Bellevue/Belle Vue, Old Merrion
NAME Belle Vue
AREA LOCATION Now the site of Bellevue Copse
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Priesthouse and it is annotated as Bellevue on both.
GENERAL An 1830s villa-style house with granite steps leading to an upstairs hall.
It had a gate lodge at the entrance from the Merrion Road close to the old IMCo building. It was
for sale described as adjoining Trimleston House in 1878 and built in the Cottage Style. In 1884 it
was for sale quoting £1280. It was for sale again in 1952 approached by a well-timbered drive with
lodge at entrance on 5 acres. It was described as ideally suitable as a private residence with vacant
possession. It had a porched tiled entrance, square entrance hall, 2 reception rooms with bay
windows, 5 Bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen with pleasure gardens, greenhouse, fruit and vegetable
garden and a garage.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1880 the valuation was 52 pounds and in the 1901 census it is
noted as having 10 rooms occupied by the family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census empy&
Wills, and OSI Maps
OCCUPANTS
1860 - 1861 Henry Dwyer
1862 - 1878 Robert Grattan
1878 - 1879 Francis Smyth
1882 - 1916 David Drimmie
1919 - 1927 Charles William Thompson
1936 To Auction on 6 acres
1937 For Sale
1937 Joseph Speidel
1947 Robert Moreland
1947 - 1961 Frederick Charles Combe
1952 For Sale
1957 Houses built on the land
1986 Bellevue Park/Bellevue Copse built in the gardens
2005 Sold on 1 acre for €4,800,000 at a Sherry FitzGerald auction.
STAFF
1897 - 1901 Thomas Byrne - Gardener
1901 Eliza Smith - General domestic
Mary Alice Byrne - Parlourmaid
1911 Mary Jane Smith - Nurse
Kate Gorman - Cook
1926 Mary Margaret O'Toole
Kathleen McEnroe
1951 Horace & Dick Myles - Greyhound trainers
CURRENT Extant and a protected structure/gatelodge also survives
STATUS
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE March 2026
AREA LOCATION Now the site of Bellevue Copse
MAP LOCATION OSI maps of 1838-1845 and 1898-1913 place it in the townland of
Priesthouse and it is annotated as Bellevue on both.
GENERAL An 1830s villa-style house with granite steps leading to an upstairs hall.
It had a gate lodge at the entrance from the Merrion Road close to the old IMCo building. It was
for sale described as adjoining Trimleston House in 1878 and built in the Cottage Style. In 1884 it
was for sale quoting £1280. It was for sale again in 1952 approached by a well-timbered drive with
lodge at entrance on 5 acres. It was described as ideally suitable as a private residence with vacant
possession. It had a porched tiled entrance, square entrance hall, 2 reception rooms with bay
windows, 5 Bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen with pleasure gardens, greenhouse, fruit and vegetable
garden and a garage.
YEAR BUILT circa 1830
VALUATION In 1880 the valuation was 52 pounds and in the 1901 census it is
noted as having 10 rooms occupied by the family.
ARCHITECT Unknown
SOURCES Thom’s directories, contemporaneous newspapers, NAI Census empy&
Wills, and OSI Maps
OCCUPANTS
1860 - 1861 Henry Dwyer
1862 - 1878 Robert Grattan
1878 - 1879 Francis Smyth
1882 - 1916 David Drimmie
1919 - 1927 Charles William Thompson
1936 To Auction on 6 acres
1937 For Sale
1937 Joseph Speidel
1947 Robert Moreland
1947 - 1961 Frederick Charles Combe
1952 For Sale
1957 Houses built on the land
1986 Bellevue Park/Bellevue Copse built in the gardens
2005 Sold on 1 acre for €4,800,000 at a Sherry FitzGerald auction.
STAFF
1897 - 1901 Thomas Byrne - Gardener
1901 Eliza Smith - General domestic
Mary Alice Byrne - Parlourmaid
1911 Mary Jane Smith - Nurse
Kate Gorman - Cook
1926 Mary Margaret O'Toole
Kathleen McEnroe
1951 Horace & Dick Myles - Greyhound trainers
CURRENT Extant and a protected structure/gatelodge also survives
STATUS
CONTRIBUTOR © June Bow & Karen Poff
DATE March 2026
