Tudenham Park House

Tudenham Park House (Irish: Teach Pháirc Tudenham), originally called Rochfort House, is an 18th-century Palladian limestone country house located in Tudenham Park on the Rochfort Demesne near Belvedere House and Gardens beside Lough Ennell, County Westmeath, Ireland.

Tudenham Park House
Teach Pháirc Tudenham
A view of the house, 2016
Former namesRochfort
General information
Architectural stylePalladian
LocationRochfort Demesne
Town or cityMullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland
CountryIreland
Coordinates53°28′20.385″N 7°22′16.875″W
Elevation92 metres (302 ft)
Construction started1717 (1717)
Completed1742 (1742)
Renovated1790 (1790)
Destroyed1958 (1958)
Owner
  • Rochfort family (1742—1835)
  • Francis Hopkins (1836—1870)
  • Tottenham family (1870—1963)
Technical details
Materiallimestone
Design and construction
Architect(s)Richard Cassels

The house is known for being involved in an ordeal with Robert Rochfort's brother, George, which resulted in Robert constructing The Jealous Wall so he would not have to look at his brother's grander house.

History

The construction on the house began in 1717, and it was completed in 1742 for George Rochfort.[1]

Later a glass house designed by Richard Turner was affixed to the property.[2]

It was purchased by Sir Francis Hopkins in 1836, and the name was subsequently changed from Rochfort to Tudenham Park.[3] Hopkins' tenure lasted 34 years until the property was sold to the affluent Tottenham family in 1870.

On 7 March 1906, Charles Gore Loftus Tottenham inherited Tudenham House and land from his grandmother.[4]

The house was used as a hospital and convalescent home for army officers during World War I and World War II and was still in military possession in 1945.[5]

The Tottenham family had not lived in the property since 1952; and in 1958 the house was gutted by a fire that destroyed the roof but spared the walls, chimneystacks and main façade, which still stand to this day. The family decided to sell the house ruin and land in 1963.[6]

As of 2023, the house is largely covered with overgrown vegetation, and multiple efforts have been made to conserve the property since 2005.[7]

Sale of the property

In December 2013, the land, including the house, was sold at an auction for €681,000 to a businessman from Westmeath.[8]

In October 2023, the property again went on the market with a guide price of €1.2m.[9]

  • Tudenham House
    Tudenham House
  • Architectural detail of the south elevation
    Architectural detail of the south elevation
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tudenham Park House.

References
  1. "Tudenham Park, ROCHFORT DEMESNE, WESTMEATH". www.buildingsofireland.ie. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. "CO. WESTMEATH, TUDENHAM Dictionary of Irish Architects -". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  3. Tottenham, Ed. "The Tottenham Family - Home". tottenham.name. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  4. "Family of Charles Gore Loftus TOTTENHAM and Georgina Alice Lizzy SOMERVILLE". rtpovey.homeip.net. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. "Archiseek - Irish Architecture - 1742 - Tudenham Park, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath". 2 November 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  6. "Tudenham Park, Rochfort Demesne - The National Trust for Ireland - An Taisce". www.antaisce.org. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  7. "Tudenham Park, Co Westmeath | Punch consulting". www.punchconsulting.com. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  8. "Tudenham Park shatters guide price to rake in €681k - FarmIreland.ie". FarmIreland.ie. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  9. "Historic house is up for sale". Westmeath Independent. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
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