tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post2752707638942451894..comments2024-03-28T07:36:37.715+00:00Comments on Lord Belmont in Northern Ireland: Isle O'Valla HouseTimothy Belmonthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15111145260662707575noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-17599015042724629692023-01-22T05:46:23.903+00:002023-01-22T05:46:23.903+00:00I've been through the house recently,it's ...I've been through the house recently,it's a shame it's been left to decay,it's an impressive building but I think it's beyond redemption as it sits and ivy will tear it apart no doubt within the next few years,sad really.Sean Woodsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-49835565011675293252023-01-15T06:33:23.727+00:002023-01-15T06:33:23.727+00:00Thank you very much for letting me know that altho...Thank you very much for letting me know that although it is a ruin, it is still possible to see Isle O'Valla House. I will certainly 'visit' when I am in the area in early June. Any other photos of the house, especially earlier ones, or further information about the house or its current owner would also be so very helpful.<br /><br />Catherithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14264185282282638247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-62973894284057435122023-01-13T10:19:00.634+00:002023-01-13T10:19:00.634+00:00I cycle past this ruin and sadly it is a ruin and ...I cycle past this ruin and sadly it is a ruin and ever more so with the passing years. There is a sign now on the roadside Isle o'valla Farm. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-82973488752152903572023-01-13T10:15:32.159+00:002023-01-13T10:15:32.159+00:00I cycle past this ruin and sadly it is in ruins. A...I cycle past this ruin and sadly it is in ruins. Apparently Patricia Craig (authior&essayist) was offered it for £50k in the 1980s but even then it was in a very poor state. Fascinated to think £4k was spent building it as a Charter School in the 1800s?! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-33701096735786589972023-01-05T07:51:29.740+00:002023-01-05T07:51:29.740+00:00I am visiting Strangford from Australia in May, as...I am visiting Strangford from Australia in May, as part of a research trip I am undertaking. I have an interest in the history of this house, and I would like to know if it is still uninhabited, and regardless,<br /> whether it is possible to visit. I would also be particularly interested to see the photographs amaryp mentioned in her post of 17 September 2021. Catherithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14264185282282638247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-55570064029585134422021-09-17T22:40:38.592+01:002021-09-17T22:40:38.592+01:00Thank you for your blog post. Frank McCausland was...Thank you for your blog post. Frank McCausland was my Great-great-uncle and it is very interesting to see how the house is doing — I had previously only seen photographs of when the family occupied it and those pictures are around a hundred years old now.amaryphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16512735667030265562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-22343456967783440192021-03-07T22:11:30.993+00:002021-03-07T22:11:30.993+00:00We visited this house today. It is in a ruinous st...We visited this house today. It is in a ruinous state but we didn't stay long as access from a busy road is awkward and we don't like blocking an active farmer's lane. It is sad to see such a historic building in this state. We are especially interested in the Jane Austen connection in this part of the country. Geraldine and Jim McAdam, visiting from our home on the Ards Peninsula.Jim McAdamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-79186608197904780742020-07-09T06:27:13.424+01:002020-07-09T06:27:13.424+01:00The Sandys Ombersley archive includes an unpublish...The Sandys Ombersley archive includes an unpublished journal by Norah's brother, ABGS Hill, 1875-89. Though it is no great work of literature, Hill lived at the beginning of this period near to Norah, and so it does contain many references to Isle O'Valla, as well as to his father, Lord George Hill, the husband of both Cassandra and (later) Louisa Knight, Jane's nieces. See generally www.thesandysstory.ukMartin Davishttp://www.thesandysstory.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-80182135272982929032017-10-09T13:08:49.329+01:002017-10-09T13:08:49.329+01:00My grandfather Godfrey John Mulholland was born at...My grandfather Godfrey John Mulholland was born at Isle O Valla in 1892, even though his mother Norah (née Ward) lived at Ballywater with her husband Henry Mulholland. Captain Somerset Ward and his wife Norah (née Hill) lived there at the time and were presumably her parents. Since Norah Hill was Jane Austen's great niece, I have now discovered I am related to Jane Austen - wow! Such a shame it is a ruin, looks like a beautiful house.Anne Williamsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-12487050586466222202013-05-18T10:32:57.576+01:002013-05-18T10:32:57.576+01:00Fascinating. I have seen this house on several occ...Fascinating. I have seen this house on several occasions but didn't know about the Jane Austen connections. Given the frenzy her name seems to inspire, anyone local interested in securing the building's future should get on to some of the seemingly-innumerable JA websites and plead its cause. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13096314675302490332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-62937105590876964972013-05-17T17:36:10.729+01:002013-05-17T17:36:10.729+01:00I was just about to mention the Jane Austen connec...I was just about to mention the Jane Austen connection as well. Sophia Hillan's 2011 book (May, Lou & Cass: Jane Austen's Nieces in Ireland) is a great read and mentions Isle O'Valla. It also includes a photograph of it in its current state.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-20869901872136987252013-05-17T00:02:58.218+01:002013-05-17T00:02:58.218+01:00The question is - why are the historic houses of N...The question is - why are the historic houses of NI allowed to go to rack and ruin?<br /><br />Why indeed, particularly given the connection with Jane Austen (Somerset Ward was married to Norah Hill, a great-niece of hers)!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-72829237813513221412011-07-27T23:08:46.292+01:002011-07-27T23:08:46.292+01:00when was it last lived in do you know tim. I know ...when was it last lived in do you know tim. I know that someone from the ards area owns it now and that a local farmer rents the land and yardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2705771450596300887.post-86893973165168645352011-07-10T22:51:53.116+01:002011-07-10T22:51:53.116+01:00Tim,
very interesting post - I have often admired ...Tim,<br />very interesting post - I have often admired this house and assumed it was unoccupied, though the farm behind it seems to be a working one. The question is - why are the historic houses of NI allowed to go to rack and ruin? Is there no (enforcable) mechanism to ensure their protection and upkeep?<br />Cheers,<br />JAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com