Fortunately Marshall Doran, a merchant navy officer and an avid collector of fossils and medieval armour, acquired the run down property in 1961, restored it and opened it as a hotel in 1970. It was at this time that Mayo County Council considered taking the roof of the building to avoid paying rates. Mayo County Council purchased the house in the 1950's and used the Manor House as a hospital & military barracks and was later abandoned it. The house was later purchased by the Beckett family who intended on converting the Manor House into a stud farm but later sold the house. Their grandson William Arthur Cecil Saunders-Knox-Gore sold the house in 1942. The house was inherited by his sister Matilda who married Major General William Boyd Saunders of Torquay. Charles died without issue in 1890 & was also buried in Belleek Demense beside the River Moy, and his dog Phizzie was buried beside him. His eldest son Charles Knox-Gore inherited & became the 2nd Baronet. It is said that his wife & favourite horse are both buried beside him. A striking Neo-Gothic Monument, designed by James Franklin Fuller, now marks his grave and is situated in the middle of Belleek Woods. According to his wishes he was buried in Belleek Demense. Francis lived at Belleek Castle with his wife Sarah and his 9 children until his death in 1873.
The house is thought to have replaced an earlier structure & is named after the original Belleek Castle, a 13th Tower House Castle situated on the banks of the River Moy. The manor house was designed by the prolific architect John Benjamin Keanes, and the Neo-Gothic architecture met the taste of the time, when Medieval styles became fashionable again. The building was commissioned by Sir Arthur Francis Knox-Gore for the cost of £10,000 and. Belleek Castle was built between 1825 and finished in 1831 for the cost of £10,000.