Belvoir beavers in on stately home's estate

When the chatelaine of Belvoir Castle, the Duchess of Rutland (pictured), was looking for a letting agent to take over management of the 300-plus residential properties on the estate, there might have been one obvious place to look.

Nearby Belvoir Lettings in Grantham, Lincolnshire, sounded exactly the right choice.

In fact, Belvoir Lettings has no historic connection whatever with Belvoir Castle, and far from sounding the right choice, the two pronounce ‘Belvoir’ quite differently. The castle pronounces it as Beaver, and Belvoir, as Bellevoir.

In fact, Belvoir Castle started out with the pronunciation Bellevoir. But 500 years ago, the local population were anti-French and the pronunciation was changed for diplomatic reasons.

Conversely, Belvoir Lettings started out pronouncing themselves as Beaver Lettings. But as everyone called them Bellevoir anyway, they threw in the towel and changed the pronunciation in 2002.

However, Belvoir Lettings was understandably thrilled to be appointed.

Until recently the estate was entirely self-managed by the administration team at Belvoir Castle, as it had been for the last five centuries.

The Duchess of Rutland appointed Belvoir Lettings only last month, but has known founder Mike Goddard for some time.  

“He contacted us some eight to ten years ago and sponsored an event here,” she explains. “The relationship continued and Mike was very keen to explore the link between Belvoir Lettings, which is based in the nearby town of Grantham, and the Belvoir Castle estate.

“This union has now come together, as we recognise that Belvoir is a reputable local company with many national outlets.”

Dorian Gonsalves, CEO of Belvoir Lettings, said: “Mike Goddard started Belvoir Lettings in a village in the Vale of Belvoir, so the company was originally named after the area, and I myself used to live on the Belvoir estate in the village of Knipton.

“Three members of staff from the Belvoir Castle administration team have moved to Belvoir Grantham and so there will be continuity with tenants. We look forward to a long and happy working relationship.”