Ball’s Grove, Drogheda, Co Louth
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. 19. “(Ball/IFR) A very good early C18 house of brick, two storeys over basement; solid roof parapet with shallow recessed panels. Fine triumphal arch at entrance to demesne, with armorial bearings in tympanum and wicket gate surmounted by oval recess. The seat of the Ball family.”
https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/13621018/ballsgrove-house-ballsgrove-drogheda-co-louth
Detached double-pile five-bay two-storey over basement country house, built 1734. Canted bay windows to east elevation, lean-to returns to south elevation, curving crenellated stone and brick walling to east and west of south elevation. Double-pile hipped roof, lead flashing to ridges and hips to west pile, clay ridge and hip tiles to east pile; rendered corbelled chimneystacks; gutters concealed by parapet wall, circular cast-iron, aluminium and uPVC downpipes; moulded coping stones to parapet, six ashlar limestone pilasters on smooth rendered parapet to west elevation. Red brick walling laid in Flemish bond, smooth rendered basement walling, chamfered ashlar limestone plinth, string course to first floor window heads, frieze and cornice, block-and-start quoins; roughcast-rendered walling to north and east elevations; smooth rendered ruled-and-lined walling to south. Square-headed window openings to first and second floor north, east and west, segmental-headed window openings to basement; three limestone voussoirs to window head of west elevation, painted timber three-over-six sliding sash windows to first floor with exposed sliding sash boxes, six-over-six to ground floor, two-over-two to basement; single-storey crenellated canted bay windows to east, block-and-start window surrounds, painted timber overlights and casement windows, painted smooth rendered lugged-and-kneed pedimented window surrounds to first floor, three-over-six sliding sash windows; painted smooth rendered window surrounds to north; round- and square-headed window openings to south, painted timber casement windows, fixed fanlight with three panes below. Square-headed door opening to west, tooled ashlar limestone surround, frieze and cornice, multiple-paned fixed overlight, painted timber door with four flat panels, limestone bridging approach stair with curved quadrant walls, piers and cap stones; square-headed door opening top east, smooth rendered block-and-start surround, multiple-paned fix overlight, painted timber door with four flat panels, limestone flags to entrance. Ranges of stone former stable complex and farm buildings to south-east set around concrete yard; pitched slate roofs, random rubble stone walling, square-headed window and door openings, red brick surrounds. House approached from west, set in own mature grounds.
Appraisal
Ballsgrove House was built for the High Sheriff of Louth George Ball. It stands on an elevated site to the south-west of Drogheda town and is a mid-eighteenth-century house that has maintained its original classical proportion and form. The robust, masculine architectural style is enhanced by the symmetry of its façade, the central door opening creating a striking and elegant formal entrance into the house. The retention of the various sliding sash windows is worthy of note, especially those on the second floor, west elevation for they retain their exposed sash boxes. The canted bays to the east elevation are a late-nineteenth-century addition which show the evolution of domestic architectural styles. The outbuildings and farmyard complex are also worthy of particular note for they help maintain the original site context of the house, which was once an important residence, creating employment for many in the locality. The fine entrance gate to the north of Ballsgrove House, once created a prominent entrance way and is a significant feature connected to this architecturally important grouping.
To the south-west of Drogheda, on a site elevated above the River Boyne, stands this handsome five bay double pile house, built in 1734 for George Ball (1678-1760), who at first called it Mount Ball. The house has two storeys over a concealed basement, and there are curved curtain walls flanking the entrance court which terminate in square piers. The entrance front is of brick, articulated by stonework quoins at the angles, cornice and string-course, and the parapet is divided by short pedestals between each bay. There are regular sash windows except in the basement, where the windows are segment-headed. The rear elevation is rendered and has single-storey canted bay windows either side of the central doorcase. On the first floor are five regular sash windows set in architraves.
The grounds originally ran down to the river in a series of charming terraces, but a modern ring road has now been built along the river bank and much of the site has been lost to housing. In a letter of 1752 Mrs. Delany described her visit to the gardens:
“We then … went to what are called ‘Ball’s Walks’. You wind up a very steep hill (which otherwise would be insurmountable) planted with trees – some in walks, others in groves, so that part of it looks like a thick wood – on the top is a long level walk with old trees on each side of it, and at the end a pretty, clean house and spruce garden full of flowers, which belongs to Mr Ball, who is so obliging to the town as to permit that fine walk to be a public one, and it is the Mall of Drogheda. The view from it is surprisingly beautiful. At the foot of this fine hill winds the River Boyne”.
Still surviving, by the ring road, is the pedimented entrance arch, erected in 1804, with circular niches either side of the arch and the Ball arms in the tympanum.
Descent: built c.1734 for George Ball (1678-1760); to son, Robert Ball (1729-75); to son, George Ball (1775-1842); to son, George Ball (c.1809-85); to son, George de Belle Ball (1861-1942), who sold 1917… sold 1957 to Drogheda Council, who developed the grounds for housing from 1962, after which the house was sold back into private ownership… Mr & Mrs. Kane (fl. 2018).
Ball family of Ballygall and Ballsgrove
Ball, Bartholomew (c.1500-73). Son of Thomas Ball of Stephenstown, Balrothery (Co. Dublin) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Nicholas Birmingham of Rathronan (Co. Meath), born about 1500. A leading merchant and Alderman of Dublin (Sheriff 1541-42, Mayor and Keeper of the Keys of the Treasury, 1553-54); Auditor of the accounts of All Hallows monastery, Dublin, 1547-48. He married, c.1530, Margaret (d. 1584), daughter of Walter Bermingham of Corballis (Co. Meath) (who claimed a royal descent from King Edward I through his mother), and had issue including:
(1) Walter Ball (1538-98) (q.v.);
(2) Nicholas Ball (d. 1609) [for whom see below, Ball of Dublin, Mooreside and Reynoldstown]
(3) Thomas Ball (d. 1595); barrister-at-law and counsellor to the city of Dublin; freeman of Dublin, 1587; Treasurer of City of Dublin, 1588; married Jane (d. 1595), daughter of Alderman Michael Penteney of Dublin, but died without issue, 29 October 1595;
(4) Bartholomew Ball, of Sprinkleston alias Spicleston Castle (Co. Dublin), merchant of Dublin; joined in the rebellion of 1580 and was imprisoned in Dublin Castle and deprived of his estate, but later pardoned and restored to his property on payment of a heavy fine; married and had issue one daughter;
(5) Katherine Ball; married Thomas Shelton of Dublin, merchant;
(6) Elinor Ball (d. 1621); married Alderman Walter Segrave of Dublin; died 10 December 1621.
He lived in a house on Merchants’ Quay in Dublin.
He died in 1573 and was buried in St Audoen’s church, Dublin. His widow had a strong Roman Catholic faith for which she was twice imprisoned, and she died in prison in 1584 and was also buried in St. Audoen’s church. She was beatifiied by Pope John Paul II in 1992 as a martyr.
Ball, Walter (1538-98). Eldest son of Bartholomew Ball (c.1500-73) and his wife Margaret, daughter of Walter Birmingham of Corballis (Co. Meath), born 1538. A merchant and Alderman in Dublin (Sheriff, 1572; Alderman, 1573; Mayor 1580-81). Master of the Trinity Guild of Merchants, Dublin, 1593-94, 1596-97 and 1598. He was a Protestant in religion, despite his mother’s efforts to convert him to Catholicism, and he was appointed a Commissioner in Ecclesiastical Causes in 1581. It is said by some sources that he arrested and imprisoned his own mother for her religious views despite the protests of his siblings, but no authority is shown for this statement. Later, he was one of those who collected funds for the establishment of Trinity College, Dublin, and to whom the premises of All Hallows monastery was granted by Queen Elizabeth in 1592 as a site for the new institution. He married Eleanor (d. 1613), daughter of Robert Ussher of Santry (Co. Dublin), and had issue, with two other sons who died in infancy:
(1) Robert Ball (1572-1636) (q.v.);
(2) Edward (k/a Ned) Ball (d. 1625) of Dublin; merchant in Dublin; Warden of the Merchants’ Guild, 1610-11 and Master, 1623-24; admitted a freeman of Dublin, 1601; sheriff of Dublin, 1610-11; elected Alderman, 1616; Mayor 1621-22; inherited £300 from his father; married Alice, daughter of Nicholas Weston, mayor of Dublin in 1608, and had issue one daughter; died 1 December 1625; will proved April 1626;
(3) George Ball; educated at Trinity College, Dublin (admitted by 1607) and Grays Inn (admitted 1610); inherited £300 from his father; probably died before 1625;
(4) John Ball (d. c.1650); educated at Trinity College, Dublin; inherited £300 from his father; died unmarried c.1650;
(5) Rose Ball (d. 1604); married Rev. Luke Challoner DD and had issue one surviving daughter (Phoebe Challoner, who married Archbishop James Ussher); died (with all but one of her children) of plague, 26 October 1604, and was buried in the chapel of Trinity College;
(6) Katherine Ball (d. 1633); married Patrick Segrave of Killeglan; died 30 September 1633.
He lived in Dublin, and also owned Ballygall, Finglas (Co. Dublin). He also rented land and houses from the corporation of Dublin.
He died 8 December and was buried in St. Audoen’s church, Dublin, 10 December 1598; will proved in Dublin, December 1598. His widow married 2nd, Dr. Robert Conway, Master in Chancery in Ireland, and 3rd, Sir John Eliot, Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland, and died 5 December 1613.
Ball, Robert (1572-1636). Eldest son of Walter Ball (1538-98) and his wife Eleanor, daughter of Robert Ussher of Santry (Co. Dublin), born 1572. Merchant in Dublin. He was Master of the Merchants’ Guild, 1601-2, 1602-3 and Warden, 1607-8, 1611-12, 1614-15, 1616, 1621, 1622. Sheriff of Dublin, 1600-01; elected Alderman, 1604; Mayor of Dublin 1604-05 (in place of John Shelton, who was removed from office after four weeks for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy) and 1609-10; Mayor of the Staple in the City of Dublin, 1622. He married 1st, before December 1598, Jane alias Jenet (d. 1620), daughter of Most Rev. Henry Ussher (c.1550-1613), Archbishop of Armagh, and 2nd, Margaret (d. 1650), daughter of Alderman Richard Barry of Dublin and widow of Nicholas Kerdiffe, sergeant-at-law, and had issue:
(1.1) Mary Ball (b. 1602), born 1602; married James Kerdiffe of Killamanagh (Co. Dublin);
(1.2) Walter Ball (b. 1603), born 1603; died without issue in the lifetime of his father;
(1.3) Margaret Ball; married, c.1631, Henry Bennett of Dublin, merchant, son of John Bennett of Sanghall Massey (Cheshire), and had issue;
(1.4) William Ball (1606-49) (q.v.);
(1.5) George Ball (d. 1636) (q.v.);
(1.6) Richard Ball (d. 1651), born after 1608; apprenticed to Robert Barnwall of Dublin and was made free of the Merchant’s Guild, 1632; inherited £150 from his father; probably the man who married, 19 August 1632 at St John, Dublin, Ann Salisbury (d. 1642), and had issue one son and two daughters; buried 1 September 1651;
(1.7) Margery Ball (d. 1688); inherited £150 from her father; married 1st, Thomas Dowding of Dublin, gent., and 2nd, Richard Burder (fl. 1653), merchant, by whom she had issue two daughters; buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 2 April 1688;
(1.8) Eleanor Ball; inherited £150 from her father; died unmarried;
(2.1) Elizabeth Ball; inherited £150 from her father; married Nicholas Browne and had issue one son and one daughter.
He inherited Ballygall House, Finglas and a good deal of Dublin property from his father in 1598. He lived at Ballygall, and also in Dublin, where he acquired the site of the former Whitefriars convent in Ship St. At his death, Ballygall passed to his widow for life.
He died 25 January 1635/6 and was buried at St Audoen, Dublin. His first wife died 5 June 1620. His widow died in 1650.
Ball, William (1606-49). Eldest surviving son of Robert Ball (1572-1636) and his first wife Jane alias Jenet, daughter of Most Rev. Henry Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, born 1606. Educated at Leyden Univ. (admitted 1633). Barrister-at-law; MP for Kells (Co. Meath), 1642-49; High Sheriff of Co. Dublin, 1643. He was a Captain in Lord Castlestewart’s Regt. of Foot. He married, Ellinor (d. 1680), daughter of Christopher Bisse, Second Remembrancer of the Exchequer, and had issue:
(1) Charles Ball (d. by 1652); died unmarried; administration of his goods granted 1666;
(2) Christopher Ball (d. by 1652); administration of his goods granted to his aunt, Margery Dowding, in 1663;
(3) Elizabeth Ball (d. by 1652); administration of her goods granted 1663.
He inherited Ballygall House from his father. At his death his property passed to his children but on their deaths soon afterwards to his nephew Robert Ball (1645-99).
He died in 1649; his will was proved 11 December 1649. His widow was buried at St Audoen, Dublin, 3 February 1679/80.
Ball, George (c.1608-36). Second surviving son of Robert Ball (1572-1636) and his first wife Jane alias Jenet, daughter of Most Rev. Henry Ussher, Archbishop of Armagh, born after 1607. He inherited £150 from his father in 1636. He married Jane (d. c.1653/4), daughter of William Rowles, Collector and Receiver of Fines in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, and had issue:
(1) Robert Ball (c.1635-99) (q.v.);
He died in 1636. His widow died in 1653 or 1654.
Ball, Robert (c.1635-99). Only child of George Ball (c.1608-36) and his wife Jane, daughter of William Rowles, Collector and Receiver of Fines in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, born about 1635. Merchant and alderman of Dublin; High Sheriff of County Dublin, 1673. He married, 24 April 1671, Anne, daughter of John Desminieres, Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1666, and widow of John Partington of Dublin, goldsmith, and had issue:
(1) Jane Ball (b. 1672), born 9 April 1672; married, 6 July 1714 at St Audoen, Dublin, Edward Dudgeon (d. 1762) of Dublin, alderman and brewer;
(2) Robert Ball (b. & d. c.1673); died in infancy;
(3) Anne Ball (b. 1674), born 5 October 1674; married, as his second wife, Capt. Paul Espinasse (d. 1740) of Dublin, brewer;
(4) George Ball (1676-78), born 19 April 1676 but died in infancy and was buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 7 December 1678;
(5) John Ball (1677-79), born 1677; died in infancy and was buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 16 May 1679;
(6) George Ball (1678-1760) (q.v.);
(7) John Ball (1681-1755); an officer in Gen. Churchill’s Royal Regiment of Dragoons (Lt. by 1713; Capt.; retired about 1735); married, 10 July 1722 at Finglas (Co. Dublin), Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. Paul Duclos (d. 1717), rector of Rathdowney and Chancellor of Kilkenny Cathedral, and had issue one daughter, who died young; after leaving the army he lived in Dublin, where he died 9 March, and was buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 11 March 1755; by his will he left his property among the children of his brothers George and Charles;
(8) Rev. Charles Ball (1683-1758), born 1683; educated at Drogheda and Trinity College, Dublin (admitted 1700; BA 1704); ordained deacon, 1707; chaplain in the Royal Navy, c.1710-15; settled in Dublin and married, c.1725, Ellinor (d. 1788), daughter of Capt. Thomas RN, and had issue one son; buried at St Audoen, Dublin, 27 April 1758.
He lived in Dublin, then at Ballygall House, and finally, after 1692, in Drogheda.
He died intestate in May 1699 and was buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 1 June 1699. His widow’s date of death is unknown.
Ball, George (1678-1760). Fourth, but eldest surviving, son of Robert Ball (c.1635-99) and his wife Anne, daughter of John Desminieres, Lord Mayor of Dublin in 1666, and widow of John Partington of Dublin, goldsmith, born 1678. High Sheriff of Co. Louth, 1722. He married, c.1725, Mary, daughter of Peter Roe of Drogheda, and had issue:
(1) Jane Ball (b. 1726), born 12 January 1725/6 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; died unmarried and was buried at St Mary, Drogheda;
(2) Anne Ball (1727-32), born 29 January 1726/7 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; died young and was buried at St. Audoen, 6 April 1732;
(3) Mary Ball (b. 1728), born 23 February 1727/8 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; died young;
(4) Robert Ball (1729-75) (q.v.);
(5) John Ball (1730-1821), born 24 September 1730 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; married, 2 August 1761, Margaret (d. 1821), daughter of Brabazon Newcomen of Collinstown (Co. Louth), and had issue one son and two daughters; buried at St. George, Dublin, 1821;
(6) Alice Ball (1731-54), born 8 December 1731 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; died unmarried and was buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 27 September 1754;
(7) Charles Ball (1733-64), born 8 December 1733 and was baptised at St Mary, Dublin; died unmarried at Clontarf and was buried at St. Audoen, 3 March 1764; administration of his goods granted to his mother, 2 March 1764;
(8) George Ball (c.1738-1830), baptised at St John, Drogheda; an officer in the 59th Foot (Capt.); freeman of Drogheda, 1796; married Margaret, daughter of Richard Orson, of Tallonstown (Co. Louth) and widow of Robert Donaldson of Possextown (Co. Meath), and had issue three sons and four daughters; died in 1830; will proved 29 April 1831;
(9) Edward Ball (c.1740-1815); born at Drogheda; an officer in 59th Foot (Lt. by 1773); freeman of Drogheda, 1787; lived at Donover (Co. Meath); married 1st, 1774 (licence 14 April), Bridget Plunkett (d. 1779) of Co. Roscommon, and had issue one son and three daughters; married 2nd, Mary Anne, daughter of John Chamney, Esq., of Plattin (Co. Meath); and married 3rd, Catherine, daughter of Ephraim Cuthbert; died 1815; will proved 1816;
(10) Wilhelmina Ball (c.1740-97); born at Drogheda about 1740; married, February 1761, Dr. Arthur Magenis (d. 1809) of Drogheda and had issue one son and one daughter; buried at St. Audoen, Dublin, 15 February 1797.
He inherited Ballygall House from his father in 1699, but sold it in 1725. He then lived in Dublin for some years while a new house was built for him at Drogheda, which he called Mount Ball but which was later known as Ballsgrove. After his death his widow lived in Dublin.
He was buried in St Audoen, Dublin, 8 July 1760; his will was proved 6 August 1760. His widow died in 1771 and was also buried in St. Audoen.
Ball, Robert (1729-75). Eldest son of George Ball (1678-1760) of Ballsgrove, and his wife Mary, daughter of Peter Roe of Drogheda, born 1729. Master of the Boyne Hunt. He married 1st, 6 June 1757 at St Peter, Drogheda, Frances (d. 1765), daughter of Stephen Sibthorp of Dunsany (Co. Louth), and 2nd, 14 March 1766 at St Anne, Dublin, Frances, daughter of Joseph Neynoe of Dublin, and had issue:
(2.1) Frances Ball (1767-1848), baptised 5 August 1767; married, 1788, Rev. William Coddington (1765-1847), vicar of Kilmoon, son of William Coddington of Drogheda, merchants, and had issue two sons and three daughters; died about February 1848;
(2.2) Mary Ball (b. 1768), baptised 18 June 1768; married, 1789, Lawrence Steele (d. 1849) of Bankstown (Co. Louth), Rathbride (Co. Kildare) and of 4th Regt., High Sheriff of Co. Kildare, 1776; and had issue;
(2.3) Jane Ball (1770-1847), married, 1797, Godfrey Massy of Ballinakill (Co. Limerick), and had issue two daughters; died 11 June 1847;
(2.4) George Ball (1775-1842) (q.v.).
He inherited Ballsgrove from his father in 1760.
He died 6 November 1775 as the result of a coaching accident a year earlier in which both his legs were broken, and was buried at St Mary, Drogheda; his will was proved 5 August 1778. His widow married 2nd, 7 June 1777 at St Mary, Dublin, Capt. Alexander McLaine, and had further issue one son; her date of death is unknown.
Ball, George (1775-1842). Only son of Robert Ball (1729-75) and his second wife Frances, daughter of Joseph Neynoe of Dublin, born 8 February 1775. During his long minority, his guardians were his uncle, Dr. Magenis, and the Rev. Dr. Norris. Sheriff of Drogheda, 1806. He married 1st, 2 March 1794 at Portpatrick (Wigtowns.), Margaret (d. 1805), daughter of Richard Sadleir, of Sadleir’s Wells (Co. Tipperary), and 2nd, 22 February 1821, Sarah Webber (c.1773-1860), and had issue:
(2.1) George Ball (c.1809-85) (q.v.);
(2.2) Mary Jane Ball (c.1809-89); married, 24 November 1841 at St Anne, Dublin, Robert Sheppard of Bettystown (Meath); died aged 80, 11 February 1889;
(2.3) Elizabeth Ball (c.1812-91?); married, 7 December 1843 at St Anne, Dublin, Frederick George Greene (1811-90), youngest son of Dr. James Greene MD of Drogheda, and had issue one son and one daughter; probably the woman of this name who died at Ballinroan (Co. Wicklow), 9 September 1891;
(2.4) Louisa Ball (d. 1883); married, 31 May 1835 at Slane (Co. Meath), George Harpur of Killineer House (Co. Louth), but had no issue; died at Killineer House, 29 July 1883; administration of goods granted 9 April 1888 (effects £783).
(2.5) Thomas Ball (c.1815-37); educated in Dublin, where he evidently ran up bills with local shopkeepers and obliged his father to publish notices in the Dublin press in 1829 warning tradesmen that he would not be responsible for his son’s future debts; died aged 22, 28 July 1837;
He inherited Ballsgrove from his father in 1775 and came of age in 1796.
He died at Ballsgrove, 25 September, and was buried at St Mary, Drogheda, 1 October 1842. His first wife died without issue, 5 March 1805. His widow died aged 86 at Bettystown House, Drogheda, 7 January, and was buried at St Mary, Drogheda, 13 January 1860.
Ball, George (c.1809-85). Elder son of George Ball (1775-1842) and his first wife, Margaret, daughter of Richard Sadleir of Sadleir’s Wells (Co. Tipperary), born about 1809. He became financially embarrassed and assigned his life interest in the Ballsgrove estate to trustees for his creditors in 1843. He married 1st, 30 September 1852 at Liverpool Registry Office, Mary Eliza (d. 1856), eldest daughter of Capt. William Morris of Milford (Pembs) and 2nd, 11 March 1858 at Kilbroney (Co. Down), Isabella Jane. daughter of Thomas Cockburn of Rostrevor, and had issue including:
(1.1) A son (b. 1853), born 6 October 1853; died young;
(2.1) Louisa Georgina Wilhelmina Sarah Jane De Bermingham Luttrell Ussher Ball Ball (b. 1859), born 4 April and baptised 3 July 1859; perhaps died young;
(2.2) A son (b. 1860), born 17 August 1860; died young;
(2.3) George de Belle Ball (1861-1942) (q.v.);
(2.4) Robert de Belle Ball (b. 1864), born 6 March 1864.
He inherited Ballsgrove from his father in 1842, but assigned his interest in it to trustees for his creditors the following year: it was leased to tenants from 1852 onwards.
He died at Bettystown House, Drogheda, 26 March 1885; administration of his estate (with will annexed) was granted 10 March 1891 (effects £3,242). His first wife died 22 November 1856. His second wife’s date of death is unknown.
Ball, George (Joseph) de Belle (1861-1942). Only recorded son of George Ball (d. 1885) and his wife Isabella Cockburn, born 26 October 1861 and baptised at St Mary’s RC Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, 8 January 1884. An officer in the County Louth Militia (2nd Lt., 1879). He was active in promoting collective initiatives in farming in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including (ultimately unsuccessful) garden allotments at Ballsgrove and a scheme during the First World War to collect herbs for pharmaceutical use. After the war he left Ballsgrove and moved to Suffolk, where he was active in promoting the establishment of the sugar beet industry. He married, 25 August 1885 at St Clement Danes, London (but sep. by 1913), his cousin, Caroline Elizabeth (d. 1945), daughter of Thomas Fairtlough of Drogheda, and had issue (with a stillborn daughter born in 1887):
(1.1) Beatrice Caroline Louise Ball (1890-1976), born 10 January 1890; died unmarried, 24 February 1976 and was buried at Bromeswell (Suffk); will proved 29 June 1976 (estate £24,164);
(1.2) Eileen Mabel Ball (1891-1979), born 18 February 1891; died unmarried, 19 January 1979 and was buried at Bromeswell (Suffk); will proved 25 April 1979 (estate £52834);
(1.3) Margeurite Frances (k/a Rita) Ball (1892-1920), born 18 June 1892; office clerk; died of tuberculosis in Dublin, 24 May 1920;
(1.4) Dorothy Monica Ball (1894-99), born 5 August 1894; died young, 15 December 1899.
He inherited Ballsgrove from his father in 1885 and disentailed the estate the same year, but sold it in 1917 and moved to England.
He died Oct-Dec 1942. His wife died in Liverpool, 21 January 1945; her will was proved 10 July 1945 (estate £3,362).
Now marooned on a bend in the riverside Ring Road of Drogheda, County Louth, this was formerly the entrance to the Ballsgrove estate. Dating from 1804 and taking the form of a triumphal arch, the limestone carriage arch is flanked by narrow pedestrian gates separated from above oval niches above by a Greek key impost course. In the tympanum of the pediment is the Ball family coat of arms. George Ball was responsible for erecting this entrance but it was his grandfather, also called George Ball, who built Ballsgrove, sometimes also called The Grove (altho’ a plaque in the wall here calls it The Ball). The latter was also responsible for laying out fine terraced gardens, which were sometimes open to the public. In 1752 Mrs Delany visited the site and reported in a letter, ‘You wind up a very steep hill (which otherwise would be insurmountable) planted with trees – some in walks, others in groves, so that part of it looks like a thick wood – on the top is a long level walk with old trees on each side of it, and at the end a pretty, clean house and spruce garden full of flowers, which belongs to Mr Ball, who is so obliging to the town as to permit that fine walk to be a public one, and it is the Mall of Drogheda. The view from it is surprisingly beautiful. At the foot of this fine hill winds the River Boyne.’ All a far cry from present circumstances here.
Today surrounded by architecturally inconsequential housing estates, this is Ballsgrove, built on raised ground overlooking Drogheda, County Louth. It was built as a country villa by George Ball, member of a family which had been prominent merchants and citizens of the town since the 14th century, although they also owned an estate called Ballygall near Glasnevin, Dublin. This was sold by George Ball in 1725, the proceeds seemingly being used to pay for the construction of Ballsgrove. Facing west, the house is of five bays and two storeys over raised basement. At some date in the 19th century the rear was given single-storey canted bays. These have castellations, as does the the little octagonal pavilion built on the south-east corner seen below.
Irish Historic Houses 