Frederick Hervey was one of the most colorful characters of eighteenth-century Britain. He was known for his wicked sense of humor, and there are tales of races run by fat and lean clergy after grand dinners at the Downhill estate. However, the Earl-Bishop’s numerous eccentricities were accompanied by a genuine commitment to political, economic, and religious change. (...)
Frederick Hervey was one of the most colorful characters of eighteenth-century Britain. He was known for his wicked sense of humor, and there are tales of races run by fat and lean clergy after grand dinners at the Downhill estate. However, the Earl-Bishop’s numerous eccentricities were accompanied by a genuine commitment to political, economic, and religious change. A liberal nationalist, Hervey promoted public works for unemployment relief and bravely espoused the cause of the oppressed Catholics, even allowing his Catholic tenants to say Mass in the crypt of the Mussenden Temple, despite being a protestant bishop. The landscaped estate, gardens, and buildings at Downhill reflect the vivid personality of their creator. Today, the secured temple, surrounded by striking ruins of Downhill House and sheltered gardens, is licensed for civic weddings and is occasionally used for musical and dramatic events. Mussenden Temple is one of the most photographed monuments in Northern Ireland and is a crucial part of its late-eighteenth-century built heritage.
