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The Jealous Wall

Coordinates: 53°28′34.698″N 7°22′6.632″W / 53.47630500°N 7.36850889°W / 53.47630500; -7.36850889
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The Jealous Wall
An Balla Éad
A view of the back of the wall, 2021
Map
Alternative namesJealousy Wall
General information
TypeFolly
Architectural styleGothic
LocationBelvedere House and Gardens
Town or cityMullingar, County Westmeath
CountryIreland
Coordinates53°28′34.698″N 7°22′6.632″W / 53.47630500°N 7.36850889°W / 53.47630500; -7.36850889
Elevation103 metres (338 ft)
Named forRobert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere's jealousy of his brother, George Rochfort's new house and his wife's popularity
Completed1760; 265 years ago (1760)
Owner
Technical details
MaterialLimestone

The Jealous Wall is a large 18th century Gothic folly made from limestone located in the Belvedere House and Gardens in Mullingar, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is notable for being the largest folly in Ireland.[1] It was constructed by Robert Rochfort in c. 1760.

History

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Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvedere, married his second wife Mary Molesworth in 1736 and lived with her and their children in their Gaulstown estate. Robert suspected his wife of having an affair with his brother Robert Rochfort, their nearest neighbor.[2] Belvedere House was built in 1740, and around 1742 or 1743, Robert imprisoned Mary in their Gaulstown home with servants.[3] Mary remained imprisoned for 31 years until his Robert's death in 1774.

Robert's lived mainly at Belvedere House following his separation from Mary. In c. 1743, his older brother George Rochfort built a large Palladian house next door to the south.[4] George's new mansion Tudenham Park House being better than his Belvedere House led Robert to construct the folly in c. 1760. The folly, also known as a sham ruin, is composed of rubble limestone and intentionally designed to look like a ruined abbey wall. It is unknown who designed the folly.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "The Jealous Wall… Ireland's Largest Folly: Mullingar, Co. Westmeath | Ireland Travel Kit". www.irelandtravelkit.com. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  2. ^ Rennicks, Rich (23 October 2013). "The Sordid Tale Behind the Jealous Wall". A Trip to Ireland. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Ireland's The Jealous Wall". Two Miles High. Retrieved 5 February 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ^ FUSIO. "Tudenham Park, ROCHFORT DEMESNE, WESTMEATH". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
  5. ^ FUSIO. "Belvedere House, BELVIDERE, WESTMEATH". Buildings of Ireland. Retrieved 6 February 2025.