Earlier Houses: At least two earlier buildings existed on the site: a Norman castle and a 16th century house, bits and pieces of which were incorporated into the current Castle.

House & Family History: The name of the Castle, meaning "beautiful view" in French, dates to a famous Norman castle built in the 11th century by Robert de Todeni (later Robert de Belvedeir), Standard Bearer to William the Conqueror. This castle was mostly destroyed by Lord Hastings in the 15th century during the Wars of the Roses. The Castle ruins laid untouched for years, until rebuilt in the 16th century by the 1st Earl of Rutland, using stone from the recently dissolved Croxton Abbey and Belvoir Priory. This Castle was also demolished -- this time in 1649, during a siege by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War (during the Civil War Belvoir was a notable stronghold of the king's supporters; Charles I spent a night here on his way into Lincolnshire during the war). The Castle was rebuilt again in the 1650s and 1660s, when it was noted for it plantations on the top of the hill (see engraving in the "Images" section). Belvoir, as seen today, is based on the 17th century Castle, designed on the courtyard plan of a Norman castle, with enormous alterations and remodelings that took place between 1801 and 1830 to the designs of James Wyatt and his office. The interiors were redone to the taste of Elizabeth, 5th Duchess of Rutland (1780-1825); the most notable and famous of the new rooms is the famous Elizabeth Saloon, named after the duchess. Belvoir is at the center of Catherine Bailey's 2012 book, "The Secret Rooms: A True Story of a Haunted Castle, a Plotting Duchess, and a Family Secret."

Collections: Belvoir contains works by Poussin, Holbein, Rubens, Reynolds, and Govelin. A painting of Cheveley Park (a former seat of the dukes of Rutland, now demolished) by Jan Siberechts, 1671, is today in the collection at Belvoir. The collection also includes Mortlake tapestries, Chinese silks, furniture, porcelain, and sculpture. The Rutland Psalter was sold to the British Museum in 1984.

Comments: Pevsner called Belvoir "…much the beau ideal of the romantic castle." In 1846 "White's Directory" cited Belvoir as "by far the most superb architectural ornament of which Leicestershire can boast."

Garden & Outbuildings: The Statue Gardens were constructed into the hillside below the castle and named after the 17th century sculptures on display. Thomas Barlow designed the stables for 1st Duke of Rutland. The Belvoir Estate today comprises approximately 15,000 acres.

Vitruvius Britannicus: C. IVth. pls. 47-50, 1739.

J.B. Burke: Vol. II, p. 61, 1853.

J.P. Neal: Vol. II, 1819.

Country Life: XCI, 851 [Plate], 1036 [Plate], 1130 [Plate], 1942. CXX, 1284, 1402 plan, 1456, 1500, 1956.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Seat of: David Charles Robert Manners, 11th Duke of Rutland; Manners family here since the 16th century.

Past Seat of: Robert de Todeni, later Robert de Belvedeir, 11th century. William d'Aubigny (Albanie), 13th century. Robert de Ros (Roo), 13th century. George Manners, 11th Baron de Ros, late 15th-early 16th centuries; Thomas Manners, 1st Earl of Rutland and 12th Baron de Ros of Helmsley, 16th century.

Current Ownership Type: Individual / Family Trust

Primary Current Ownership Use: Private Home

House Open to Public: Yes

Phone: 01476-871-002

Fax: 01476-870-443

Email: info@belvoircastle.com

Website: http://www.belvoircastle.com

Historic Houses Member: Yes