Ravensdale Park, Dundalk, 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. 240. “(Fortescue, sub Fortescue-Brickdale/LG1972; and Carlingford, B/PB 1898; Dixon, Glentoran, B/OB; Borbe, Arran, E/PB) A large and somewhat severe early Victorian mansion of granite, of plain but irregular aspect, dominated by a tall Italianate campanile with an open belvedere at the top. Built for Thomas Fortescue, 1st Lord Clermont of later creation, the architect being Thomas Duff, of Newry. Partly two storey and partly three, but mostly of the same height; eaved roof. Entrance front with a deep central recess enclosed by a screen of arches and Ionic pilasters and columns; the tower being at one side of the recess. Very long and austere two storey ten bay garden front adjoining. Another front of five bays with domed octagon at one corner. Imposing if slightly hotel-like partly top-lit hall, with screens of fluted columns and pilasters on two sides; staircase with wrought-iron handrail rising from one end. Dining room with scroll pediments over doors, supporting medallions; elaborate plasterwork frieze and cornice of foliage, and oval-shaped plasterwork surround in flat of ceiling; similar ceiling in ballroom. Library with rather Soanian flat arched recesses, containing bookcases. Domed first floor landing with Ionic columns. Became the home of Lord Clermont’s younger brother and successor, the politician Chichester Fortescue, 1st (and last) Lord Carlingford; who married the celebrated Frances, Countess Waldegrave, subject of Osbert Wyndham Hewett’s biography, Strawberry Fair. Sold to Sir Daniel Dixon, Mayor and subsequently Lord Mayor of Belfast, father of the 1st Lord Glentoran, later sold to the Earl fo Arran. Finally sold 1920, and burnt soon afterwards.”
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. 109. “A two storey Italianate early Victorian house designed by Thomas Duff for Thomas Fortescue 1st Lord Clermont. Good interior. Burnt 1920. Demolished.”
http://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2013/05/ravensdale-park.html
THE BARONS CLERMONT WERE THE GREATEST LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY LOUTH, WITH 20,369 ACRES
This family deduces its pedigree from common ancestors with the EARLS FORTESCUE, viz. remotely, Sir Richard le Forte, a Norman knight, in the train of WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR; and, more remotely, Lord Chief Justice Fortescue.
The first of its members that settled in Ireland,
SIR FAITHFUL FORTESCUE (c1581-1666), Knight, removed to that kingdom early in the reign of JAMES I, and commanded an infantry regiment there.
Sir Faithful obtained large possessions in Ireland, amongst which was Dromiskin Castle, County Louth.
He wedded Anne, daughter of Garret, 1st Viscount Moore, of Drogheda, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son,
SIR THOMAS FORTESCUE (c1620-1710), Knight, Governor of Carrickfergus Castle, who espoused firstly, Sydney, daughter of Colonel William Kinsmill; and secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Ferdinand Carey, and had issue,
WILLIAM;
Chichester.
Sir Thomas was succeeded by his grandson,
THOMAS FORTESCUE (1683-1769), MP for Dundalk, 1727-60, who married Elizabeth, daughter of James Hamilton, and sister of James, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil, and had issue,
James, father of WILLIAM, 2nd VISCOUNT CLERMONT;
WILLIAM HENRY, of whom hereafter;
Margaret; Charlotte.
Mr Fortescue’s younger son,
THE RT HON WILLIAM HENRY FORTESCUE (1722-1806), MP for County Louth, 1745-60, Monaghan, 1761-70, was sworn of the Privy Council, 1764, and appointed Postmaster-General.
Mr Fortescue was elevated to the peerage, in 1770, in the dignity of Baron Clermont, of Clermont, County louth.
His lordship was created, in 1776, BARON and VISCOUNT CLERMONT, with remainder to his brother, the Rt Hon James Fortescue, of Ravensdale Park, County Louth, MP for that county.
His lordship was further advanced to the dignity of an earldom, in 1777, as EARL OF CLERMONT, but without the reversionary grant.
He was installed as a Knight Founder of the Order of St Patrick (KP) in 1795.
His lordship espoused Frances, eldest daughter of Colonel John Murray, County Monaghan; but dying without issue, in 1806, the earldom expired, while the other honours devolved, according to the limitation, upon his nephew,
WILLIAM CHARLES FORTESCUE, 2nd Viscount (1764-1829), only surviving son of his deceased brother, mentioned above, by Mary Henrietta, eldest daughter of Thomas Orby Hunter, of Crowland Abbey, Lincolnshire.
His lordship died at Ravensdale Park, County Louth, unmarried, when the viscountcy expired.
The title was revived, however, in 1852, when his kinsman,
THOMAS FORTESCUE, was created BARON CLERMONT (2nd & 3rd creation).
- Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont (1815-87)
- Chichester Parkinson-Fortescue, 1st Baron Carlingford, 2nd Baron Clermont (1823-98) (brother).
RAVENSDALE PARK, near Dundalk, County Louth, was a large, rather austere, early Victorian house built of granite with a plain, irregular aspect.
A lofty Italianate campanile with an open belvedere atop dominated the mansion.
Ravensdale was built for Thomas Fortescue, 1st Baron Clermont, the architect being Thomas Duff of Newry.
It was partly two and partly three storeys, though mainly the same height, with an eaved roof.
The garden front was remarkably long, being ten bays.
There was another front of five bays with a domed octagon at one corner.
Ravensdale became the home of Lord Clermont’s younger brother and successor, the politician Chichester Fortescue, 1st and last Lord Carlingford (who married the famous Frances, Countess Waldegrave).
It was sold to Sir Daniel Dixon Bt, father of 1st Lord Glentoran; then sold again to Lord Arran.
Ravendale was sold, yet again, in 1920, and was burnt shortly afterwards.
Much of the former estate is now a forest park; while the Ravensdale Equestrian and Trekking Centre operates from the demesne.
Ravensdale Forest is part of the former demesne.
First Published in May, 2011. Clermont arms courtesy of European Heraldry.
https://archiseek.com/2015/1840-ravensdale-park-dundalk-co-louth
1840 – Ravensdale Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth
Architect: Thomas Duff
Constructed in an austere Italianate style, by Thomas Duff of Nerwy, For 1st Baron Clermont. Later changes by Lanyon & Lynn in 1859 with further additions.
It was partly two and partly three storeys, though mainly the same height, with an eaved roof. The garden front was remarkably long, being ten bays. There was another front of five bays with a domed octagon at one corner. The house was burned in 1921.
Irish Historic Houses 