Mountainstown, Navan, Co Meath
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.
“(Pollock/LGI1958) An early C18 house of two storyes over high plinth, with a charming air of bucolic Baroque. The six bay front is adorned with giant Ionic pilasters, two supporting the pediment and one at either side; but they have neither architrave nor frieze. The Venetian entrance doorway is enriched with Ionic pilasters, urns on entablatures, a keystone and a finial which breaks through the string-course above. In front it is is a great if somewhat rustic perron with a central balustrade and ironwork railings to the flights of steps. In the centre of the four bay side elevation is a little floating pediment. This side of the house is prolonged by a three sided projection, with timber-mullioned windows in C17 style. There is a dormered attic in the high roof, which is also lit by a lunette window in the main pediment.”
Section 482 in 2000. Atlanta Pollock
Record of Protected Structures:
Mountainstown House; townland: Mountainstown. Town: Wilkinstown.
Six-bay, two-storey over basement house, with two-bay breakfront and pediment, c.1720 by Richard Gibbons, sold to John Pollock in 1780, sw wing added 1813 and single storey kitchen wing. Stableyards.
https://www.geni.com/projects/Historic-Buildings-of-County-Meath/29729
Mountainstown (House) - located outside Navan in the townland of Castletown Kilpatrick, built around 1720 for Richard Gibbons whose father Samuel acquired the estate in the late 17th century: in the same year he made a visitation of his dioceses, Bishop Anthony Dopping of Meath recorded ‘Mr Gibbons and his wife came here in xmas 1693.’ Mr Gibbons’ son Richard is likewise recorded as being at Mountainstown in Faulkiner’s Dublin Journal in 1745, by which time the house would have been well finished. Over the door is a stone cartouche featuring the arms of the Pollocks, the family that followed the Gibbonses at Mountainstown. The latter remained in possession of the estate until 1796 when it was sold to the John Pollock by a daughter of Samuel Gibbons. He had already been renting for some time. The first John Pollock moved from Scotland to Ireland in 1732 and settled in Newry where he became involved in the linen trade. His son continued in the same business and was commemorated by a tombstone in St Mary’s, Newry declaring he and his wife Elizabeth had been ‘parents of eleven children all of whom they lived to see established in the world.’ One of those children, another John, became a successful solicitor in Dublin and was appointed Transscriptor of the Court of the Exchequer. He first rented and then bought Mountainstown although he retained a townhouse in Dublin’s Mountjoy Square so that his business could continue. Married to the daughter of a London banker, around 1811 he extended Mountainstown by adding a two-storey wing to the south-west of the older building. The ground floor of this new section contains a large drawing room with canted bay window and beyond it an equally substantial dining room. A substantial stable yard was added by the next generation. In the mid-1820s Mountainstown was inherited by Arthur Hill Cornwallis Pollock, named after his father’s patron, Arthur Hill, second Marquess of Downshire. The present generation has decided to put the property on the market (March 2015) for €4.15 million.
○ The Pollocks – Mountainstown House
It has long been commented that Mountainstown, County Meath is mis-named since its location in the midst of flat countryside is near neither a mountain nor a town. One ill-tempered Englishwoman in the 1840s wrote ‘At the beginning of this month we came to a place called Mountainstown, which name it must have been received from the inveterately stupid and perverse disposition of the Natives, because the place is situated in a low and flat Country, and there is not a Mountain to be seen within the Horizon.’ In fact the denomination most likely derives from an Anglicisation of the Irish for ‘Beside a Bog.’ It has borne the name for hundreds of years since the house here, soon due to celebrate the tercentenary of its construction, has always been known as Mountainstown. It is believed to have erected around 1720 for Richard Gibbons whose father Samuel acquired the estate in the late 17th century: in the same year he made a visitation of his diocses, Bishop Anthony Dopping of Meath recorded ‘Mr Gibbons and his wife came here in xmas 1693.’ Mr Gibbons’ son Richard is likewise recorded as being at Mountainstown in Faulkiner’s Dublin Journal in 1745, by which time the house would have been well finished.
The oldest part of Mountainstown is a stocky rectangular block with six bay front, of two main storeys with dormer attic above and basement below. Kevin Mulligan has described the building as occupying ‘the middle ground between farmhouse and mansion’ and like others employed the terms bucolic and naive when speaking of its design. Mountainstown’s facade is its most immediately striking feature, a determined effort on the part of Richard Gibbons to display awareness of current architectural trends even if these were employed in a somewhat unsophisticated manner. Four slender Ionic pilasters ascend to the top of the building but without the intervention of an entablature and frieze; instead they meet the roofline via a narrow moulded cornice. The two central pilasters support a pediment but again appear too slight for the task. The raised entrance is reached by flights of stone steps with iron work railings on either side, the Venetian doorcase once more being flanked by pairs of pilasters with sidelights above which sit half-urns while over the door itself is a stone cartouche featuring the arms of the Pollocks, the family that followed the Gibbonses at Mountainstown. The latter remained in possession of the estate until 1796 when it was sold to the John Pollock who had already been renting for some time.
The history of Mountainstown’s next owners represents a familiar trajectory from merchant class to gentry, a route to which many families formerly aspired. The first John Pollock moved from Scotland to Ireland in 1732 and settled in Newry where he became involved in the burgeoning linen trade. His son continued in the same business and was commemorated by a tombstone in St Mary’s, Newry declaring he and his wife Elizabeth had been ‘parents of eleven children all of whom they lived to see established in the world.’ One of those children, another John, became a successful solicitor in Dublin and was appointed Transscriptor of the Court of the Exchequer. He also acted as agent for the Hills, Marquesses of Downshire, among the country’s largest landowners: at one time they had 115,000 acres, mostly but not exclusively in County Down. Hence being their agent was a profitable occupation and allowed John Pollock first to rent and then to buy Mountainstown although he retained a townhouse in Dublin’s Mountjoy Square so that his business could continue. Married to the daughter of a London banker, around 1811 he extended Mountainstown by adding a two-storey wing to the south-west of the older building. The ground floor of this new section contains a large drawing room with canted bay window and beyond it an equally substantial dining room. To the immediate right of the facade is a long kitchen wing and behind this lies a very substantial stable yard added by the next generation.
Mountainstown is thus of two periods and two parts, each complementing the other. While the later portion of the house is relatively plain and very much in the Regency taste with deep tripartite windows, high ceilings and understated plasterwork, the earlier reflects the more ostentatious taste of the period in which it was built. The entrance hall, stairs and first floor landing retain their original decoration, moulded plaster panels with lugged heads forming tabernacle frames beneath a dentil cornice. The handsome stairs are wide and shallow, Doric balusters supporting the handrail and the side of each tread adorned with carved curls of foliage. As with the facade, this decoration represents the original builder’s interest in showing he was au courant with the latest fashions. The most unexpected feature can be found almost immediately inside the front door: what looks to be a death mask set into the ceiling. It is commonly believed that the man shown is Samuel Gibbons, perhaps placed here as an act of filial piety on the part of his son Richard. The rooms in the front portion of the house are noticeably smaller than those added in the 19th century, and some have angled corner chimneypieces: a marble panel on that in the former morning room featuring a knight in armour.
In the mid-1820s Mountainstown was inherited by Arthur Hill Cornwallis Pollock, named after his father’s patron, Arthur Hill, second Marquess of Downshire. Almost twenty years before he had been sent on a tour of Europe by his parents, presumably keen that their heir have the upbringing of a gentleman. Having visited France and Italy, he travelled as far as Russia, spending time at the Imperial court in St Petersburg with his friends Lords Royston and Somerton, before finally returning home in the second half of 1807. Four years later he married a cousin and devoted the rest of his life to agriculture and country pursuits. It was Arthur who created the spacious yard immediately to the north of the main house as he often won medals for his animals at agricultural shows. The Pollocks were always keen on hunting and Arthur had his own pack of hounds at Mountainstown as did many of his neighbours: eventually these were amalgamated into the Clonghill Hunt which later became the Meath. And so it has gone on until now, when the present generation has decided the moment is right to pass Mountainstown on to another family, perhaps one that will remain in the house for as long as have the Pollocks. It is always sad to see an historic property come on the market, especially in Ireland where relatively few families have stayed in the same place for so long. However, one should remember the words of Disraeli who in 1867 observed, ‘Change is inevitable in a progressive country. Change is constant.’ Whatever one’s personal feelings, the proposed departure of the Pollocks from Mountainstown, like that of the Gibbonses before them, is a reflection of that necessary change.
For sale 4/11/2019
courtesy Savills (Country)
Tel: 01 663 4350
PSRA Licence No. 002223
Mountainstown Estate, Navan, Co. Meath, C15 C938
9 bed, 1103.9sq m
€2,750,000
A most impressive 18th Century Georgian mansion, of immense charm and character, nestled in the heart of rural Meath and surrounded by 120 acres of parkland, paddocks and mature woodland. Mountainstown comprises a most impressive, but charming Georgian House surrounded by 120 acres of parkland, paddocks, mature woodland and newly planted hardwood. Nestled in the heart of unspoilt rural Meath, a county renowned for its rich heritage and excellent lands.
The house is approached by two sweeping avenues both of which travel through the parkland before the first glimpse of the house and eventually arriving at the broad gravel forecourt. While the house does impress by its grandeur and scale, it exudes character and style, which has made it a fabulous family home. In all, Mountainstown encompasses all the attributes one seeks when acquiring a fine country residence; from the sizable, well maintained house, extraordinary stable yard, gardens and auxiliary courtyards, walled garden and mature parkland. The residence stands three floors over basement with a good layout and an easy flow due to the two separate staircases. It is approached by a double set of balustraded stone steps into the main hall which has a fine staircase with turned Doric bannisters and walls decorated with handsome plaster panels.
This hall ceiling features the mould of Samuel Gibbon`s face, set within a graceful cartouche. To the left of the hall there are four interconnecting reception rooms, namely the library, small dining room (or breakfast room) drawing room and dining room. This enfilade of south -facing spaces blend and flow beautifully to make for superb entertaining.
The library features gilded carvings of the Pollock family crest; the boar pierced by an arrow, atop the pelmets, which also support the original tassel fringes. This fascinating library also has its original leather wall covering, in a wonderful ox-blood colour.
The drawing room and the dining room stand out as exceptionally graceful rooms due to their light-filled proportions and decorative features. The drawing room boasts a large 3 bay window which leads directly into the garden via a flight of wide stone steps. To the right of the hall are found the study, play room and the fantastic modern Scavolini kitchen which is bright and spacious, with 4 windows facing due West and East with cushioned window seats.
Upstairs there are generous bedroom suites all with fine views either overlooking the gardens or with panoramic vistas over the surrounding countryside. The whole basement houses useful rooms such as the party room (formerly the Servant`s Hall), gym, billiard room, a garden sitting room which leads onto the sunken garden, a music room and a kitchen.
When the current Arthur Pollock took over the property himself and his wife Atalanta meticulously continued the restoration of the house and planted two gardens, whilst always being mindful to maintain the integrity of all the original features. Their main object has been to use all of the house and make it family orientated and up-dated to reflect a modern family`s needs. Over recent years the house has been re-wired, re-plumbed and re-roofed.
Their efforts also extended to the garden where they have laid out a mix of formal and informal gardens and cleverly created a sunken patio garden which is to the rear of the house and accessed via the garden room and from the formal garden.
Ground Floor The interior is approached up a gracious flight of stone steps to the grand reception hall which is a beautiful space with ornate plaster cornicing. The entrance hall and the fine staircase are two of Mountainstown’s most impressive and distinguishing features. The wide staircase, with twisted balusters and carved brackets, leads up to a classic Georgian galleried landing. There are panoramic views over the rolling Meath countryside from every window .
Leading off the main hall is the Library, which has large East and South-facing windows, original mid 18 th C leather wall-covering and a grey carved marble fireplace with brass inserts and a carpeted floor.
The small Dining room boasts a white marble fireplace with brass inserts,large South-facing window and a timber floor.
The Drawing Room has carpeted floors, magnificent gilded decorative plasterwork on the ceiling,a marble fireplace and a spectacular 3 bay window with double French doors out to steps leading down to the formal garden.
The Dining Room features an impressive corniced ceiling, two large South-facing Wyatt windows,a black Kilkenny marble fireplace,a recessed arch and magnificent mahogany carved doors.
To the right of the main hall is the study with corniced ceiling, carpeted floor and a marble fireplace. The back hall has hardwood timber floors and a back staircase to first floor level. Off this hall is the laundry room, linen room and butler`s pantry with built in shelving. Off the main Hall is the play room, which has timber floors, a marble fireplace and a large West -facing window and the large, bright, modern kitchen.Truly ergonomic and stylish,it is fully fitted with Scavolini units, a central island and polished granite worktops. A vintage 4 door Aga, integrated Neff appliances, window seats in the four kitchen windows and a large skylight. Off the Kitchen is the Pantry with storage and shelving and a cloakroom. First Floor Return The first floor return has 3 spacious bedrooms off a large, elegant landing with two windows facing the rolling parkland to the front of the house. Bedroom 1 has a grey marble fireplace and two South-facing windows over-looking the formal garden. Bedroom 2 has a grey marble fireplace and two windows facing East and South.Bedroom 3 has a large West -facing window and has an en-suite bathroom that can also be accessed from the hall. The large family bathroom has an elevated roll-top bath of huge proportions,a marble fire place and large East -facing window. First Floor wing At first floor level there are 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, which are all en-suite.The Master bedroom is above the drawing room and has huge South-facing bay windows over-looking the formal garden and large fitted cupboards.The en-suite bathroom houses a Siena marble surrounded jacuzzi bath. Attic – 2nd floor The 2nd floor houses three further bedrooms,a large sitting room , a panelled bathroom with roll-top bath and another separate wc. Each bedroom has grated fireplaces and the entire attic has carpeted floors. Basement level At basement level there are a number of large and useful rooms. These include a full-size billiard room,which was the original kitchen with Georgian cooking range and bread oven, a vaulted Servant`s hall complete with original servant`s bells, a music room, a West -facing Sitting room which leads through a French window onto the Sunken garden,a fully fitted kitchen,cloakroom, 2 wine cellars, two store rooms, a mirrored gym, boot room and cloakroom. The gardens Mountainstown has a wonderfully laid out formal garden with box hedging and gravel paths,centred by a sundial commissioned by John Pollock. To the rear of the house is a sunken patio garden with four raised beds and a rectangular pool.With the expanse of lawns dotted with mature trees,the whole effect is graceful and restrained,with low maintenance in mind.There is a vegetable bed and a glass-house. A Georgian Gothic cottage sits at the end of the lawn and was lived in by the Head Gardener and his family for a number of generations.This charming two storey house has recently been re -roofed and re-windowed and would be ideal for a number of uses. Formally the Pleasure gardens extended beyond the garden house and encompassed the area surrounding a huge walled garden. Today this section and the walled garden are overgrown but it is clear that there remain magnificent specimen trees and shrubs and the makings of a rewarding garden project.
The Estate Farm and Yards The estates boasts three separate yards, namely the stunning stable yard, the 19th century farm buildings and the farm yard. The stable yard has a range of 25 stables,an almost unique ,cobbled Carriage wash for cleaning horses legs and the wheels of carriages after a journey, coach houses,forge, tack rooms, large open span stone built barn and further potential for additional accommodation.The water source for the entire property is Spring -fed, with strikingly pure water which was until quite recently, successfully bottled commercially .and there remain,in working order,a Georgian double hexagonal stone well,with three steps down from which to draw the water in days gone by. Beyond the stable yard is an old stone yard with a cobbled barn,also the original kennels which housed the Clongill,then the Meath Fox Hounds. Beyond this is the farm yard with slatted sheds and barns. There is a traditional L-shaped stone farm yard which is a mix of two storey and single storey buildings all in need of restoration. The Lands The lands are a mix of mature woodland,young woodland and pasture,some of which is used to house the family`s horses in paddocks, it is high quality old permanent pasture. Services Private spring fed well; phone line; ESB; alarm system; security lights; broadband and a private sewage system Mountainstown House is located in the heart of ‘Royal Meath’, near the charming village of Castletown-Kilpatrick and just ten minutes from the bustling market town of Navan. Castletown-Kilpatrick is set in lush, green countryside and surrounded by rich farmland. County Meath is home to attractions such as Killeen Castle and the Hill of Tara which is the ancient home of the High kings of Ireland, and the world-famous megalithic burial tombs of Newgrange. For sporting and recreational enthusiasts the opportunities are marvellous. County Meath has a proud sporting history and can offer a huge array of quality sporting and recreational activities for even the most active of lifestyles. Golf The golf enthusiast is well catered for in the surrounding area with quality golf courses within the surrounding areas. The nearby golf courses are Royal Tara Golf Club, The famous Jack Nicklaus designed golf course at Killeen Castle, Headford Golf Club, Black Bush Golf Club near Fairyhouse and Carton House, home to the 2013 Irish Open. Racing Race-goers are well catered for with Navan Racecourse and Fairyhouse Race Course nearby. Both of these courses are very well renowned and host a multitude of events and point-to-points throughout the year. There is also the all-weather track at Dundalk which hosts a packed calendar of races all year round. Hunting There is excellent hunting in the area with a number of local packs including The Tara Harriers, The Meath Foxhounds, The Ward Union, The Louth Foxhounds and The Ballymacad Hunt. Shooting Meath plays host to many excellent high bird shoots and there are a number of private syndicates in the surrounding area. The adjoining lands to Mountainstown host a well renowned private shoot. Fishing The River Boyne and its tributaries hold extensive stocks of wild brown and rainbow trout, eel and salmon. There is also well managed trout fishing available on the lakes near Collinstown and Fore. Schools There are a variety of exceptional private and public schools in the area including Headfort Prep School, Castleknock College and Mount Sackville. Shopping Navan is only 13km from Mountainstown House and provides an extensive range of shops, restaurants and supermarkets. Dublin city is only 58 km away. Travel As well as offering all the joys of true country living, Mountainstown House is just 13 km from Navan, 58 km from Dublin City Centre and 55 km from Dublin Airport.
Features
Historic estate in the heart of Co. Meath
6 reception rooms, 9 bedrooms, 6 bath
Superb courtyard and stable yard, farm buildings
Presented in wonderful condition
Further leisure rooms including playroom, music room, billiards room
All surrounded by parkland, paddocks, mature woodland, formal gardens
Garden cottage, keepers cottage
Navan 13 km, Dublin city 55 km, Dublin Airport 58 km
http://meathhistoryhub.ie/houses-k-p/
Mountainstown House, located north of Navan at Castletown is a wonderful Queen Anne house with a well maintained courtyard and estate. Home to the Pollock family,
Mountainstown House is not near any mountain or town and probably derives its name from a mounting post or halt, according to Rowan and Casey. Maurice Craig described Mountainstown as a somewhat naïve but charming building.
Samuel Gibbons lived at Mountainstown in the early eighteenth century. It appears that the house was originally built for Richard Gibbons about 1720. In the late eighteenth century his only surviving child, Anne Gibbons, sold it to John Pollock, whose family had been renting the estate for some time.
John Pollock was the third son of John Pollock, a Newry linen merchant. Pollock became a solicitor in Dublin and agent for the Duke of Devonshire, one of the largest landowners in Ireland and was a Dublin based solicitor. In 1813 the main block of the house was extended by a long two-storey gabled wing built on to the southwest corner and converting the house to an L-shaped plan. The Venetian doorcase bears the Pollock coat of arms.
Today the derelict remains of Kilshine church is situated opposite the main gates of Mountainstown House. John Pollock rebuilt the church in 1815 and presented the parish with a silver chalice. Kilshine Church was closed in 1958 and was de-consecrated and the furnishings removed. The Pollock memorial tablets were erected in Donaghpatrick Church.
The 1798 rebels passed through the Mountainstown and Georges Cross area. There are a great number of Croppie graves in Mountianstown estate. In 1998 a multi-denominational service was held to commemorate the hundreds of United Irishmen from Wexford who fought at the battle of Knightstown Bog on 14th July 1798. A stone plaque was erected to commemorate those who died. The Pollocks of Mountainstown took an active part in the commemoration ceremonies.
John Pollock died in December 1826 leaving an only son, Arthur, born 1785. Arthur Hill Cornwallis Pollock spent much of his early years travelling Europe. Arthur was High Sheriff of Meath in 1809 and died in 1846.
In 1835 Mountainstown House, the seat of Mr. A.H.C. Pollock was described as being surrounded by beautiful planting and ornament ground. North of the house was a small fishpond for ornament. In the farmyard there was a small pond and two fine spring wells. Situated in the northwest of the townland was a beautiful decoy, in which ducks, teel and widgeon were caught.
Arthur was succeeded by his son, John Osborne George Pollock, who was born in 1812. He was a justice of the peace and a deputy lieutenant of the county. He served as High Sheriff for the county in 1854. John died in 1871 and was succeeded by his sons, Arthur Henry Taylor and John Naper George. In 1876 Arthur Pollock held 848 acres in county Meath and Maria Pollock of Mountainstown held 1174 acres in county Meath.
John Naper George married Anna Josephine Barrington of Limerick. Dying in 1905 John was succeeded by his eldest son, also named John, born 1896. Anna Josephine lived on until 1947, surviving her husband by forty years. John Pollock served during World War I in the North Irish Horse and died in 1966.
There was also a large amount of material on the Irish Pollock families showing their descent from the main family, including written histories on the Pollocks of Newry, Balleyedmond, Balleymagregrechan and Mountainstown, and showing the descent of James Knox Polk, the 11th President of the United States of America from the Irish Pollocks. A house in Scotland, called Mountainstown, is home of a Pollock family but there is no clear relationship with the Meath Pollocks. President Polk may be related to the Pollocks of Scotland according to one source.
Irish Historic Houses 