Edward Newenham (1732-1814), was a fervent admirer of the first president of the United States, George Washington (1732-1799), whom he dubbed “the greatest ornament of this century.” For his part, Washington said that “To stand well in the estimation of good men, & honest patriots, whether of this or that clime, or of this or that political way of thinking, has ever been a favourite wish of mine; & to have obtained, by such pursuits as duty to my Country; & the rights of mankind rendered indispensably necessary, the plaudit of Sir Edward Newenham, will not be among my smallest felicities.”
Newenham purchased the Belcamp Estate in about 1763, but although some sources date the Hall that currently stands on the site to that time, it was probably not built until the mid-1780s. It is a red brick, three-story construction in which Irish architect James Hoban (1755-1831), then just making his way as a builder, allegedly participated. Hoban designed the White House under George Washington’s oversight in the 1790s and later played a vital role in the building’s reconstruction after the British burned it in 1814.
Belcamp Hall was beautifully decorated inside with plasterwork, reliefs and murals typical of the time. One piece carries an intriguing theme in eighteenth-century warfare. Outside, the complex included a massive walled garden and outbuildings formed around a courtyard that included a “ball alley.”
Like some others in Ireland, Belcamp Hall was modelled on Mount Vernon—at least in spirit—as the ideal country home. Sadly, though, Newenham—who proudly displayed busts of Washington and Lafayette next to one of Virgil—had to sell the estate in 1793 to pay debts, and indeed ended up in a debtors prison.
The First Washington Monument?
One of the most fascinating features of the estate is a massive monument to George Washington that Newenham constructed in 1778 — thus predating the current building. It is possibly the earliest monument ever erected to Washington and the only one built during his lifetime.
The tower is a red brick construction about twenty feet square and thirty feet high, roughly in the form of a classic star fort with Gothic windows decorated with crenellation.
It originally bore an inscription reading “Oh, ill-fated Britain! The folly of Lexington and Concord will rend asunder and forever disjoin America from thy empire.” That inscription now appears to be lost; now, a marker indicates that the tower was built in dedication to Washington in 1778 and restored in 1984.
Belcamp Hall was purchased in the 1880s by the Oblate Brothers and converted into a college in 1893. They added residential wings as well as a Gothic revival style chapel and appear to have done a good job maintaining the property despite a fire in 1921. Belcamp Hall was most recently used as a school, but since it closed and suffered a fire in 2004 the estate largely fell into ruin.
Today, the Washington Tower looks about half a millennium older than its 245 years. It is pitted and decayed, with iron bars blocking its windows and ugly concrete blocks barring entrance through its central door. It was once surrounded by a pristine lawn - now there’s garbage, weeds and mud. Still, it is substantially intact and possible to restore. As Belcamp Hall undergoes refurbishment with plans for apartments, hopefully the developers will also restore the Tower to its former glory.
THE CACHE
There currently is no access to the Tower, but it can be clearly seen through the security fence. The cache is hidden nearby. There is parking (if you are quick) within 50m of GZ. The area is developing fast so watch out for muggles!