Downhill House — Attraction in Downhill

Downhill House, located in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, is a captivating historical mansion with a rich and varied past. Constructed in the 18th century by Frederick Hervey, the 4th Earl of Bristol, this grand estate exemplifies the grandeur and elegance of Georgian architecture. The house’s striking position atop the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, adding to its allure.

Designed by the esteemed architect Michael Shanahan, Downhill House has undergone numerous expansions and renovations over the centuries, each adding to its unique character. The mansion features intricate plasterwork, ornate ceilings, and magnificent bay windows that flood the rooms with natural light, enhancing its architectural splendor. The surrounding gardens, crafted by the renowned landscape architect Capability Brown, further elevate the estate’s beauty with meticulously landscaped grounds and picturesque vistas.

Despite its grandeur, Downhill House has faced periods of neglect and decay. In the 20th century, the estate fell into disrepair, and portions of the house were abandoned. However, recent restoration efforts have aimed to preserve and return Downhill House to its former glory, showcasing the dedication to maintaining this architectural gem.

Today, Downhill House stands as a cultural landmark, drawing visitors from near and far who come to admire its architectural beauty and delve into its fascinating history. Whether exploring the restored rooms or wandering through the tranquil gardens, visitors are transported back in time, experiencing the elegance and grandeur of...

The dominant and intriguing ruin of Downhill demesne commands exceptional views along the coast.  It is wrongly referred to as the 'Bishop's Palace' which is in Londonderry. The house or manse and estate which has landscaped gardens and walks covering over 150 acres was one of the most noted houses in Ireland along with its flamboyant owner Frederick Augustus Hervey, the Bishop of Derry and 4th Earl of Bristol.  The house was built as a country home for the Earl Bishop who had a great affinity for the area, he also had a home at Ickworth and Ballyscullion. Downhill was constructed between 1775–85 which included Mussenden Temple, the Mausoleum and Lions Gate. The building was designed by the architect Michael Shanahan under the Bishop's watchful eye, he also  designed Mussenden Temple and on the Bishops request, modeled it on the Temple of Vesta at Tivoli in Italy. The Earl Bishop combined his love for travel with a passion for collecting art and antiquities, every journey saw him return with art and artifacts. He commissioned and paid for excavations in Italy to find rare marbles and other items for his collection and tried to buy the original Temple of Vesta which he planned to dismantled and rebuilt at Downhill. This was turned down by the Vatican, so he had his own built from scratch as a library overlooking...

Downhill house is a great old ruin that was burnt up in a fire and never restored. You could walk right in the front door, imagining what it was like when it was built. There’s not much on the inside, but you can see how thick the walls used to be and where the floors used to be. You can walk right through the mansion. You can see right through the middle of the mansion to the temple that’s far behind it right on the edge of the cliff. It’s a bit of a walk through the mansion, all the way to the temple, but great scenery all around with fantastic views in every direction. When you get to the lonely temple on the edge of the cliff, there are amazing views of this fantastic beach below. they say at one time a horse and buggy could ride right around the temple as the temple was not on the Cliff edge then. You can’t do that now cause the temple is right on the edge of the cliff and will probably fall into the sea one day. The view from the temple, you can’t go inside, but you can see this long wide sandy beach below. You can drive a little further down the road and go to that wonderful beach and look up at the temple from below. It’s well worth a visit to downhill house. Noticed the train tracks below run right through the cliff...