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. 235. “(Otway, sub Otway-Ruthven/IFR; Waller/IFR) A three storey late C18 house built 1779-86 for James Otway to the design of William Leeson. 5 bay front, very similar to the nearby Johnstown, the three centre windows being grouped closely together. Pedimented and fanlighted doorcase; keystones over windows; good cornice. Owing to his extravagance and lavish hospitality, James Otway was obliged to sell the house ca 1820, to George Waller. The interior was much altered ca 1850.”
Detached five-bay three-storey over basement house, built 1779-86. L-plan multiple-bay two-storey hipped roof addition to north-west and three-bay two-storey pitched roof addition to north-east, forming two sides of small yard to rear of house, last side being formed by segmental archway and small hipped slate outbuilding. Central three bays of front are grouped. Hipped slate roof with carved limestone cornice and rendered chimneystacks. Rendered rubble walls with cut limestone coping to plinth. Replacement uPVC windows, with one twelve-over-twelve pane round-headed and one three-over-six pane timber sash windows to rear. Limestone sills, dressed stone surrounds, with slightly-projecting keystones. Some thre-over-three pane and four-over-four pane windows to north-west addition. Cut limestone Doric doorcase with open-bed pediment, cornice, engaged columns and cobweb fanlight, having replacement door. Flight of cut limestone steps with curving parapets. Stable yard to rear of house, accessed through round entrance archway with limestone voussoirs and having brick bellcote over. Eleven-bay two-storey stable block along north side of yard, having advanced single-bay ends, hipped slate roof, rubble limestone walls, segmental-arched carriage openings at centre and ends of main part of façade, flanking groups of three bays. Pitching doors to first floor of rear wall and limestone flag floor to interior. Remains of outbuildings to other sides of yard. Cast-iron vehicularand pedestrian gates to public road, flanked by cut limestone piers.
Appraisal
Built for James Otway to the design of William Leeson, Prior Park is very similar to the nearby demolished Johnstown House, by the same architect. A distinctive feature of both houses is the close grouping of the three central bays on the front façade. This large, rather austere country house underwent alterations to interior c. 1850 and has had recent works carried out to it also. It preserves many original external and nineteenth century internal features. The accompanying stable block to the rear is a fine intact building with features echoing the house.
Built circa 1780 to the design of William Leeson for James Otway, it became the seat of a branch of the Waller family in 1808. A small drawing of the house is included on the 1824 map. Occupied by W. Waller in 1837 and in the early 1850s, when the house was valued at £37 and held in fee. Members of the Waller family continued to reside here until the 1980s. Still a fine country residence.
Paddy Rossmore. Photographs. Edited by Robert O’Byrne. The Lilliput Press, Dublin 7, 2019.
The Otways and the Wallers were two County tipperary families descended from English soldiers who came to Ireland with the Cromwellian army and were rewarded for their services with a grant of land. Both subsequently prospered, their main seats being respectively Castle Otway and Castle Waller (now both ruins) and they intermarried in the eighteenth century. Around 1780 it is though that James Otway, a younger son of the main branch, built Prior Park to the designs of amateur architect William Leeson. The latter is best known for laying out his native town of Westport, Co Mayo, but he is also credited with a number of houses in the NOrth Tipperary/East Galway region (where he lived) including Prior Park. Of three storeys over raised basement, the building is notable for the way in which the austere rendered facade’s three central bays are tightly grouped together, leaving additional windows on either side looking rather adrift. In 1808 Prior Park was bought by George Waller, another younger son, and remained with his descendants until the 1980s. It is still in private hands.”
The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.Kilboy, County Tipperary, courtesy of Archiseek.The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.
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. 164. “(Prittie, Dunally, B/PB) A middle to late 18th century house built for Henry Prittie MP, afterwards 1st Lord Dunalley, to the design of William Leeson.
Henry Prittie, 1st Baron Dunalley (1743-1801), Irish school, courtesy of Christie’s.
It had three storeys over a basement; a five-bay entrance front with a central feature of a pediment and four giant engaged Doric columns; Doric entablature running the full length of the front, supported at the sides by giant Doric pilasters; top storey was treated as an attic above the cornice. Ground floor windows with rusticated surrounds and alternat triangular and segmental pediments; rusticated basement; broad flight of steps up to entrance door. Side elevation almost plain, with no entablature or cornice, of five-bays with central Venetian window; keystones over windows and some simple blocking in the window surrounds. Large square hall, with heavy frieze of rather unusual plasterwork, combining putti and foliage with husk ornament and neo-Classical motifs; niche with entablature on console brackets; marble chimneypiece with swags of drapery, plasterwork panel over. Bifurcating staircase in back hall.
Henry Prittie, 3rd Baron Dunalley (1807-1885) by Stephen Catterson Smith courtesy of Christie’s 2013.
House was burnt 1922 and afterwards rebuilt without the top storey. The principal rooms, as rebuilt, had oak panelling in early C18 style; the bifurcating staircase was replaced by a simple oak stairs. Ca 1955 the house was demolished and a single storey house in a vaguely Georgian style was built on the original basement.”
The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.
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. 134. “The most important house designed by William Leeson c. 1780 for Henry Prittie M.P. 1st Lord Dunally. Superb entrance front with engaged Doric portico. Very fine interior with good plasterwork and imperial main staircase. The house was burnt in 1922 and well restored but without the attic storey. In the mid 1950s it was demolished and a single storey house was built on top of the basement storey; reached by the original steps.”
The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.The newly constructed Kilboy, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of Country Life.
Detached five-bay single-storey house over basement, built c. 1775, destroyed in 1922 and rebuilt c. 1955 with portico to entrance. Three-bay two-storey side elevations, with large two-storey extension to south-west. Hipped slate roofs with recent cut limestone chimneystacks. Rendered walls with decorative render pilasters. Replacement windows to front. Mainly timber sash elsewhere, with raised cut limestone surrounds with keystones and sills. Segmental- and round-headed openings to extension, with one-over-one pane timber sash windows to south elevation, and doorway with spoked fanlight. Timber panelled double doors under portico, flanked by windows. Two flights of limestone steps to front elevation. Sandstone walls to site boundary with thatched gate lodge and ornate gateway to main, south, entrance and gate lodge with ornate gateway to north-east.
Appraisal
The original house to this site was designed by William Leeson, but only the steps and base of the original building remain. The grounds, demesne walls, entrances and gate lodges are perhaps more interesting than the house, forming an interesting group of demesne structures. The imposing triple-arched entrances set in high demesne walls with their ashlar dressings and gate lodges on both the south and east boundaries create a sense of heightened anticipation before seeing the house.
Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.
Detached L-plan four-bay single-storey gate lodge with dormer storey, built c. 1850. Hipped reed thatched roof with blocked ridges and recent rendered chimneystack. Sandstone rubble walls. Square-headed double one-over-one pane timber sash windows with sandstone voussoirs to ground floor, segmental-headed spoked lunette windows to roof, and segmental-headed door openings with sandstone voussoirs, having glazed timber doors and sidelights.
Gate Lodge, Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.
Appraisal
Apparently informed by the cottage ornée type of demesne building, this gate lodge has a number of appealing features such as its lunette dormer windows set in thick curved thatched roofs, its timber sash windows, and its L-plan which allows for a number of complementary views. It is one of a group of demesne structures including the elaborate entrance gates, high demesne walls and single-arch bridge under the avenue nearby.
Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.
Entrance gateway, built c.1775, comprising advanced central round-arched carriage opening with portico, flanked by round-arched pedestrian entrances, in turn flanked by pilasters and roughly-coursed rubble limestone boundary walls. Snecked rubble limestone walling, with cut limestone portico with scrolls, archivolts and imposts and dressed quoins and surrounds to pedestrian openings.
Appraisal
This finely-built stone gateway is of apparent architectural design and executed by skilled craftsmen. It presents an impressive entrance to the rebuilt Kilboy House and is a conspicuous landmark on the Dolla to Silvermines road.
Entrance gateway, built c.1775, comprising central round-arched carriage opening, flanked by similar round-arched pedestrian entrances, separated by wrought-iron railings and in turn flanked low rubble limestone walls. Ashlar sandstone masonry with imposts, carved modillions to central archway and with wrought-iron railings to and separating openings.
Appraisal
A finely-executed ashlar composition of apparent architectural design and quality, forming subsidiary entrance to rebuilt Kilboy House.
Kilboy House, County Tipperary, photograph courtesy of National Inventory.
The Tipperary Gentry. Volume 1. By William Hayes and Art Kavanagh. Published by Irish Family Names, c/o Eneclann, Unit 1, The Trinity Enterprise Centre, Pearse St, Dublin 2, 11 Emerald Cottages, Grand Canal St, Dublin 4 and Market Square, Bunclody, Co Wexford, Ireland. 2003.
Prittie of Kilboy
p. 195. The Prittie dynasty in Kilboy began with Colonel Henry Prittie, one of Cromwell’s more trusted commanders. He was a Captin in Cromwell’s New Regiment of Horse. Druing the war in Ireland he was made Sheriff of Carlow (1650) and later Governor of Carlow. After the successful campaign Prittie was given about 1000 acres in the area in lieu of pay. Like many of his brother officers he immediately began buying up lands that had been awarded to his fellow soldiers who had no wish to remain in Ireland. This, combined with his descendants fortuitious marriages to heiresses, meant that the estate grew over the next 200 years, so that by the middle of 19C the Pritties owned about 16,000 acres of land in Co Tipperary most of which was centred around Kilboy.
p. 196. Henry was marrid to Honor Foley of Stourbridge and he had one son, also called Henry.
Henry was besieged for 21 days in his castle of Dunally by the Jacobites after the Battle of the Boyne. They eventually gained entrance and seized Henry and threw him from the battlements. Henry, quite extraordinarily, survived the fall unhurt and managed to escape. Henry was married to an Allcock and they had two sons and five daughters. The second son, Richard, married an heiress, Barbara Bourchier from Wexford in 1714. One of the daughters married Captain John Bayley of Ballynaclogh, another Cromwellian grantee.
p. 197. It was through marriages to heiresses that estates were extended. The outstanding example of this at the outset of the century is the marriage in 1702 of Henry Prittie (the Colonel’s grandson) to Elizabeth daughter and heiress to James Harrison of Cloghjordan. This alliance added to the sizeable Prittie estate of 3,600 acres a further 900 acres centring on Cloghjordan which had the advantage of being in the same region as the home estate.
p. 197. IN the next two generations each of the heirs to the Prittie estate married heiresses: Deborah Bayley in 1736 and Catherine Sadleir in 1766, thereby further consolidating the family’s interest, landed and political.
p. 197. On the death of Colonel Harrison the estates of Cloughjordan came into the possession of the Pritties of Kilboy. Henry and Elizabeth had one son, Henry…
p. 198. The son, Henry (b. 1708) was active politically and was an MP for Tipperary from 1761-8. A magistrate, he was firmly in the forefront of promoting law and order. He was married to an heiress, the daughter of Venerable Benjamin Neale of Leighlin and widow of John Bayly of Debsborough. This Henry was the man who successfully launched the family into mainstream politics.
…He also made attempts to use the natural resources on his lands. In the 1720s and 30s the Pritties revived interest in mining in the Silvermines. Lead was the mineral being mined at the time. After 1730 the mining was left in abeyance until 1802 when the Dunally Mining Company was formed with the intention of exploiting the ore there and also at a number of other locations.
p. 199. 1st Baron Dunally [as MP] was not in favour of granting any relief to Catholics and like his father he was ardent supporter of the rule of law.
p. 200. In contrast with his public stand, Prittie got on well with his Catholic neighbours and a great friendship existed between the Catholic Carrol family of Lissenhall in North Tipperary and the Pritties.
p. 201. There was a general electin held in 1806. Due to clerical manipulation the Catholic vote secured the election of Montague Mathew and Francis A. Prittie, the brother of 1stLord Dunally, who had moved into the House of Lords. From this period on the Pritties, allied with the Mathew interest continued to be pro Catholic and more liberal in outlook.
p. 202. The Pritties’ liberal views may have been influenced by a tutor who was engaged to teach Francis Aldborough Prittie at Kilboy. He was Rev Henry Fulton, the C of I curate to their parish, who was transported as a convicted United Irishman in 1798.
2nd Lord Dunally was very active in politics and worked with O’Connell to achieve Catholic emancipation.
In 1786, Kilboy was described by Wilson as the fine seat of Henry Prittie. Lord Dunalley is recording as resident at Dunally Castle, Nenagh, in 1814. In 1837 Lewis writes that Kilboy, the seat of Lord Dunalley, “was erected about 60 years since”. In the mid 19th century it was valued at £76+ and held in fee. This house, which the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage describes as a “detached five-bay single-storey house over basement, built c. 1775” and designed by William Leeson, was destroyed in 1922. A similar house was erected on the site but was demolished in 1955. A smaller house is now located on the site.
THE BARONS DUNALLEY WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY TIPPERARY, WITH 21,081 ACRES
The founder of this noble family in Ireland was
COLONEL HENRY PRITTIE who, for his loyalty and eminent services to the crown during the civil wars, had a grant or confirmation, from CHARLES II, of Dunalley Castle and other estates in County Tipperary, by patent, in 1678.
The grandson of this gentleman,
HENRY PRITTIE, sustained a siege of twenty-one days, in his castle of Dunalley, against the disbanded soldiers of of the royal army ofJAMES II after the battle of the Boyne.
The besiegers, however, at length entering, Mr Prittie was flung headlong from the top of the castle, though miraculously escaped unhurt.
He married Elizabeth, sister of Charles Alcock, and had issue,
HENRY, his successor; Richard; Priscilla; Elizabeth; Honora; Catherine; Judith.
The elder son,
HENRY PRITTIE, of Dunalley Castle, MP for County Tipperary, wedded, in 1736, Deborah, daughter of the Ven Benjamin O’Neale, Archdeacon of Leighlin, and had issue,
HENRY, his successor; Deborah; Elizabeth; Catherine; Martha; Margaret; Hannah.
Mr Prittie was succeeded by his son,
HENRY PRITTIE, of Dunalley, who espoused, in 1766, Catherine, second daughter and co-heir of Francis Sadleir, of Sopwell Hall, County Tipperary, widow of John Bury, and mother, by him, of Charles William, Earl of Charleville, and had issue,
HENRY, his successor; Francis Aldborough, MP; Catherine; Deborah; Mary; Martha; Elizabeth.
Mr Prittie was returned to parliament for County Tipperary in 1768; and elevated to the peerage, in 1800, by the title of BARON DUNALLEY, of Kilboy, County Tipperary.
The heir apparent is the present holder’s son, the Hon Joel Henry Prittie.
The 4th Baron was the last Lord-Lieutenant of County Tipperary, from 1905 until 1922.
Henry Francis Cornelius Prittie, 7th and present Lord Dunalley, lives in Oxfordshire.
A note in the Dunalley Papers records the sale of the Kerry estate of this family to the Crosbies in 1742 for £1,500.
KILBOY HOUSE, near Nenagh, County Tipperary, was a middle to late 18th century house built for Henry Prittie MP, afterwards 1st Lord Dunalley, to the design of William Leeson.
It had three storeys over a basement; a five-bay entrance front with a central pediment; and four large, engaged Doric columns.
The top storey was treated as an attic above the cornice.
There was a five-bay side elevation.
The mansion was burnt in 1922 and afterwards rebuilt minus the top storey.
About 1955, the house was demolished and a single-storey house in the Georgian style was built over the original basement.
More recently permission was granted for the reconstruction of a new Kilboy House, by the prominent businessman and philanthropist, Tony Ryan.
The project followed a fire that destroyed a large part of the property in 2005.
The local council granted planning permission for the partial demolition of the existing fire-damaged, listed, single-storey dwelling.
The former three-storey period residence over basement, based on the Georgian mansion house, has been built.
The application, in the name of Tony Ryan’s son, Shane, and his wife, stated that the aim was to rebuild the house as it was originally constructed in 1780.
Before reconstruction began, the Ryans paid €60,964 to the council as a contribution to providing public infrastructure such as roads and water.
Johnstown (formerly Peterfield), Puckaun, Co Tipperary
Johnstown (formerly Peterfield), County Tipperary photograph: Lord Rossmore c. 1969 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. 161. “(Holmes/LGI1912) A three storey late C18 block with a similar elevation to the nearby Prior Park, of five bays… probably designed by William Leeson. Pedimented and fanlighted doorcase with two engaged Tuscan columns. Built by Peter Holmes, MP; in 1837, the residence of P.S. Prendergast. 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.
Ashlar limestone gateway, erected c. 1780, formerly leading to Johnstown House, now demolished. Comprises central vehicular arch flanked by pedestrian entrances, all with pilasters, archivolts with keystones and with paterae to spandrels of central arch. Cast-iron gates and low rubble flanking walls. Detached three-bay single-storey former gate lodge to north, built c. 1780 and now in use as shop. Hipped slate roof with rendered chimneystacks, rendered walls with moulded eaves course, and having rounded corners to east gable with wheelguard. Double one-over-one pane timber casement windows with stone sills and with timber matchboard half-door.
Appraisal
This finely-crafted and well-designed gateway and its lodge once served Johnstown House which lay to the north-west and is a reminder of the quality of the now-demolished country house. It forms a group of interesting structures and is a notable feature at the junction of three roads.
Paddy Rossmore. Photographs. Edited by Robert O’Byrne. The Lilliput Press, Dublin 7, 2019.
“Petersfield, otherwise known as Johnstown Park, was built by a branch of the Holmes family in the late eighteenth century. It is unclear whether these Holmeses were related to others of the same name in County Antrim who were of Irish descent (their surname being an Anglicized version of Mac Thomais). They were certainly settled in this part of the country by the early eighteenth century since in 1728 Peter Holmes of Cullen, Co Offaly, paid £4437 for 540 acres of what would become the Petersfield estate. It was his grandson, another Peter, who served as MP in the Irish parliament for Banagher, Co Offaly, and who built the house and named it after himself. The architect is believed to have been the amateur William Leeson, best-remembered for laying out the town of Westport, Co Mayo, for John Browne, 1st Earl of Altamont. Perhaps related to the family of the same surname who became Earls of Milltown and lived at Russborough, County Wicklow, William Leeson, lived in north County Tipperary and seems to have designed a number of houses in the area including Prior Park and Petersfield. The latter was a tall block of three storeys over raised basement and five bays, the three centre ones being closely bunched together. Only a pedimented doorcase with engaged Tuscan columns broke the otherwise-plain facade. The interior seemingly contained good neo-classical plasterwork but no known photographs of it survive. Peter Holmes and his wife Elizabeth Prittie (a sister of the first Lord Dunally) had no surviving children so the estate passed to a cousin, likewise called Peter Holmes. The family remained in ownership until 1865 when Petersfield and almost one thousand acres were sold to William Headech who seemingly moved to Ireland in the 1840s to act as secretary to the Imperial Slate Quarry at Portroe, County Tipperary. He subsequently bought the business and did so well that he was able to pay more than £13,000 for the former Holmes estate.
His descendant remained there until the 1930s when the Land Commission divided up the property, and the house was unroofed. When Paddy photographed Petersfield it was still standing, albeit in poor condition, but has since been 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. 230. “(Nugent, Westmeath, E/PB) A late-Georgian block of ca 1797 by William Leeson, built for Anthony Nugent, 4th Lord Riverston in the Jacobite Peerage, close to the old castle of this branch of the Nugents…The grandson of the builder of the house succeeded as 9th Earl of Westmeath when the senior branch of the family became extinct 1871. 12th Earl sold Pallas ca 1934, 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.
Clonbrock, County Galway, photograph courtesy of 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. 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.”
Clonbrock, County Galway, 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.Clonbrock main staircase plasterwork, County Galway, photograph: William Garner c. 1975. 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.
Clonbrock, County Galway, courtesy of National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
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-storeyrendered 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.
Clonbrock, County Galway, courtesy of National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.Clonbrock, County Galway, courtesy of National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
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 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.
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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 ,
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 