The history of Bellinter House
Bellinter House sits on the south bank of the River Boyne within sight of ancient Tara and approximately six miles from the town of Navan. This splendid Georgian mansion, built about 1750, was designed by Richard Castle for John Preston, grandfather of the first Lord Tara.
Bellinter (or more correctly Ballinter) takes its name from the Irish or Gaelic words, "Balle an tSaoir," which means the home of the carpenter. Bellinter is located in the civil parish of Assey and in the barony of Lower Deece in the County of Meath.
Bellinter House is built on the bank of the Boyne river, a river which sets forth the history of Ireland on its journey to the sea. Over 5,000 years ago the Impressive tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built on the banks of this river by men who were only acquainted with stone and wood, while 3,000 years later the Celtic High Kings of Ireland ruled from their palaces on the Hill of Tara. St. Patrick started his conversion of the Irish at Slane and began a golden period in Irish history when Ireland became known as the "Island of Saints and Scholars." Kells was one such monastic centre, made famous by its connection to the Book of Kells, the most beautiful illuminated manuscript of the Middle Ages. The Anglo-Norman Invaders made Meath one of their strongholds while in the 17th century Cromwell led his armies through the river valley. Ireland continued to he a battleground with the Battle of the Boyne being fought between two kings in 1690.

Following these Invasions and wars, the rich lands of Meath changed hands and the new landowners built mansions beside the river. Up river one can find Bective House, Balsoon House and Rathnally while downstream is Dowdstown and Ardsallagh. These mansions have now lost the huge estates which supported the upkeep of these "big houses" and so are left without an income to support their upkeep.

Bellinter House was home to the Preston family for nearly two centuries and is one of the finest examples of country architecture in Co. Meath.
A medium - sized country house, Bellinter was designed in a country villa style by Richard Castle for John Preston. Houses such as this were designed for wealthy men who left the city in the summer and played at country gentlemen. The house was a retreat and a functioning estate house. The main floor was the area to which the public were admitted with the first floor being for real family life. The basements were for the servants. One wing contained the servants' quarters and the kitchens while the other contained the stables. The vaulted stables had oat lofts overhead and a crusher house. One gate at one end of the house led to the stableyard while the other led to the farmyard.
An inventory of furniture at Bellinter was made about 1893 when the Briscoe family took over the house. A total of 48 pages listed approximately 1,200 Items. T'he contents were listed according to the room with the names of each room given:- Butter's pantry, diningroom, study, drawingroom, yellow room, dressing room, new room, blue room, stair head, stair case, hall, Duffy's room, study, passages, His Reverence's room, drawing room, morning room, housekeeper's room, housemaid's room, spare room and dressing room.
In 1901 the house is listed as having 22 rooms and 46 outbuildings. Living in the house with the family were William Swan, the butler (aged 70), Bridget Geraghty, the cook (aged 50), T'heresa Mulvany, the housemaid (aged 50), Ellen Molloy, the kitchen maid (aged 30), the steward, Michael Bennett (aged 55) and two grooms. Living near the "big house" were the gardener, the pantry boy and the kennel huntsman. In the 1911 census an Italian butler, Egido, Macario, appears in the house as does George Pritchard, a game keeper. In 1893 there were 21 workmen employed on the estate at an average wage of 9 shillings (45p) a week.

John Preston founded the family fortune in Co. Meath. The son of Hugh Bolton of Preston, John is said to have been the grandson of Jenico, the third Viscount Gormanston. The Gormanstons held a large amount of property in the eastern part of Co. Meath where they established themselves in the 15th century. The family managed to retain their lands and hold onto their Catholic faith.
John Preston established himself first in Dublin city. A merchant, he was appointed as clerk of the Tholsel or Market House in 1650. Two days later he was elected as Alderman in the Corporation or city Government. Serving as city auditor on a number of occasions, John Preston was elected as Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1653.
Oliver Cromwell confiscated the lands of the Catholic Irish who had fought against his Parliamentary Armies. The confiscated lands were parcelled out to his soldiers and those who had invested in his campaigns, in lieu of a monetary reward. Many of the soldiers and adventurers who had backed Cromwell did not wish to leave England and move to an alien and hostile land and so sold the properties which they had been given.
The Nangle family, who held the title Barons of Navan, were outlawed and their lands confiscated. John Preston purchased their property from the English soldiers and adventurers who had no interest in coming to Ireland. In this manner he managed to acquire 7,859 acres of land In Meath and Queen's County (now Co. Laois). He placed 1,737 acres in trust for the keeping of two schools, one at Navan and the other at Ballyroan in Queen's County. This may have been a ploy which would have made it more difficult for the original owners to seek return of their property when charitable institutions were involved.
For the first 150 years of the Preston School at Navan, the income of the lands held in trust went to the school headmaster who was usually a relative of the Preston family. For example, in 1755, Mr. Preston appointed his brother as school master. In the early part of the 19th century the school never had more than seven pupils with Roman Catholics sometimes being admitted. The Royal Commissioners considered the school as "one of the most remarkable instances of an abused trust" and the Bishop of' Meath was also displeased with the situation in the school. The school was reformed and managed to survive until 1969 when it was amalgamated with Wilson's Hospital school. The site of the school was used for the building of Navan Shopping Centre. In 1986 a plaque was erected at the shopping centre to commemorate the tricentenary of the Preston school (1686- 1986).