The Rosmead Estate is to the north of Delvin on the N52.

Rosmead House was built in the late eighteenth century by Hans Widman Wood and in its heyday was a magnificent seven-bay, three-storey house over a basement. The house was set in an extensive demesne with gardens, woodland and farmland and was designed to take advantage of the views across the surrounding countryside.

Hans Widman Wood’s eldest daughter Frances Elizabeth inherited the house and married Admiral Hercules Robinson. Their son, Hercules George Robert Robinson, left Ireland and went on to have a distinguished career in the British Empire, serving as Governor of several colonies. In 1896 he was created Baron Rosmead, taking his title from the family home at Delvin.

The Robinsons sold the Rosmead estate to George Charles Mostyn, 6th Baron Vaux of Harrowden, in 1852. Lord Vaux carried out improvements to the property and, in the 1850s, an extension was added to the house, designed by the architect Sandham Symes.

The estate was sold again in 1879 and came into the possession of Alexis Huchet, Marquis de la Bédoyère, who had married Mildred, daughter of Fulke Greville-Nugent of nearby Clonyn Castle. The Marquis was still living at Rosmead in the early 1900s.

Rosmead had another brief moment in local history during the Civil War. In 1922 the house was occupied by anti-Treaty forces who had withdrawn from Mullingar and taken up position at Rosmead. National Army troops subsequently engaged them in fighting in and around the estate.

Sadly, the house was dismantled in 1940 after a proposal to convert it for religious use came to nothing. Some of the stonework was subsequently reused in the reconstruction of Balrath in neighbouring County Meath. Today only parts of the former house survive, together with the courtyard, outbuildings and entrance gateway.

The impressive archway leading into the estate is known locally as “Smiling Bess”. It dates from the late eighteenth century and was designed by Samuel Woolley. Interestingly, it was not originally built for Rosmead. The gateway was commissioned by Ralph Smyth for his estate at Ralphsdale near Drumcree and was later moved to Rosmead. Its distinctive Coade-stone decorations include a damaged keystone which gave rise to the name “Smiling Bess”.

The gateway remains a familiar landmark on the N52 and is probably the most visible reminder today of the once magnificent Rosmead Estate.

Please note that Rosmead House and the former estate are private property and are not open to the public.