Strancally Castle, Knockanore, Co Waterford
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. 266. “(Keily, sub Ussher/IFR; Lloyd/LGI1912; Parkes, sub Carew/IFR and Beckwith-Smith/LG1969) A castle by James and George Richard Pain, built ca 1830 for John Keily in a romantic situation above the Blackwater, close to the remains of an old Desmond castle notorious for its “Murdering hole,” a hole in the rock through which the bodies of its lord’s victims were cast into the river. The interior of the castle is rather plain, with Gothic chimneypieces of marble; that in the dining room having battlements and miniature turrets. Sold to the Lloyd family C19; sold ca 1946 to S.F. Parkes. Subsequently resold.”
https://archiseek.com/2013/1830c-strancally-castle-co-waterford
1830c – Strancally Castle, Co. Waterford
Architect: George Pain
Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary refers to Strancally Castle as “a modern castle, seat of J. Keily” in 1837. It stands in front of the original ruin of a Desmond castle, which contained an infamous murdering hole, which dispatched those who incurred the wrath of a Desmond to the river below. Still existing today, it was recently restored.
Detached three-bay three-storey over basement Gothic-style house, c.1830, with single-bay three-storey projecting entrance bay to centre on a square plan having round-headed open porch to ground floor, single-bay two-storey jettied canted oriel window over, single-bay three-storey canted flanking bays forming corner ‘towers’ (main block expressed to rear (south) elevation as four-bay three-storey elevation with single-bay three-stage advanced corner tower to left (south-west) on a square plan, and three-bay single-storey flat-roofed conservatory to ground floor), three-bay two-storey flanking block to left (east) having three-bay two-storey over-raised basement side (east) elevation with single-bay two-storey canted bay window to centre, and four-bay single-storey lateral wing to right (west) terminating in two-bay two-storey pavilion block. Undergoing extensive renovation, 2003. Hipped roofs to main block and to tower behind parapets (pitched roof to wing to right (west) behind parapet) with replacement slate, 2003, clay ridge tiles, replacement cement rendered chimney stacks (replacing paired and grouped (three and four) polygonal chimney stacks), and cast-iron rainwater goods. Flat roof to conservatory to south not visible behind parapet. Tooled limestone ashlar walls (on rock-faced limestone ashlar battered base to side (east) elevation) with cut-limestone dressings including full-height battlemented polygonal corner piers to entrance bay having paired stringcourses to first floor, full-height battlemented corner piers to flanking block to left (east) having lancet slit-style blind gun loops, and battlemented parapets on stringcourses having battlemented detail and corner pinnacles to entrance bay, and battlemented machicolations to canted bay window to side (east) elevation and to pavilion. Limestone ashlar walls to conservatory with cut-limestone battlemented piers having slender stepped buttresses, and battlemented parapet having cut-limestone coping. Square-headed window openings (including to canted oriel window on jetty) with cut-stone chamfered flush sills, cut-stone block-and-start surrounds having hood mouldings over, and most having mullions and tracery (forming paired pointed-arch arrangement with overlights). Replacement 2/2 timber sash windows, 2003, with some openings retaining original fittings. Square-headed window openings to basement in bipartite arrangement with cut-limestone flush sills, block-and-start surrounds, lintels, chamfered reveals, and 4/4 timber sash windows. Round-headed door openings to open porch with chamfered corners, and hood mouldings over on consoles. Tudor-headed door opening to house in tripartite arrangement with Gothic-style timber panelled double doors having overlights, and pointed-arch flanking window openings with 2/2 timber sash windows having overlights. Square-headed openings to conservatory with cut-stone mullions and tracery forming paired and tripartite pointed-arch arrangement with overlights. Glazed timber double doors with fixed-pane timber overlights (most fittings undergoing replacement, 2003). Set back from road in own grounds on a slightly elevated site overlooking River Blackwater with forecourt, and landscaped grounds to site. (ii) Attached five-bay single-storey flat-roofed outbuilding range, c.1830, to south-west with series of five segmental-headed carriageways, and single-bay single-storey tower to right (north) on a square plan. Flat roofs not visible behind parapets with cast-iron rainwater goods to tower. Random rubble stone walls with cut-stone dressings including moulded stringcourses, and coping to battlemented parapets. Series of five segmental-headed carriageways with tooled cut-stone block-and-start surrounds, and voussoirs. No fittings. Paired lancet window openings to tower with cut-limestone flush surrounds having chamfered reveals, and fittings not visible.
Appraisal
A well-appointed substantial house of solid, muscular appearance, built for John Keily (n. d.) to designs prepared by James (1779 – 1877) and George Richard (1793 – 1838) Pain. The construction in sandstone and limestone ashlar augments the dour tone of the composition while providing evidence of high qualitystone masonry and craftsmanship. Presently (2003) undergoing extensive renovation works, initial indications suggest that the character of the house is being preserved with replacement fittings installed in keeping with the original integrity of the composition. The house is of additional importance for its historic associations with the Keily, Lloyd, and Parkes families.
Gateway, c.1855, comprising pair of cast-iron open work piers with moulded capping having urn finials, decorative cast-iron double gates having finials, decorative cast-iron flanking pedestrian gates having finials, pair of cast-iron open work outer piers with moulded capping and urn finials, sections of decorative cast-iron curved flanking railings having finials, limestone ashlar terminating piers having moulded capping, and section of random rubble stone boundary wall to left (north). Set back from line of road at entrance to grounds of Strancally Castle.
Appraisal
A very fine decorative gateway, fashioned in cast-iron by the Richard Turner Hammersmith Works, Ballsbridge, Dublin, which forms an elegant feature in the landscape. The fine detailing to the gates and railings, including ornate urn finials, enhances the artistic design quality of the composition, while the ashlar stone work to the terminating piers is indicative of high quality stone masonry.
Farmyard complex, c.1830, on a quadrangular plan about a courtyard comprising: (i) Detached fifteen-bay two-storey rubble stone outbuilding on a U-shaped plan comprising nine-bay two-storey main block with elliptical-headed carriageways to ground floor, single-bay two-storey higher entrance bay to centre having elliptical-headed carriageway, three-bay two-storey perpendicular wing to north-east having elliptical-headed carriageway to right ground floor, and six-bay two-storey perpendicular wing to south-east having elliptical-headed carriageway. Pitched and hipped slate roofs on a U-shaped plan (hipped to entrance bay) with clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, wrought iron weathervane to entrance bay, and cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, and rubble stone voussoirs. Louvered timber panel fittings with some 6/6 timber sash windows to perpendicular wing to south-east, and some window openings now boarded-up. Square-headed door openings with rubble stone voussoirs, and timber boarded doors. Elliptical-headed carriageways with rubble stone voussoirs, and timber boarded double doors. (ii) Detached eleven-bay two-storey rubble stone outbuilding to west with five-bay two-storey breakfront originally having elliptical-headed carriageways. Renovated, c.1980, with carriageways remodelled. Hipped slate roofs with rolled lead ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, and remains of cast-iron rainwater goods on rendered eaves. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar. Square-headed window openings with cut-stone sills, cut-limestone surrounds having keystones, and 6/6 timber sash windows (some replacement, c.1980). Square-headed door openings with cut-limestone surrounds having keystones, and replacement timber panelled double doors, c.1980. Elliptical-headed carriageways remodelled, c.1980, with cut-limestone surrounds having keystones, concrete sills, c.1980, and fixed-pane timber windows, c.1980, having casement sections, and spoked fanlights over. (iii) Gateway to north-west comprising pair of rubble stone piers with traces of unpainted roughcast lime render over, cut-stone stringcourses, capping, wrought iron double gates, and sections of random rubble stone curved flanking walls having traces of unpainted roughcast lime render over, and cut-stone coping.
Appraisal
An attractive collection of farm outbuildings, formally arranged about a shared stone cobbled courtyard, which form an important element of the StrancallyCastle estate, highlighting the various activities undertaken in the maintenance of a large-scale land holding. Well maintained, each of the buildings retains its original form, and most of its original fabric, while remodelled openings and replacement fittings have been installed without adversely affecting the character of the site.
Detached single-bay three-stage rubble stone ‘tower house’ folly, dated 1826, on a square plan retaining original aspect. Roof not visible behind parapet with rendered chimney stack, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar, base batter, dressed stone quoins to corners, cut-stone date stone/plaque to first stage, and crow-stepped battlemented parapet on stringcourse having consoles, cut-stone coping, and polygonal finial to one corner. Square-headed window openings to second stage with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals, cut-stone transoms and mullions, hood mouldings over, and leaded timber casement windows (one window opening blind with random rubble stone). Pointed-arch window openings to top stage with cut-stone sills, surrounds having chamfered reveals, hood mouldings over, and leaded timber casement windows having tracery to overlights (one window opening blind with random rubble stone). Square-headed slit-style openings to first stage and pointed-arch slit-style openings to remainder with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals, and no fittings. Pointed-arch door opening with cut-stone archivolt on spring course having chamfered reveals, tongue-and-groove timber panelled door with cast-iron door furniture, and tongue-and-groove timber panelled overpanel. Set back from road in grounds shared with Strancally Castle on slightly elevated site overlooking River Blackwater. (ii) Gateway, c.1875, to site comprising pair of cast-iron open work piers with decorative finials, and decorative cast-iron double gates having decorative cartouches, and decorating detailing over.
Appraisal
An appealing folly presenting an attractive landmark in the grounds of Strancally Castle. Taking the form of a tower house, the folly presents archaeologically-correct medieval characteristics, which complement the qualities of the main house (22903402/WD-34-02). Features including the base batter, slit-style apertures, coarsely-hewn dressings to the openings, and the battlemented parapet enhance the medieval character of the composition, and augment the architectural quality of the site. Positioned on a raised bank overlooking the River Blackwater, it is possible that the folly was also intended as a fishing lodge. The folly is of additional importance for its historic associations with John Keily, and the redevelopment of the Strancally Castle estate in the early nineteenth century.
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=S
John Keily held Strancally Castle in fee at the time of Griffith’s Valuation, when it was valued at £61. Lewis refers to it as “a modern castle, seat of J. Keily” in 1837. There is a lithograph and extensive description of the castle and demesne in the sale notice of 1856. After this the castle came into the ownership of the Whitelock Lloyd family. In 1906 it owned by George W. Lloyd and valued at over £63. The 1943 ITA Survey provides a detailed description of the house from that time including the art collection and library. It is still extant and has been renovated in recent years. An extensive farmyard, valued at £37 in 1851, is located in Kilmanicholas townland at X078903. This property was valued at over £40 in 1906.
http://greatirishhouses.blogspot.com/2013/05/strancally-castle-co-waterford.html
https://www.castles.nl/strancally-tower
Strancally Tower lies in a forest, on the west bank of the River (Munster) Blackwater, in County Waterford in Ireland.
Although Strancally Tower may look to have medieval origins, it hasn’t. It was built around 1826 by John Keily when he also built his New Strancally Castle, just north of it. At that time it was an architectural fashion to have a folly (a mock castle or ruin) on your estate. It is possible that the folly, taking the form of a tower house, situated on a raised bank overlooking the river was also intended as a fishing lodge.
At present the tower is a private residence, situated on the grounds of Strancally Castle, which is locally also known as Ballyphilip Castle.
Strancally Tower is a nice tower. But because it is a private residence, it can not be visited.
https://www.blackwaterecotours.ie/strancally-castle-old-and-new/
Strancally Castle, Old and New.
April 4, 2018/
The original Strancally Castle, located on the western bank of the river between Ballinaclash and Coolbagh piers, was built by Raymond le Gros, a cousin of Norman Invader Strongbow, in the 12th century. By the 16th century it was occupied by Spaniards who were said to have lured local landowners to a banquet in the castle and then dropped them through a secret trapdoor into a flooded cave. Eventually the Spanish were routed & the castle was destroyed.
New Strancally Castle, is located a few miles downstream from the towns of Lismore and Cappoquin. The current building was designed and built around 1830 by James & George Pain for John Kiely MP for Clonmel & High Sheriff of Co. Waterford. Not to be outdone, John Kiely’s brother Arthur Kiely-Ussher set about building his own castle in Lismore, only to run out of money and leave behind The Ballysaggartmore Towers as a monument to his folly. New Strancally was built as a dwelling house and has no serious defensive structures. On the estate are the ruins of a previous Norman castle. In 1856, it was an estate of 5000 acres and was acquired by George Whitelocke Lloyd of a wealthy Anglo-Irish manufacturing family.
In 2007 the castle was renovated and given a contemporary extension, you can see some images of the stunning architecture here ➡️ https://goo.gl/Vfvugm
Feb 1, 2001
In Co Waterford, a UK businessman is believed to have paid over £2 million for Strancally Castle which overlooks the River Blackwater at Knockanore. The sale, which includes 55 acres of land, was handled by joint agents William Montgomery of Sotheby’s and Ganly Walters.
The Gothic-style castle, located seven miles from Youghal, has changed hands many times over the years. It has 11 main bedrooms, five of them en suite, and four further bedroom suites in the tower. There are also a number of large reception rooms, including an inner hall, diningroom, drawingroom and library. The conservatory is in need of restoration.
The castle, built between 1820 and 1826 near the site of the original 13th century Strancally Castle, is upstream from the spot where the Bride river joins the Blackwater, and overlooks the Knockmealdownmountains. In 1855, the castle and 5,000 acres had to be sold because of family debts. It was eventually bought by an Anglo-Irish family, the Whitelocke-Lloyds, for less than £10,000, a fraction of what it had cost to build.
The estate was acquired by the Land Commission in 1959. The castle was subsequently sold to a German and operated as a school until 1976. It later was bought by an architect who spent a small fortune upgrading it. In commercial sales, O’Shea O’Toole & Partners have secured in the region of £1 million after auction for Walshe’s Bar and Restaurant at Ferrybank, Waterford. In Co Tipperary, joint agents DTZ Sherry FitzGerald and Sherry FitzGerald Walsh have sold The Tinvane Service Station and car showroom in Carrick-on Shannon for over £1 million.
Irish Historic Houses 