Just ahead on your left, you’ll spot Belvedere House, the tall and stately stone building with grand bay windows, a decorative roofline, and a fancy arched porch that seems to invite you into another era.
Now, take a deep breath and let’s travel back to the 1860s, when Belvedere House was brand new and smelling of fresh stone and adventure. Imagine John Smith, the proud owner, strutting through the halls as builders Perkin and Backhouse whispered about the grandeur of their design-gritstone walls, dramatic cornices, and that unmistakable Dutch gable on top like a crown! But here’s a twist: Smith’s time here was short. After his passing, the house welcomed new residents, each bringing their own splash of character to these very rooms.
In 1920, the building’s spirit shifted-it transformed into a youth hostel run by the YMCA. Suddenly, the echoing halls filled with laughter, clanging tin plates, and boots thudding up the grand staircase. Later, it became an art school, where paint splatters and whispered secrets drifted through the grand windows. Even today, as offices, its walls seem to remember those lively days. Belvedere House may look solid and still, but if you listen closely, you might just hear a mischievous sketch artist or the murmur of adventurous young travelers passing through. And don’t forget to admire that quirky four-storey belvedere tower on the left-after all, every grand old house needs a bit of flair!
