Historic Buildings Record · Northern Ireland
Belvedere
Fathom Lower, Newry, Mourne and Down, Northern Ireland
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade B2
- Grade
- B2
- Type
- Garden Features
- Date of listing
- 3 December 1992
- Date of construction
- 1760 - 1779
- Address
- Belvedere, Fathom Park, Fathom Line, Newry, Co Armagh
- Townland
- Fathom Lower
- Council
- Newry, Mourne and Down
- Country
- Northern Ireland
- Coordinates
- 54.14325, -6.32516
- Date of survey
- 16 June 2000
- HB reference
- HB16/13/029
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesUniversity Library, Vrije Universiteit AmsterdamDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Vltoniae Orientalis Pars" (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
The Department's description
Exterior description and setting
A three stage octagonal belvedere with bowed stairwell at SW situated in Benson’s Glen at the E side of Fathom Park.
Tower is now roofless with the remains of a crenellated parapet. Walls are of random rubble and cut stone.
Octagonal section has openings to six sides at first stage; two doors and four windows. The door opening to right of stairwell has remains of a windbreak wall to right. All openings have granite lintels. Second stage has eight window openings. Third stage has nine window openings.
Stairwell has two narrow window openings set between each floor. Irregular granite stones form a partial arched opening to right side of stairwell, through which underside of granite stairs is visible. At ground level within this arch is a tiny lintelled opening (function unknown).
Historical information
Cited as 'tower' on the 1835 map and as 'tower in ruins' in the 1861 map. Undoubtedly related to Fathom House, a short distance NE. Precise date uncertain, but possible late 18th century.
Primary sources:
1. First edition OS 6" map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1835 (PRONI - OS 6/2/29/1).
2. Second edition OS 6" map, Co Armagh sheet 29, 1861 (PRONI - OS 6/2/29/2).
Secondary sources:
1. C.E.B. Brett, 1999, Buildings of County Armagh, p.273 (Belfast: UAHS).
Criteria for listing: architectural interest
A. Style
B. Proportion
D. Plan Form
J. Setting
K. Group value
Criteria for listing: historic interest
X. Local Interest
Evaluation
A large and impressive belvedere looking N over the Clanrye valley situated on the hillside of Fathom Park. See also Fathom House (HB16/13/005).
Nearby in the register
- Fathom HouseHouseunder 1 mi
- 46 Flagstaff RoadHouseunder 1 mi
- BelvedereGarden Featuresunder 1 mi
- AshtonHouseunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.