Lisfinny Castle, Tallow, 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. 299. “A two storey house of late-Georgian appearance, built in front of an old Desmond castle, which rises above it. Five bay front, round-headed doorway not central; eaved roof. In 1837, the home of Capt Edwards Croker, recently, of Col L. P. Barrington.”
Detached five-bay two-storey over basement house, c.1790, on an L-shaped plan possibly incorporating fabric of earlier building, 1676 – 1677, with two-bay two-storey side elevations, and two-bay two-storey return to west. Renovated and refenestrated, c.1990. Hipped slate roof on an L-shaped plan with rolled lead ridge tiles, rendered chimney stacks, and replacement uPVC rainwater goods, c.1990, on rendered eaves having iron brackets retaining original cast-iron downpipes. Painted rendered walls over random rubble stone construction. Camber-headed window openings (square-headed window openings to basement) with stone sills, and replacement uPVC casement windows, c.1990. Round-headed door opening with doorcase removed, c.1990, timber panelled door, and spoked fanlight. Set back from road in own grounds with forecourt, and landscaped grounds to site. (ii) Detached three-bay single-storey rubble stone outbuilding with attic, c.1790, to north. Extended, c.1940, comprising single-bay single-storey lean-to end bay to right (east). Refenestrated, c.1990. Pitched slate roof (lean-to to end bay) with red clay ridge tiles, rendered chimney stack, rendered coping, and cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls with unpainted rendered walls to end bay. Square-headed window openings with stone sills, and rubble stone voussoirs to original block. Replacement uPVC casement windows, c.1990. Square-headed door opening with rubble stone voussoirs, and replacement glazed uPVC panelled door, c.1990. (iii) Detached two-bay single-storey rubble stone coach house, c.1790, to north-west with pair of elliptical-headed carriageways, two-bay single-storey lower end bay to left (west), and single-bay single-storey lean-to lower end bay to right (east). Pitched slate roofs (lean-to to end bay) with red clay ridge tiles, rendered coping, and no rainwater goods on squared rubble stone eaves. Random rubble stone walls. Square-headed slit-style window openings with no fittings. Pair of elliptical-headed carriageways with squared rubble stone voussoirs, and timber boarded double doors. Square-headed door openings to end bay to right (east) with timber boarded half-doors. (iv) Detached single-bay four-stage tower house, pre-1579, to west on a rectangular plan. Now in ruins. Roof now gone. Random rubble stone walls with base batter. Square-headed slit-style window openings with cut-stone surrounds having chamfered reveals, and no fittings. One pointed-arch slit-style window opening with cut-stone surround having chamfered reveals, and no fittings. Profile-headed window opening to top stage with cut-stone surround having chamfered reveals, and no fittings.
Appraisal
A well-proportioned, substantial house possibly incorporating the fabric of an earlier medieval store house on site. Extensively renovated in the late twentieth century, the house nevertheless retains most of its original form, although the inappropriate replacement fittings to the window openings have compromised the historic character of the composition. The house is of additional significance in the locality on account of its historic associations with the Tucker and Pyne families. The survival of a small range of attendant outbuildings enhances the group and setting qualities of the site. A tower house to the grounds is of considerable archaeological significance, and, positioned on an elevated site overlooking the River Bride, forms a picturesque landmark in the locality. The tower house is of particular importance for its historic associations with Sir Walter Raleigh (1552 – 1618).
http://landedestates.nuigalway.ie/LandedEstates/jsp/property-list.jsp?letter=L
Major Edward Croker was leasing this house from the Devonshire estate in 1851 when it was valued at £23. Lewis also recorded it as his residence in 1837 when he noted that “the ancient castle, built by the Earl of Desmond, has been converted into a handsome residence”. It is still extant and occupied.
https://www.castles.nl/lisfinny-castle
Lisfinny Castle lies on a farm next to the hamlet of Tallowbridge, in County Waterford in Ireland.
Lisfinny Castle was probably built around 1460 by the Earl of Desmond. It was built on a hillside above the River Bride. After the Second Desmond Rebellion, during which the castle had been garrisoned by Spanish soldiers, the castle was granted to Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587.
In 1602 the castle was purchased from Raleigh by Sir Richard Boyle, the Earl of Cork, but by 1641 it was already described as a ruin. In later centuries the castle was left a ruin and a new Georgian house was built beside it.
In 1888 it served as a fortified building one last time. The then lessee of Lisfinny, Douglas Pyne, choose to support the tenants in the Land War. When the authorities came to arrest him, he had baricaded himself in the castle with a big store of provisions. The police then set up tents around the castle and waited. Pyne managed to escape on a foggy morning when the police weren’t paying attention.
Lisfinny Castle is situated on a private farm so it is not accessible. A nice tower, I am curious about its interior.
Irish Historic Houses 