Belvoir Castle

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Belvoir Castle in the late 19th century.

The south west range and round tower of Belvoir Castle from Jones' Views of the seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen, published in 1829. The medieval castle had been replaced after the Civil War and again rebuilt in the romantic style illustrated between 1799 and 1816, but in the latter year it had been almost destroyed by a fire. It was rebuilt again to largely the same designs, and barring minor details this image shows the castle as it remains today.

Belvoir Castle today.

Belvoir Castle (pronounced Beaver) listen (help·info) is a stately home in the English county of Leicestershire, overlooking the Vale of Belvoir (grid reference SK820337). It is a Grade I listed building.^[1]

The castle is near several villages, including Redmile, Woolsthorpe, Knipton, Harlaxton, Croxton Kerrial and Bottesford, and the town of Grantham.

1 The Castle
2 The Estate
3 Modern day usage
4 References
5 External links

[edit] The Castle

A Norman castle originally stood on the high ground in this spot. During the English Civil War, it was one of the more notable strongholds of the king's supporters. It eventually passed into the hands of the Dukes of Rutland and following a fire, was rebuilt by the wife of the 5th Duke, and gained its present Gothic castle look. The architect James Wyatt was chiefly responsible for this restructuring, and the result is a building which bears a superficial resemblance to a medieval castle, its central tower reminiscent of Windsor Castle. The present Castle is the fourth building to have stood on the site since Norman times.

Belvoir has been ancestral home of the Duke and Duchess of Rutland for over one thousand years. The Castle is currently the home of the 11th Duke and Duchess and their five children.

The castle is open to the public and contains many works of art. The Queen's Royal Lancers Regimental Museum of the 17th and 21st Lancers was established here in 1964 but left in October 2007. The highlights of the tour are the lavish staterooms, the most famous being the Elizabeth Saloon (named after the wife of the 5th Duke), the Regents Gallery and the Roman inspired State Dining Room.

[edit] The Estate

The castle sits in a vast estate of almost 30,000 acres (120 km²). The landscaped grounds, nearer the castle, are also open and the Root Houses (aka summerhouses) can also be seen. (These were also built by the fifth Duke's wife). The present Duchess is restoring Belvoir Gardens, which includes the Secret Valley Garden and the Rustic Summerhouse of 1800.

The estate is open to the public and offers a range of outdoor activities. Many people take advantage of the shooting, fishing, quad biking and four-by-four driving, Throughout the year they also host sheep, duck and dog exhibitions.

The Duke and Duchess of Rutland also manage Manners Arms [1], a country hotel and restaurant on the Belvoir estate.

[edit] Modern day usage

Several films and television programmes have used it as a location, notably the film Little Lord Fauntleroy starring Sir Alec Guinness. The castle itself was used as a filming location for The Da Vinci Code - it represented Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence. In September 2007, Belvoir Castle was also used as a filming location for The Young Victoria, due for release in 2008.

Since Spring 2006 the castle has been the venue for an annual Folk Music weekend. Organised by volunteers, and run on a shoestring, the event has a unique style and atmosphere. Folk music performers from all over the region forego their usual fees and expenses, for the chance to play in the magical setting of Belvoir's ballroom, guardroom, old servants' hall and the Regent's gallery.