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Belvedere House, Drumcondra – Situated in the grounds of DCU´s St. Patricks Campus, this red brick building always caught my eye as I bused into work. Amazingly, its history can be traced back to 1654 in a civil survey. Sir Robert Booth, Chief Justice of the Irish Common...(1/6)
Pleas, seems to have modernised a house here, described as “Jacobian”, around 1660. But it was a Sir John Coghill who built the house we know today, in 1688, and called it Belvedere. The house had many owners, ranging from members of the Irish Parliament to archbishops. (2/6)
However, the most fascinating story I found attached to Belvedere House relates to one James Sadler, the 1st English Aeronaut, and his attempt to become the 1st person to cross the Irish Sea in a hot air balloon.
The launch was made on 1st Oct. 1812 from Belvedere House...(3/6)
The launch was made on 1st Oct. 1812 from Belvedere House...(3/6)
in a balloon, 55 feet diameter, & emblazoned with the words “Érin-go-Bragh”!!! (Love it). Thousands of people were in attendance to watch the event, including the novelist Maria Edgeworth, who captured the mood of the day in her writings. Sadlers journey began well,...(4/6)
until, when over Anglesey, a strong wind carried him out to sea. Despite his attempts to change direction, he was forced to ditch in the sea & was later rescued by the herring trawler 'Victory' (you cant make this stuff up). He did find some consolation five years later,...(5/6)
when John assisted his youngest son, the Irish born Windham, to successfully make the crossing.
Its amazing to look upon Belvedere House today and imagine what the scene would have been like on that day in 1812.
More info here: https://tinyurl.com/ybv9y3an https://tinyurl.com/ybb8wjkj
Its amazing to look upon Belvedere House today and imagine what the scene would have been like on that day in 1812.
More info here: https://tinyurl.com/ybv9y3an https://tinyurl.com/ybb8wjkj
