Clonbrock, Ahascragh, Co Galway – ‘lost’
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. 86. “(Dillon, Clonbrock, B/PB1926; Dillon-Mahon, sub Mahon, Bt/PB) A house of three storeys over basement built between 1780 and 1788 by Robert Dillon, afterwards 1st Lord Clonbrock, to the design of William Leeson, replacing the old castle of this branch of the Dillons which remained intact until 1807 when it was burnt owing to a bonfire lit to celebrate the birth of 2nd Baron’s son and heir. Seven bay entrance front with three bay pedimented breakfront; doorway with blocked engaged Tuscan columns and entablature. A single storey Doric portico by John Hampton was added ca 1824, while in 1855 3rd Baron added a single-storey two bay bow-ended wing to the right of the entrance front, which is balanced by a single-storey wing on the left hand side, though the two do not match. Good interior plasterwork of the 1780s, in the manner of Michael Stapleton. Classical medallions and husk ornament on the walls of the hall, at the inner end of which stood a splendid organ in a mahogany case surmounted by a baron’s coronet. Medallions and husk ornaments also on the walls of the staircase hall, which has an oval ceiling of particularly graceful plasterwork on fan pendentives; coloured salmon pink, brown, pale grey and white. Stone staircase wiht balustrade of brass uprights. Large drawing room with coved ceiling and modillion cornice in 1855 wing opening with double doors into a smaller drawing room in the main block, to form what is in effect one long room which, a few years ago, still had a delightful early Victorian character; with a grey watered silk wallpaper and curtains of cream and faded pink as background to the glitter of two crystal chandeliers and of the many gilt frames of the pictures and of the mirror over the fine statuary marble chimneypiece. When the room was being fitted up, 3rd Baron’s son, who at the time was a young diplomat in Vienna, wrote home to give instructions as to how the floor was to be laid, so that it might be suitable for dancing the latest waltzes. After the death of 5th and last Baron 1926, Clonbrock passed to his sister, Hon Ethel Dillon; it was subsequently made over to her nephew, Mr Luke Dillon-Mahon, who sold it 1976.”
Detached eight-bay three-storey over basement country house, built c.1790, now ruined, having square plan with three-bay pedimented breakfront, Doric entrance porch added c.1824, three-storey over basement single-bay extension with parapet roof and brick cornice to north-west, single-storey bow-ended wing to south-east added c.1855, and two-storey wing to north-west. Ruled and lined lime rendered façade. Porch, accessed by four stone steps, has carved stone entablature with triglyph and metope detail and moulded cornice with dentils above, supported on four fluted Doric columns. Remains of two pairs of rendered chimneystacks to centre of plan, brick chimneystack to north-west wing, moulded cornice at eaves, cast-iron rainwater goods. Square-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills and moulded shouldered limestone surrounds, remains of six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to rear. Double-leaf timber entrance door with lancet-patterned fanlight above, fluted entablature and column and block limestone surround with patera motif. Set in own extensive grounds with two-storey rendered outbuildings forming a courtyard to rear, one of which in use as private dwelling.
Appraisal
Clonbrock House was designed by William Leeson for Robert Dillon, the 3rd Baron Clonbrock, and constructed from 1780-1788 to replace the old castle which stood on the site. Unusually, it remained in the possession of the Dillon family for almost 200 years. Sold in 1976 when the last member of the Clonbrock family, Miss Ethel Dillon, moved out, the contents of the house were auctioned off. The National Library of Ireland acquired the estate papers in the auction, a valuable insight into the management of a large Irish country house. A fire blazed through the house in 1984, destroying the intricately detailed interior. Though now ruined, this imposing country house retains its sense of grandeur and the high level of design and craftsmanship is evident in the remaining fabric, such as the ornate entrance porch and the finely tooled stone window surrounds. It is an important part of the social and architectural heritage of the area.
Listed in Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland by The Knight of Glin, David J. Griffin and Nicholas K. Robinson, published by The Irish Architectural Archive and The Irish Georgian Society, 1988.
p. 69. …Destroyed by fire in 1984. Now a ruin.
http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2016/02/clonbrock-house.html
THE BARONS CLONBROCK WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY GALWAY, WITH 28,246 ACRES OF LAND
This family deduces its descent from a common progenitor with the Dillons, Earls of Roscommon, and the Dillons, Viscounts Dillon.
Sir James Dillon, brother of Sir Maurice, who was ancestor of the Viscount Dillon, was father of Sir Robert, who had two sons, Sir Richard, of Riverston, ancestor of the Earls of Roscommon; and Gerald, ancestor of the Barons Clonbrock.
This Gerald married Elizabeth, daughter of John, Baron Barry, and was ancestor of Thomas Dillon, of Clonbrock, County Galway, Chief Justice of Connaught, 1603; from whom was descended
ROBERT DILLON (c1704-46), MP for Dungarvan, 1728-46, who wedded Margaret, daughter of Morgan Magan, of Togherston House, County Westmeath, and was father of
LUKE DILLON, of Clonbrock, who wedded Bridget, daughter of John Kelly, of Castle Kelly, County Galway, and the Lady Honoria Burke, daughter of John, 9th Earl of Clanricarde, and had issue,
ROBERT, his heir;
Luke;
John;
Honoria; Susanna.
The eldest son,
ROBERT DILLON (1754-95), MP for Lanesborough, 1776-90, was elevated to the peerage, in 1793, in the dignity of BARON CLONBROCK, of Clonbrock, County Galway.
His lordship married, in 1776, Letitia, only daughter and heir of John Greene, of Old Abbey, County Limerick, and niece, maternally, of John, Earl of Norbury, and had issue,
LUKE, his successor;
Catherine Bridget; Letitia Susannah.
His lordship was succeeded by his son,
LUKE, 2nd Baron (1780-1826), who wedded, in 1803, Anastasia, only daughter and heir of Joseph Henry, 1st Baron Wallscourt, by the Lady Louisa Catherine Bermingham, his wife, third daughter and co-heir of Thomas, Earl of Louth, and had issue,
ROBERT, his successor;
Louisa Harriet; Letitia.
The only son,
ROBERT, 3rd Baron (1807-93), espoused, in 1830, Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of Francis, 1st Baron Churchill, and had issue,
Luke Almeric, died in infancy;
LUKE GERALD, his successor;
Fanny Letitia; Caroline Anastasia.
His lordship was succeeded by his surviving son,
LUKE GERALD, 4th Baron (1834-1917), KP PC, who married, in 1866, Augusta Caroline, daughter of Edward, 2nd Baron Crofton, and had issue,
ROBERT EDWARD, his successor;
Georgiana Caroline; Edith Augusta; Ethel Louisa.
His lordship was succeeded by his only son,
ROBERT EDWARD, 5th Baron (1869-1926), who died unmarried, when the title expired. CLONBROCK HOUSE, Ahascragh, County Galway, was built between 1780-88 by Robert Dillon, later 1st Baron Clonbrock. It comprised three storeys over a basement, and replaced a an older castle which was burnt in 1807 owing to a bonfire lit to celebrate the birth of his lordship’s son and heir, the 2nd Baron. Clonbrock had a seven-bay entrance front with a three-bay, pedimented breakfront.
A single-storey Doric portico was added about 1824. In 1855, the 3rd Baron added a single-storey, two-bay bow-ended wing to the right of the entrance front.
Following the death of the bachelor 5th Baron in 1926, Clonbrock passed to his sister, the Hon Ethel Louisa Dillon.
It was subsequently bequeathed to her nephew, Mr Luke Dillon-Mahon, who sold it in 1976. Clonbrock suffered a catastrophic fire in 1984 and is now ruinous.
First published in March, 2014. Clonbrock arms courtesy of European Heraldry.
One of my favorite houses featured in my first book is Clonbrock in Galway. While the house exists today in ruins, every so often a piece of furniture comes up for sale that evokes the grandeur of this house. The location of these items today is surprising, sometimes London and in this instance New York. In March 2014, a set of ten George III, Painted Dining Chairs came on the market having been supplied by Gillows of Lancaster in June, 1801 to Luke, 2nd Baron Clonbrock for his home, Clonbrock. These chairs together with the remaining contents of the house were sold in 1976. Clonbrock stood empty for a number of years until it burnt down in the 1980’s.
In 1976, the decision was taken to sell the contents of the house by Luke Dillon Mahon. Agents from Christies and Linseys were dispatched to evaluate every last item in the house and an extensive catalogue was produced which described the 1500 lots in great detail. The fateful day eventually came when two blue and white striped tents were erected on the lawn in front of the house and the drive and adjoining fields were alive with the hum of cars and lorries. Over 500 people attended the auction and packed the auctioneers tent, just to view the proceedings of the end of an era or to bid on some memento of the big house. All the lots were displayed throughout the house, the dining room table heaved with china and porcelain and the lengthily sideboard displayed large dinner plates and chargers. Some of the locals seen the sale as necessary and others a tragedy. Most people at the time seen no future for a house of this nature unless some foolish person was looking for a home with a lot of cold rooms and acres of leaky roof. The beginning of the auction was marked by a storm which was a metaphor for perilous state that a house like this had been reduced to in the 1970s. Luke Dillon Mahon said his abiding memories of Clonbrock would be the family members that lived there and the view from the drawing room window. The final decision to sell was determined by the harsh economic realities of the time together with the problem of the interior being too large for one person to manage and the exterior that would exhaust the abilities of numerous men. Luke Dillon in a 1976 interview described the house, as a problem and daily life living in it, as a struggle.
Clonbrock For sale by Helen Cassidy, Premier Propertie Ireland
Clonbrock House ( in ruins) is offered for sale with approx 20 acres of grounds with two-storey rendered outbuildings forming a courtyard to rear,
one of which in use as private dwelling, and a series of working stables with fenced riding arena.
SOLD
Clonbrock House was designed by William Leeson for Robert Dillon, the 3rd Baron Clonbrock, and constructed from 1780-1788 to replace the old castle which stood on the site.
It remained in the possession of the Dillon family for almost 200 years until it was sold in 1976.
A fire blazed through the house in 1984, destroying the intricately detailed interior.
Though now ruined, this impressive historic Irish Mansion stands proud, overlooking extensive verdant countryside.
The high level of design and craftsmanship is evident in the remaining fabric, such as the ornate entrance porch and the finely tooled stone window surrounds.
It is an important part of the social and architectural heritage of the area.
Clonbrock House ( in ruins) presents as a detached eight-bay three-storey over basement country house, built c.1790, with a square plan with three-bay pedimented breakfront, Doric entrance porch which was added c.1824, and a three-storey over basement single-bay extension with parapet roof and brick cornice to north-west, a single-storey bow-ended wing to south-east added c.1855, and two-storey wing to north-west.
Ruled and lined lime rendered façade. The Porch, accessed by four stone steps, has carved stone entablature with triglyph and metope detail and moulded cornice with dentils above, supported on four fluted Doric columns.
There are the remains of two pairs of rendered chimney stacks to centre of plan, brick chimney stack to north-west wing, moulded cornice at eaves and cast-iron rainwater goods.
Square-headed window openings with tooled limestone sills and moulded shouldered limestone surrounds, remains of six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to rear.
Double-leaf timber entrance door with lancet-patterned fanlight above, fluted entablature and column and block limestone surround with patera motif.
The property is offered for sale with approx 25 acres of grounds with two-storey rendered outbuildings forming a courtyard to rear, one of which in use as private dwelling, and a series ofworking stables with fenced riding arena.
*******************
For Sale:
Clonbrock Castle, Gardener’s Villa, Cottages and Turret,
on approx 7 acres, at Ahascragh, County Galway.
Sold
The entire property available consists of;
Clonbrock Castle,
The largely restored 15th century O Kelly castle ,
The 18th century Gardener’s Villa:
(4 Bedrooms, Conservatory, Kitchen, Study, Drawing room, Utility/Boot room, 2 Bathrooms);
Two 1 bed Victorian cottages, West Cottage and East Cottage, and
And a unique Mediaeval Turret (all fully restored),
kitchen garden, castle bawn, 2 walled gardens ( restored and replanted),
assorted outbuildings including new greenhouse, garden sheds, etc.
Plus three additional ruined turrets, one very restorable. Assorted woodland walks. Frontage on the trout stream the river Bunowen.
Quiet, beautiful setting, by a river and gardens on the historic estate.
On about 7 acres of atmospheric private woodland, gardens and riverbank.
Lovely woodland walks. Fallow deer, red squirrels, pine martens, foxes – even very occasionally otters, – as well as ravens, herons and many other birds – may be seen.
The property has continually been offered on airbnb for exclusive holiday rentals and continues to be in constant demand.
Irish Historic Houses 