The Architecture

Belcourt Castle Exterior is designed in the style of
Louis XIII (French King from 1600-1643)

‘Belcourt’ was originally built on the land between Bellevue Avenue and Almy Pond, bordering on Wheatland Avenue (now Rovensky Avenue).

Early sketches for "Belcourt" resemble the stick style of Hunt's earlier work in two very distinct and different styles: the north wing French Renaissance, and the south, east and west wings half-timbered, like Norman, Elizabethan English and country German styles. With small high windows, the first floor was all for the horses. Inside were thirty horse stalls separated by carved teakwood partitions. In its day the Belmont stable was the envy of Newport "society".

On the second floor of the south wing are now some 20 rooms. What had been servants' quarters for 17 grooms, coachman and gardener was converted to apartments in 1940. Since 1956 the area has been continually reconfigured into comfortable living quarters for the Tinney Family and members of the Castle staff.

The changes to Belcourt’s first floor which Alva Belmont made between 1908 and 1914 included the addition of the English Library designed by John Russell Pope. The ceiling is copied after one in Haddon Hall in England. The carved oak paneling is called “linenfold”, a gothic style made to resemble the folds in cloth. The library has four secret doors.

The grand staircase took three years to carve in French oak by hundreds of artisans.

Belcourt’s grand Halls, staircase and Music room are inspired by the French renaissance. Carved oak wainscoting and hand woven damask are original from 1894.

In the original plan for "Belcourt" the central large room on the first floor was a huge space seating up to 250 guests.  Unusual for the 1890s, the architect Hunt created a 40' span using steel I-beams. Italian 17th century stained glass windows depict 12 saints. 

There is a huge Russian crystal chandelier with 13,000 prisms in the center of the room surrounded by 8 smaller Czechoslovakian crystal chandeliers, which give the room its luminous sparkle.

The "coach room" opens to the Italian banquet Hall. This area was the exit passageway from the stable to the north courtyard. Mrs. Belmont created a kitchen in this area, which was removed in 1940.

Between 1966 and 1970 the Tinney family used the so-called "old Kitchen", as a workshop where they constructed the replica of the Golden Coronation Coach.

The oval Versailles dining room ceiling is sculptured staff work featuring Apollo driving the sunchariot through the sky. Between French Empire style columns are huge mirrors and mirrored doors. The windows also have mirrored shutters which may be raised fully to reveal the three French doors overlooking the ocean. Indirect lighting was installed in 1894 by Thomas Edison.

The French Gothic Ballroom features a castle fireplace and 13th century stained glass. Measuring 35 feet by 70 feet with a 35 foot vaulted ceiling the acoustics are perfect for musical performances and dancing.