Construction The house was built around 1785 possibly to the design of
James Hoban, for the Burton family and
Sir Edward Newenham, a member of the Irish parliament, and an ardent supporter of the Republican Party in the United States, who corresponded with
George Washington. Newenham had earlier leased 37 acres at Belcamp in 1765.
Belcamp College The college was established in 1893 as a juniorate for the
Oblate Fathers, and became a boarding school for boys. School facilities were built onto the original house but the original house still stands intact today. St Mary's Chapel was added to the complex in the early 1900s, and a two-storey red-brick accommodation wing. The chapel was adorned by 12 stained glass windows by
Harry Clarke. In 1972 the historic Belcamp Hall was placed on the protected structures list.
Alumni The actor
Brendan Gleeson worked as an English and Irish teacher in Belcamp. Winner of eight All Ireland Senior Hurling medals with Kilkenny,
Frank Cummins was a student at the college, he also helped Belcamp win the Leinster Colleges football final in 1965.
Sport The school produced some successful Gaelic football sides, winning the GAA Secondary Schools,
Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship in 1921, 1965, 1967 and 1968, and twice runners-up in the All-Ireland Schools final (for the
Hogan Cup).
Father Tom Scully, who taught mathematics, trained Belcamp's team to the three 1960s Leinster Schools' Football Championships.
After the school The house was much damaged by vandals and fire following the closure of the school in 2004 when it was sold to property developer
Gerry Gannon. Eventually the property fell under the control of
NAMA. After 2011, the developer and the local authority did work to secure the premises more actively, but much loss had already occurred.
An Taisce was supportive of the plans, while the
Irish Georgian Society and some local residents had concerns about the historic building and public rights of way on parts of the land. As of the summer of 2018, the lands were in development. Gannon Homes at one time planned up to 2,000 residential units, but only a few hundred have yet been considered for planning permission. ==Elements==