Ardcandrisk House, County Wexford – ruin
Mark Bence-Jones. A Guide to Irish Country Houses (originally published as Burke’s Guide to Country Houses volume 1 Ireland by Burke’s Peerage Ltd. 1978); Revised edition 1988 Constable and Company Ltd, London.
p. 8. “(Grogan-Morgan/LG1863; Deane, Muskerry, B/PB) A two storey Regency villa composed of three polygons of different sizes. Eaved roofs; Wyatt windows at one end. Tail blind panels on narrow faces of polygons.”
http://barntown.ie/ardcandrisk-house/
Ardcandrisk House
Written by Tom and Teresa Wickham
Ardcandrisk House and estate
The house, built in 1833 by Cornelius Grogan Morgan, was described as a two storied regency villa. It was designed without any right angled corners, being formed by three polygons of different sizes. A later addition, a billiards room to the rear of the main house, was a more orthodox rectangular structure. The living and reception rooms occupied the ground floor, the bedrooms and dressing rooms were on the first floor. The basement housed the kitchen quarters. The dairy, laundry and female living apartments were close by in the kitchen yard. A tunnel led from the house to the stable yard where the bachelor workers lived. To the rear of the stables, separated from them by a belfry arch were the farm yard and cow byres.
The bell was rung three times daily: 6am to start the day; 12 noon for dinner; 6pm to cease work. Many of the buildings were constructed of bricks manufactured locally at the Polehore brickyard.
The gardens
The front of the house had a terraced garden and pleasure grounds with many scenic walks around its manicured lawns. Rhododendrons of many beautiful colours and other exotic flowering shrubs enhanced the walkways. The grounds had three tennis courts, said to be the finest in County Wexford. Archery was also a favourite sport on the lawns, and practiced by the ladies and gentlemen alike. One walk led down a step-way, across a bridge over the railway tracks to Lady Dane’s yacht on the Slaney in which she sailed with her companions to attend religious services at St Iberius Church in Wexford. The walled orchard and vegetable garden provided the produce necessary for the house and kitchen. The flower garden, carefully tended, gave the ladies and visitors a beautiful tranquil area to stroll around or sit and enjoy.
Employees
Members of nearly every family in the area depended on the estate for employment. Although the Ardcandrisk estate contained only eighty four acres, none of which was under tillage, the annual corn threshing is said to have continued for a week. Grain crops were carted by her tenants for the event, from as far afield as Blackwater and Curracloe. Twelve men were employed in the gardens with an additional six men in the stable and farm yard. A further ten house servants were employed under the supervision of Miss Bell. Two fine two-storied houses, situated near the orchard, were occupied by the head steward and head gardener and their families. These two houses are in excellent condition and are still occupied today. Lady Dane was considered to be a good landlady who treated her employees fairly. At Christmas time, her butcher Mr Gaul from Taghmon slaughtered her best animal to provide a stone of beef for each worker. They also received one pound of tea and one stone of sugar each. The female servants were given a red petticoat made by the resident seamstress. The workers, servants, their families and neighbours were invited to a Christmas party at the house held in the billiards room (See Appendix 1 for names and occupations of some employees).
‘Lady Dane’
Born Elizabeth Geraldine Grogan in 1830, daughter of Hamilton Knox Grogan Morgan of Johnstown Castle. She married Robert Tilson Fitzmaurice Deane son of 3rd Baron Muskerry of Co Cork in 1847. Their only son Hamilton Matthew Tilson Fitzmaurice Deane-Morgan was born in 1854. Her husband Robert died in 1857. Her son on the death of his grandfather in 1868 inherited the title 4thBaron Muskerry. After her husband’s death, the Honourable Elizabeth Deane-Morgan inherited the Morgan estate at Ardcandrisk and became known locally as ‘Lady Dane’. During the second half of the nineteenth and the greater part of the twentieth centuries the name ‘Lady Dane’ was synonymous with Ardcandrisk. Lady Dane’s cousin, Miss Florence Gonne-Bell came from Mayo to Ardcandrisk as lady companion and assisted in the management of the household.
Animal Welfare
Lady Dane was renowned for her love of animals and was rarely seen without her two pet Irish wolfhounds, Rae and Lou and some small Pekinese dogs by her side. She was a superb horsewoman and as patroness of County Wexford Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals she was successful in having drinking troughs strategically placed along the roads in the area. One can be seen on the roadside near Ferrycarrig and another, the famous Swan in the Faythe, in Wexford town.
There is an oral tradition in the neighbourhood of Ardcandrisk that after the death of Hamilton K.G. Morgan his daughters, Elizabeth (Lady Dane) and Jane being co-heirs to the estate at Johnstown agreed to settle ownership of the castle on the result of a horse race from Ardcandrisk. The first rider to enter the castle gates would become the new owner. Lady Dane, being careful of her animal’s welfare stopped to water her horse, while Jane continued on her way arrived first at the gates and claimed the castle and the estate as her prize. This must surely rate as one of the richest races in history!
The Primrose League
Lady Dane socialised with the rich and famous of her time and was a member of numerous organisations, one being the famous Primrose League, founded in honour of Benjamin Disraeli (his favourite flower) to promote Tory Party politics. She was one of the founder members of the League in Wexford. It was a society of the local ascendancy including Knights and Dames. The first meeting was held in Ardcandrisk House in 1886 and named the Wexford Habitation [branch](Ardcandrisk No. 1084). The minutes of the Habitation meeting in 1895 as reported in the Primrose League Gazette of that year:
A meeting of the above Habitation was held on September 11th 1895, by the kind invitation of the Honourable Mrs Deane Morgan, the dame-president, at her residence, Ardcandrisk, near Wexford. About one hundred and fifty members attended and after partaking of a substantial luncheon, provided by the dame-president the party adjourned to the terrace where, on the chair being taken by the ruling councillor, Mr Francis A. Leigh, of Rosegarland, speeches were delivered by Mr Richard Wright, delegate from the Grand Council, Mr Hussey-White, and Mrs Orpen pointed out the advantages of the League. Miss Susie Elgee, the Hon. Secretary and treasurer of the Habitation was presented with special service bars for the years 1893 and 1894, and the resolution was passed requesting Grand Council to grant a distinction of the Grand Star (First Class) to Mrs Deane Morgan and Miss Elgee for their services to the Habitation. The weather was very fine and a most enjoyable afternoon was spent. A vote of thanks was passed to Mrs Deane Morgan for her kindness in giving Ardcandrisk for the meeting, and the National Anthem having been sung, the meeting then dispersed.
The death of Lady Dane
Lady Dane’s health deteriorated in the early twentieth century. She became very frail and was eventually confined to a wheelchair. Two servants pushed her chair around the house and gardens. A lift was installed in the house which was operated by a winch from the attic to give access to the bedroom floor. Lady Dane died in May 1920 in her ninety-first year, leaving an employment crisis in the neighbourhood, with many people unemployed for the first time in their working lives.
Obituary notice from the Free Press, May 15 1920:
The death occurred on Thursday, 13th May of the Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Geraldine Deane Morgan at her residence, Ardcandrisk. The deceased lady was the widow of the late Hon. Robert Fitzmaurice Tilson Deane and eldest daughter of the late Hamilton Knox Grogan Morgan of Johnstown Castle. For many years she was confined to her residence. She was the owner of extensive estates in county Wexford and many southern counties and was one of the few landlords to maintain a permanent residence in the county. She was possessed of a very benevolent disposition and was a generous contributor towards all projects for charitable purposes. She enjoyed the esteem of the people residing in the neighbourhood of Ardcandrisk who always found her willing to render any assistance in her power for the advancement of their material welfare. In the management of Wexford County Infirmary, of which she was a life governor, she took a deep interest and frequently sent donations to assist in the alleviation of the lot of its inmates. She contracted a cold which developed into an attack of bronchitis. Her medical advisor, Dr T. J. Dowse was called in attendance but, owing to her advanced years, she never rallied. She passed away peacefully having attained the ripe old age of ninety-one years. She leaves one son, the Earl of Muskerry who resides in Springfield Castle, Dromcollogher, Co. Cork, whilst Lady Maurice Fitzgerald, Johnstown Castle is her niece.
Her funeral took place to the family vault at Rathaspeck where the Service at the graveside was conducted by Rev. T.R.G Condell, Kilscoran, Rev. W.L. Shade, Rathaspeck and Rev. Mr Cook, Wexford. The chief mourners were her son Lord Muskerry, Lady Muskerry, daughter-in-law, Mr Cecil Deane-Morgan, grandson, Lady Maurice Fitzgerald, niece and Mrs Massey, wife of the late Hon. Hamilton Deane-Morgan.
On the death of Lady Dane, her cousin and life-long companion Miss Florence Gonne-Bell inherited Ardcandrisk house, but survived her benefactor by a mere nine months. Her obituary read:
Sunday, February 6th, 1921, at Ardcandrisk Wexford, Florence Gonne Bell in her eighty second year, only surviving daughter of the late Edward de Tour Gonne Bell Esq., of Streamstown Co. Mayo and the Grange Castleconnell Co. Limerick. Funeral from Ardcandrisk at ten-thirty today (Wednesday) morning. Interment at Castleconnell at two o’clock, Thursday.
Miss Bell bequeathed the estate to her niece Mrs Florence Harvey (née Irvine) but the Harvey family’s occupation was brief and in December 1921 a two day auction was held to dispose of the lifetime collection of Lady Dane’s goods and chattels. (See appendix 2)
Captain N Cookman
Captain Nathaniel Cookman of Monart, a First World War hero who saw action in Flanders and Ypres, became the next owner of Ardcandrisk estate. He was a first cousin of Guglielmo Marconi, the inventor of wireless telegraphy, their mothers being sisters, of the Jameson whiskey family of Enniscorthy. Like Marconi, he had a flair of electricals and gadgetry and had the first electrical plant in the area installed. He and his family lived in the house while the land was let to Mr Patrick Broaders. It was rumoured that Captain Cookman witnessed a ghostly apparition on the stairs, the description of which resembled that of the late Miss Bell. His dog became very agitated and attacked his master. After this incident Captain Cookman would not stay overnight in the house but retired nightly to his yacht on the Slaney. This signalled the beginning of the end of Ardcandrisk House as he sold every item of value in numerous auctions. The house declined to the empty shell we see today and is now covered by undergrowth and ivy.
When Captain Cookman departed, Mr Patrick Broaders purchased the estate which is now farmed by his grandson Mr Kevin Curtis.
http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2013/06/springfield-castle.html
THE BARONS MUSKERRY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY WEXFORD, WITH 9,412 ACRES
This family possessed large estates in Somerset as far back as the reign of HENRY II.
The third son of MOSES DEANE, of Deane’s Fort, Somerset,
MATTHEW DEANE (c1626-1711), settled in Ireland during the reign of JAMES I, and took up his abode at Dromore, County Cork, where he purchased considerable estates.
Mr Deane, who bequeathed large sums towards the erection of almshouses and other charitable purposes, was created a baronet in 1710, designated of Muskerry.
He married firstly, Mary, daughter of Thomas Wallis, of Somerset; secondly, Martha, daughter of the Most Rev Richard Boyle, Lord Archbishop of Tuam; and thirdly, Dorothy, Countess of Barrymore; by the first of whom he left, at his decease, in 1711, a son and heir,
SIR ROBERT DEANE, 2nd Baronet, who wedded Anne, daughter and co-heir of William Boltridge, one of CROMWELL’S officers; and dying in 1712, was succeeded by his son,
SIR MATTHEW DEANE, 3rd Baronet, MP for Charleville, 1713-14, County Cork, 1728-47, who espoused Jane, only daughter of the Rev William Sharpe, son of the Archbishop of St Andrew’s, the ill-fated primate of Scotland, and had issue,
MATTHEW, his successor;
Thomas, dsp;
ROBERT, 4th Baronet;
Meliana; Dorothy; Jane.
Sir Matthew died in 1747, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR MATTHEW DEANE, 4th Baronet (c1706-51), MP for Cork City, 1739-51, who wedded Salisbury, daughter and sole heir of Robert Davis, of Manley Hall, Cheshire, by whom he had three daughters, viz.
Salisbury; Mary; Charlotte.
Sir Matthew dying thus without male issue, the title devolved upon his brother,
THE RT HON SIR ROBERT DEANE, 5th Baronet (c1707-70), Barrister, Privy Counsellor, MP for Tallow, 1757-68, Carysfort, 1769-70, who married, in 1738, Charlotte, second daughter of Thomas Tilson (uncle to Lord Castlecoote), and had issue,
ROBERT, his successor;
Jocelyn;
Charlotte; Grace; Eliza Salisbury; Jane; Alicia; Frances.
Sir Robert was succeeded by his eldest son,
SIR ROBERT TILSON DEANE, 6th Baronet (1745-1818), MP for Carysfort, 1771-6, County Cork, 1776-81, who was raised to the peerage, in 1781, in the dignity of BARON MUSKERRY.
He wedded, in 1775, Anne, daughter of John Fitzmaurice, and sole heir of her grandfather, John Fitzmaurice, of Springfield Castle, County Limerick (nephew of Thomas, 1st Earl of Kerry), and had issue,
JOHN THOMAS FITZMAURICE, his successor;
William;
MATTHEW, 3rd Baron.
His lordship was succeeded by his elder son,
JOHN THOMAS FITZMAURICE (1777-1824), 2nd Baron, CB, Major-General in the army, who married, in 1815, the second daughter of M Haynes, of Bishop’s Castle; but died in 1824, without male issue, when the honours devolved upon his only brother,
MATTHEW FITZMAURICE (1795-1868), 3rd Baron, who wedded, in 1825, Louisa Dorcas, second daughter of Henry Deane Grady, of Lodge, County Limerick, and Stillorgan Castle, County Dublin, and had issue,
ROBERT TILSON FITZMAURICE, his successor;
Henry Standish Fitzmaurice;
Matthew James Fitzmaurice.
- Robert Matthew Fitzmaurice Deane-Morgan, 5th Baron (1874–1952);
- Matthew Fitzmaurice Tilson Deane, 7th Baron (1874–1966);
- Hastings Fitzmaurice Tilson Deane, 8th Baron (1907–88);
The heir apparent is the present holder’s only son, the Hon Jonathan Fitzmaurice Deane.
ARDCANDRISK HOUSE, near Wexford, County Wexford (above), is a two-storey Regency villa of about 1833, comprising three polygons of differing sizes.
It has eaved roofs and Wyatt windows at one end.
It was built by the Grogan-Morgans, though was acquired by the Deanes, Lords Muskerry, though marriage.
Irish Historic Houses 
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