Mount Morris, County Galway, photograph by Robert French, (between ca. 1865-1914), Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland.
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. 215. “Georgian house of two storeys over basement with high pitched C19 roof on a bracket cornice. Three bay front, the centre bay being slightly recessed; round-headed doorway; C19 entablatures on console bracket over downstairs windows. Three bay side. Bold string course.”
See below – Bence-Jones has picture captioned Mount Morris which is the same picture as below, called Ebor Hall.
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. 213. “(MacEvoy, sub De Stacpoole/IFR) A three storey Georgian house originally belonging to a branch of the Browne family. …Passed to the MacEvoys with the marriage of Teresa Browne to Edward MacEvoy 1850; their daughter and heiress, Pauline, married 4th Duke de Stacpoole. Demolished 1945.”
Nicholas Browne (d. 1816) m. Ellen daughter of Thomas Burke, 1st Baronet, and they had a son, Andrew. Andrew’s daughter Eliza Teresa Browne (d. 1904) married Edward Francis MacEvoy (1826-1899) from Tobertynan, County Meath.
Not in national inventory
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.
Mount Bellew, County Galway entrance front c. 1885, collection: Mrs Grattan-Bellew, 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.
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. 212. “(Grattan-Bellew, Bt/PB) A house of predominantly late-Georgian appearance, remodelled ante 1820 by Sir Richard Morrison for C.D. Bellew. …Sold ca 1938, afterwards demolished.”
Mount Bellew, County Galway, collection Mrs Grattan-Bellew, Dining room 1885. 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.Mount Bellew, County Galway, collection Mrs Grattan-Bellew, 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.
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.
MICHAEL DILLON BELLEW (1796-1855), of Mount Bellew, who espoused, in 1816, Helena Maria, daughter of Thomas Dillon, of Dublin, and had numerous issue, of whom
CHRISTOPHER, his heir; Thomas Arthur, father of 3rd Baronet.
Mr Bellew was created a baronet in 1838, denominated of Mount Bellew, County Galway.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
THE REV SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLEW, 2nd Baronet (1818-67), a Catholic priest, whose brother,
THOMAS ARTHUR BELLEW (1820-63), married, in 1858, Pauline, daughter of the Rt Hon James Grattan MP, and had issue,
HENRY CHRISTOPHER, his heir; Mary Helena.
Mr Bellew added the name and arms of GRATTAN in 1859.
He was succeeded by his son,
HENRY CHRISTOPHER GRATTAN-BELLEW (1860-1942), of Mount Bellew, who, succeeding his uncle as 3rd Baronet, wedded, in 1885, the Lady Sophia Maria Elizabeth Forbes, daughter of George, 7th Earl of Granard, and had issue,
Herbert Michael, 1886-1906; CHARLES CHRISTOPHER; William Arthur; Thomas Henry; Arthur John (Sir), Knight, CMG; Helena Barbara; Moira Jane; Angela Mary.
Sir Henry was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,
SIR CHARLES CHRISTOPHER GRATTAN-BELLEW, 4th Baronet (1887-1948), MC, who wedded, in 1923, Maureen Peyton, daughter of Sir Thomas George Segrave, and had issue,
HENRY CHARLES, his successor; Deirdre Maureen.
Sir Charles, Lieutenant-Colonel, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, was succeeded by his son,
SIR HENRY CHARLES GRATTAN-BELLEW, 5th and present Baronet, born in 1933, who married firstly, in 1956, Naomi, daughter of Dr Charles Cyril Morgan; secondly, in 1967, Gillian Hulley; and thirdly, in 1978, Elzabe Amy, daughter of Henry Gilbert Body.
By his second wife he had issue,
PATRICK CHARLES, b 1971; Deirdre Sophia, b 1967.
MOUNT BELLEW HOUSE, Mount Bellew Bridge, County Galway, was a house of mainly late-Georgian style.
It was remodelled ca 1820 by Christopher Dillon Bellew.
Mount Bellew comprised a three-storey centre block, with a single-bay entrance front.
The central block had a Venetian window at the top storey of the centre block.
It boasted a notable library which was said to have held one of the finest collections of books during its era.
Mount Bellew was sold about 1938 and subsequently demolished.
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. 208. “O’Kelly/IFR; Ffrench/IFR; Barnewall, Trimlestown, B/PB) An O’Kelly tower-house, acquired by the Ffrenchs at the beginning of C17; confiscated under the Cromwellian Settlement 1658 and granted to 8th Lord Trimlestown, a “transplanted” peer from the Pale; regained from 11th Lord Trimlestown by Patrick Ffrench, who added two new ranges to the old tower-house, 1713-15….Mausoleum in grounds, in the form of a miniature tower house, with turret. In 1938 Monivea was bequeathed by Miss Kathleen ffrench to the Irish Nation as a “Home for Indigent Artists.” The scheme came to nothing and the house, except for the old tower, was subsequently demolished.”
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. 76. “An unusual early 18C house incorporating a tower house at the rere built by Patrick Ffrench. Single storey wings, to which an extra storey was added in the mid to late 19C, flank a two storey pedimented centre block. 18C house demlished and only a tower-house survives.”
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. 206. “(Ormsby/IFR) A simple square Georigan house with a fanlighted doorway.”
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. 205. “(Joyce/LGI1958) A three storey five bay late C18 house, to which single-storey two bay wings were added in C19… From ca 1777 Mervue was the seat of the Joyces, who were originally merchants and bankers in Galway…. Lt-Col Pierce Joyce sold Mervue 1953 to Royal Tara Ltd, who use part of the house as offices and for their china manufactory and part as a managing director’s residence; the main block having been rebuilt and much altered after being gutted by fire 1957.”
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. 205. “(Blake/IFR; Hodgson/LGI1952; Waithman/LGI1912). A long two storey house built ca 1807-8 for Charles Blake. Of six bays and three sided bows. Given windows with mullions and transoms in C17 style later in C19. Sold in the Encumbered Estates Court by C.K. Blake 1852; bought by Henry Hodgson. In 1912, the seat of W.S. Waitman.”
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.
Menlough Castle, County Galway, 1896, 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.Menlo Castle, County Galway, photograph courtesy Daniel Finnerty instagram @greatirishhouses
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. 205. “(Blake, Bt of Menlough/PB) A gabled C17 tower house with tall chimneystacks in the gables, on the bank of the Corrib River two miles above Galway; altered and enlarged at various periods…. Menlough Castle was the scene of much high-living in C18 and early C19; Sir John Blake, 12th Bt, is said to have been made an MP to give him immunity from his creditors; according to the story, when he had been duly elected, his constituents came as a body to Menlough and called him ashore from the boat in which he was sitting in order to avoid two process-servers who were waiting for him on the riverbank. In Victorian and Edwardian days, there were less extravagant festivities; regattas and parties on the lawns by the river. Then, on 26 July 1910, there was a disasterous fire at the castle, in which Eleanor Blake, the daughter of 14th Bt, perished. The entire building was gutted, and has remained a ruin ever since.”
Menlough Castle, County Galway, photograph by Robert French, (between ca. 1865-1914), Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland.
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.
Menlough Castle, County Galway, photograph by Robert French, (between ca. 1865-1914), Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland.Menlough Castle, County Galway, photograph by Robert French, (between ca. 1865-1914), Lawrence Photograph Collection, National Library of Ireland.
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. 204. “(Smyth/LGI1912) A handsome early C19 house…sold after WWII and then demolished.”
John Monck Mason, M.P., (1726-1809), Commissioner of Revenue for Ireland and Shakespearean Critic, courtesy of National Gallery of Ireland.
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.
The Dictionary of Irish Biograph tells us: “Mason, John Monck (1725–1809), politician and literary commentator, was born in Dublin, eldest son of Robert Mason, soldier, of Mason Brook, Co. Galway, and Sarah Mason (née Monck), author of the popular Poems by Miranda.”
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. 201. “(Burke, Bt/PB) A house built ca 1775 by John Burke, and enlarged post 1813 by Sir John Burke, 2nd Bt. Of three storeys over a high basement; entrance front with one bay on either side of a three-sided bow; doorcase with rusticated pilasters. Side elevation of two bays and a further two bays projecting forwards. Now a ruin.”
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.
Irish Historic Houses 