dome at the end of the wing collapsed leaving only blackened walls. The house had not been insured. The family retreated to the east wing and occupied rooms near the servants’ quarters for the next twenty years. From the late 19th-to the mid-20th century the Bruce family sold off most of their Ulster estates. They lived at Downhill increasingly intermittently, finally moving permanently to England in 1923 amidst the unrest of the ‘Troubles’. Downhill was unoccupied during the remainder of the 1920s and 1930s, although the Bruce family continued to spend their summers in the area. National Trust acquired the ruin of the house in 1980 and went about consolidating the building which by then was in a perilous state. Conservation work is ongoing and the Trust remains committed to looking after the ruin of Downhill for the benefit of future generations. It is planned to increase public access to more parts of the building as resources become available. Frederick Augustus Hervey (1730–1803), 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, came from Ickworth in Suffolk, the Bristol family seat. As a younger son he never expected to inherit the title, or the considerable family fortune that went with it. In 1754 he was ordained into the church. Thanks to the influence of his brother, Viceroy of Ireland, in 1766 he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in Cork. Within two years he had secured the bishopric of Derry, then the richest diocese in Ireland. Following the death of both his elder brothers he was elevated to the earldom. Bringing with it an income of £20,000 per annum (about £38 million today), this allowed him to indulge an insatiable passion for building. We are a charity that cares for beautiful spaces and special places for ever, for everyone. Your visit today helps us to care for the Downhill demesne for future generations to enjoy. Thank you. Becoming a member As well as helping to protect Downhill and the places in our care you`ll gain free access to many magical places across Northern Ireland and beyond. In fact there are more than 500 places to explore across the National Trust. Volunteer If you are looking for an exciting and rewarding way to make a difference at Downhill or at a place near you, we would love to hear from you. Ask a member of our team for more information. Keep in touch For more information please contact Hezlett House 107 Sea Road, Castlerock, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, BT51 4TW T: 028 7084 8728 E: [email protected] www.nationaltrust.org.uk/downhilldemesne In his will the Earl Bishop left Downhill and all his other Irish property to the Rev Sir Henry (Harry) Hervey Aston Bruce, a distant cousin who had served as his agent during his long absences abroad. Harry Bruce was the Earl Bishop’s right-hand man in Ireland and he carried out his duties with diligence and loyalty. Mussenden Temple is named after Bruce’s sister, Frideswide Mussenden, who died at the age of 22 in 1785 and whom the Earl-Bishop greatly admired. Downhill — The House Fire and rebuilding Downhill House during the 20th century Downhill House today Earl-Bishop About the National Trust Bruce family The National Trust is an independent registered charity number 205846 Earl Bishop Sir Henry Hervey Bruce c. 1870 In the early 1870`s Downhill was massively rebuilt under the direction of the engineer and architect John Lanyon. The west wing cupola was not replaced, and its partner at the end of the east wing was removed. Otherwise, the most noticeable changes to the exterior included the introduction of plate glass windows and the creation of a new main entrance in the west wing. Sir Hervey Ronald Bruce c. 1916 In 1941 the house was requisitioned by the Air Ministry, which remained at Downhill until 1945; stories are still told of the dances that were held in the house at that time. After the war, Downhill’s new owner dismantled the building, stripping out whatever architectural features could be salvaged. While the house became a roofless ruin, the Earl-Bishop`s fine mantelpieces found new homes across the British Isles. The Bruce family owned Downhill for nearly 150 years. Sir Hervey John Bruce, 6th Baronet of Downhill, sold the house and Demesne in 1948. The Earl-Bishop adorned his house with fine Italian chimneypieces and classically-inspired, decorative paint- and plaster-work, and furnished it with art and antique statuary. An avid traveller and collector, he wrote from Rome to his daughter: “I am purchasing treasures for Downhill which I flatter myself will be a Tusculanium” – the Roman villa which Cicero famously packed with works of art. Not everyone shared the Earl-Bishop`s taste for Downhill, Lord Charlemont for example referring to it as the Bishop’s ‘whimsical mansion.’ The Earl Bishop also involved himself in Irish politics, gaining a reputation as a tolerant cleric and a generous benefactor. His happiest years at Downhill were during the 1780s when he referred to it as ‘sweet Downhill’. Hervey extended humour and relaxed hospitality to his many guests, inviting them to experience the “exhilarating and invigorating air, or rather ether at Downhill”. However, always restless, he left Ireland in 1791, never to return. The Earl-Bishop lived out his remaining years in Italy.
Transcript of Becoming a member Downhill House Downhill — The House...elevated to the earldom. Bringing with it...
Downhill House
The ruin of Downhill dominates the exposed headland on which it stands and can be seen from many miles around. This fantastic place was built by Frederick Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry. The house began life in the early 1770s as a narrow, compact villa. By the mid 1780s it had assumed massive proportions, with the addition of long wings and great, castellated service yards to the north.
In May 1851 a devastating fire destroyed approximately two-thirds of the house, including the Gallery and the Library where most of the Earl-Bishop`s fine collection was displayed. The fire left the west wing entirely gutted; and the dome at the end of the wing collapsed leaving onlyblackened walls. The house had not been insured. Thefamily retreated to the east wing and occupied rooms nearthe servants’ quarters for the next twenty years.
From the late 19th-to the mid-20th century the Bruce family sold off most of their Ulster estates. They lived at Downhill increasingly intermittently, finally moving permanently to England in 1923 amidst the unrest of the ‘Troubles’. Downhill was unoccupied during the remainder of the 1920s and 1930s, although the Bruce family continued to spend their summers in the area.
National Trust acquired the ruin of the house in 1980 and went about consolidating the building which by then was in a perilous state. Conservation work is ongoing and the Trust remains committed to looking after the ruin of Downhill for the benefit of future generations. It is planned to increase public access to more parts of the building as resources become available.
Frederick Augustus Hervey (1730–1803), 4th Earl of Bristol and Bishop of Derry, came from Ickworth in Suffolk, the Bristol family seat. As a younger son he never expected to inherit the title, or the considerable family fortune that went with it. In 1754 he was ordained into the church. Thanks to the influence of his brother, Viceroy of Ireland, in 1766 he was appointed Bishop of Cloyne in Cork. Within two years he had secured the bishopric of Derry, then the richest diocese in Ireland. Following the death of both his elder brothers he was elevated to the earldom. Bringing with it an income of £20,000 per annum (about £38 million today), this allowed him to indulge an insatiable passion for building.
We are a charity that cares for beautiful spaces and special places for ever, for everyone. Your visit today helps us to care for the Downhill demesne for future generations to enjoy. Thank you.
Becoming a member As well as helping to protect Downhill and the places in our care you`ll gain free access to many magical places across Northern Ireland and beyond. In fact there are more than 500 places to explore across the National Trust.
VolunteerIf you are looking for an exciting and rewarding way to make a difference at Downhill or at a place near you, we would love to hear from you. Ask a member of our team for more information.
Keep in touch For more information please contact
Hezlett House107 Sea Road, Castlerock, Coleraine, Co Londonderry, BT51 4TWT: 028 7084 8728E: [email protected]/downhilldemesne
In his will the Earl Bishop left Downhill and all his other Irish property to the Rev Sir Henry (Harry) Hervey Aston Bruce, a distant cousin who had served as his agent during his long absences abroad. Harry Bruce was the Earl Bishop’s right-hand man in Ireland and he carried out his duties with diligence and loyalty. Mussenden Temple is named after Bruce’s sister, Frideswide Mussenden, who died at the age of 22 in 1785 and whom the Earl-Bishop greatly admired.
Downhill — The House
Fire and rebuilding
Downhill House during the 20th century
Downhill House today
Earl-Bishop About the National Trust
Bruce family
The National Trust is an independent registered charity number 205846
Earl Bishop
Sir Henry Hervey Bruce c. 1870
In the early 1870`s Downhill was massively rebuilt under the direction of the engineer and architect John Lanyon. The west wing cupola was not replaced, and its partner at the end of the east wing was removed. Otherwise, the most noticeable changes to the exterior included the introduction of plate glass windows and the creation of a new main entrance in the west wing.
Sir Hervey Ronald Bruce c. 1916
In 1941 the house was requisitioned by the Air Ministry, which remained at Downhill until 1945; stories are still told of the dances that were held in the house at that time. After the war, Downhill’s new owner dismantled the building, stripping out whatever architectural features could be salvaged. While the house became a roofless ruin, the Earl-Bishop`s fine mantelpieces found new homes across the British Isles.
The Bruce family owned Downhill for nearly 150 years. Sir Hervey John Bruce, 6th Baronet of Downhill, sold the house and Demesne in 1948.
The Earl-Bishop adorned his house with fine Italian chimneypieces and classically-inspired, decorative paint- and plaster-work, and furnished it with art and antique statuary. An avid traveller and collector, he wrote from Rome to his daughter: “I am purchasing treasures for Downhill which I flatter myself will be a Tusculanium” – the Roman villa which Cicero famously packed with works of art. Not everyone shared the Earl-Bishop`s taste for Downhill, Lord Charlemont for example referring to it as the Bishop’s ‘whimsical mansion.’
The Earl Bishop also involved himself in Irish politics, gaining a reputation as a tolerant cleric and a generous benefactor. His happiest years at Downhill were during the 1780s when he referred to it as ‘sweet Downhill’. Hervey extended humour and relaxed hospitality to his many guests, inviting them to experience the “exhilarating and invigorating air, or rather ether at Downhill”. However, always restless, he left Ireland in 1791, never to return. The Earl-Bishop lived out his remaining years in Italy.
Drawing Room
Boudoir
Dining Room Curates Corridor
Breakfast Room
Winter Garden
Garden H
all
Billiard Room Smoking Room
Coach House Two Storey Range
West Yard
East YardCow Byres
Fuel StoresStables
Stables
HallLibrary
Offices Kitchen Laundry
Gas Tank
Stables
Winter Garden c. 1890
c. 1890
Boudoir c. 1890
At basement level the ‘Garden Hall’ introduced by John Lanyon 1870s
Earl BishopSir Hervey Ronald Bruce c. 1916
Sir Henry Hervey Bruce c. 1870
c. 1890
c. 1890
• Please exercise care when visiting this building• Uneven surfaces and high drops exist
throughout the structure• Children must be supervised at all times• Do not enter restricted areas
For your safety:
