Charlesfort, Kells, 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.
p. 81. “(Tisdall/IFR) A two storey house of ca 1800, with a lower wing. Hall with Corinthian columns. Drawing room in early C18 style, with panelling. Library with simple frieze. Interior rearranged by Rev Daniel Beaufort. Sold ca 1971.”
Not in National Inventory
Record of Protected Structures:
Charlesfort House, townland: Athgaine Little, town: Cortown.
Detached, five-bay, two-storey over basement house, c.1812, with shallow hipped roof.
The Landed Gentry and Aristocracy: County Meath. Volume 1. Art Kavanagh, 2005.
Tisdall of Charlesfort.
Charlesfort House
Charlesfort House, Cortown, Kells was erected and lived in by the Tisdall family. A low rectangular house Richard Castles prepared plans for the house which was later re-modelled by Daniel Beaufort and William Murray. The house which was erected in the 1740s was re-modelled in the 1780s and again about 1841. Mulligan said the house has an elegant entrance hall. The library, dining room and drawing room all have regency style plasterwork. The limestone porch is probably a late 19th century addition.
In 1668 Michael Tisdall leased the manor of Martry from Nicholas Darcy. Michael lived at a house at Bloomsbury and called it Mount Tisdall. It is not clear if he erected that house. His grandson, Michael Tisdall, was M.P. for Kildare, Castlebar and Ardee in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles.
Born in 1719 Charles Tisdall began the erection of a new house in April 1742. He selected an elevated and dry site at Athgaine, away from the river. It is said that a doctor advised him to move away from the river for the good of his health. Charles purchased a volume of books on Palladio’s architecture. The famous architect, Richard Castles, was paid £20 in 1743 for providing a plan for the house and supervising some of the work. Charles Tisdall attended the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in April 1742 in Dublin. Charles maintained an account of the building of the house and also recorded his tree planting for the years 1740-1751. In 1741 Charles planted 50 pear trees, 150 apple trees and 1,000 beech trees. In 1744 he planted 1,000 oak trees and 800 ash trees. More ash and elm trees were planted in 1746. The slates for the house were purchased from Reilly in Ballyjamesduff. Charles probably moved into Charlesfort in 1753. The following year, 1754, aged 34, Charles married Hester Cramer. In December 1755 their son, Michael, was born, and in October 1756 another son, Charles, was born. Charles, the father, died in 1757, aged 37 and was buried in Martry graveyard.
Michael Tisdall inherited the estate but only took control on his coming of age in 1776. Additions were carried out to the house for Michael Tisdall, which were designed by Rev. Daniel Beaufort of Navan. Michael was High Sheriff of Meath in 1781. He died in 1794 aged 39 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Charles Arthur.
Charles Arthur took over the estate at 21 years of age in 1803. Charles married Elizabeth Vernon of Clontarf Castle in 1807. In 1811 Charles was appointed High Sheriff for Meath. In 1813 the house underwent some works. Charles had an interest in religion and wrote and distributed two books attempting to persuade his tenants to convert to Protestantism. In 1824 he attended a meeting in Navan to found a branch of the Reformation Society. He stated that as a Magistrate “he was disgusted with the vice and immorality, the insincerity and want of truth in the commonest transactions” that he encountered. In the 1830s Charlesfort was described as the residence of Mr. C.A. Tisdall and a good two storey house with an extensive and well laid out demesne. Charles died in 1835 aged 53.
John Tisdall took over the estate in 1836 at 21 years of age, the year after his father’s death. The following year he married Isabella Knox. Their eldest child, Charles Arthur, was born in 1838. John provided a site for a Protestant Church at Athgaine Great. In 1883 John Tisdall held 3,962 acres in Meath, 493 in Limerick and 575 in Kilkenny a total estate of 5,030 acres. John died in 1892. John’s eldest son, Charles, had died in 1869. His second son, John Knox, appears to have been estranged from his father. John Knox’ son, also called Charles Arthur, born in 1875, inherited the estate on his grandfather’s death in 1892. As a young man he joined the Irish Guards and was reluctant to return to Ireland to take over Charlesfort. Robert Heuston leased Charlesfort from Major Tisdall. From Belfast Heuston was a noted polo player and resided at Charlesfort until 1904. Two of Major Tisdall’s uncles, Henry Chichester Tisdall and Vice-Admiral Vernon Archibold Tisdall also farmed portions of the estate. In 1904 half the estate was sold to the tenants.
Major Tisdall organised train trips for the estate children to Dublin, once to see Queen Victoria in 1900 and on another occasion to watch army drills at the Vice-Regal Lodge in the Phoenix Park. Major Tisdall was a talented musician and a pupil and friend of Sir Edward Elgar who visited Charlesfort. Elgar said when he visited the house “Charlesfort will never die, because it is built on a magic hill.’
In 1914 Major Tisdall was killed just a month after World War I broke out, killed in action in the retreat from Mons in Belgium. The Major’s brother, William, came to live at Charlesfort in 1904, inherited in 1914 and remained there until his death in 1954. During the First World War William stabled army horses at Charlesfort and tilled some of the land for vegetable growing. William was High Sheriff of Meath in 1921. He purchased the first tractor in the area and also the first wireless, which he invited local people to come and listen to. He also gave drives in his car to the local children at the parties he hosted on the estate. William’s son, Michael, was in the British army and was accidentally killed in 1940 during a military training exercise. He was 37 years old. William’s wife also died the same year. Five years later William married a second time. His wife was Una Palmer Burke from Ballina. William died aged 78 in 1954.
William was succeeded by his cousin, Dr. Oliver Tisdall. Oliver and his family came to live on the estate in 1955 and he immersed himself in the running of it. When Oliver Tisdall came to Charlesfort he was unable to find the key for the Protestant church as the key had been mislaid some years before. After rummaging he came across a key which fitted the lock. Locals were surprised with the label on the key which read “the dungeon of Martry.” Apparently the key for the police cell at Martry RIC police barracks also opened the Protestant church. Oliver died in 1964 and his widow sold the property in 1968.
In recent years the Hogan family have rescued the house and have restored it.
There is considerable further information in “Charlesfort – The story of a Meath estate and its people, 1668-1968” by Tony Coogan and Jack Gaughran and also on the Ask about Ireland, Irish Libraries website.
see https://lordbelmontinnorthernireland.blogspot.com/2022/04/tisdall-of-charlesfort.html
THE TISDALLS OWNED 3,962 ACRES OF LAND IN COUNTY MEATH
This is a branch of the ancient family of TISDALL in England, which bore arms “three pheons argent on a shield sable.” When, in 1679, Richard St George, Ulster King of Arms, ratified and confirmed the arms to Michael Tisdall, of Mount Tisdall, County Meath, and his brothers, he added “a thistle or,” for distinction, as is stated in the original certificate in Ulster’s office.
The first of the family in Ireland was MICHAEL TISDALL, who had a sister, Catherine.
This Michael Tisdall was of Castleblayney, County Monaghan; he had issue, by his wife Ann (née Singleton), seven sons and two daughters, namely,
MICHAEL, of whom presently;
James;
Thomas;
John;
Richard, father of Philip Tisdall;
George;
William, of Carrickfergus; father of William Tisdall;
Catherine; another daughter.
The eldest son,
MICHAEL TISDALL, of Mount Tisdall, County Meath, purchased in 1668 the Manor of Martry, County Meath (wherein the mansion of Charlesfort stands).
He was Secondary of the Court of King’s Bench in Ireland, and JP for County Meath in 1679, when arms were granted to him and his brother James by Henry St George, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms.
Mr Tisdall married, in 1666, Anne, daughter of the Rev William Barry, Rector of Killucan, brother of Sir James Barry, Knight, 1st Baron Santry, Lord Chief Justice of the King’s Bench in Ireland, and had issue,
WILLIAM, his heir;
Michael;
Catherine; Elizabeth.
The elder son,
WILLIAM TISDALL (1668-1725), of Mount Tisdall, wedded Frances, third daughter of the Hon Robert FitzGerald, and sister of Robert, 19th Earl of Kildare, and by her had issue,
MICHAEL, his heir;
George (Rev Dr).
Mr Tisdall was succeeded by his elder son,
MICHAEL TISDALL (1672-1726), MP for Ardee, 1713-26, who espoused Catherine, daughter of the Rt Hon William Palmer, Principal Secretary in Ireland, Secretary for War, and Commissioner for Appeals, MP for Castlebar, 1695-9, 1703-13, and had issue,
CHARLES, his heir;
Michael;
Catherine; Frances.
He was succeeded by his elder son,
CHARLES TISDALL (1719-57), of Mount Tisdall, who built a new house on his manor of Martry, and called it CHARLESFORT, which has since been the designation of the family.
He married, in 1754, Hester, daughter of Oliver Cramer, second son of Oliver Cramer, of Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny, by Hester his wife, daughter of Sir John Coghill, Knight, LL.D, Master in Chancery, and had issue,
MICHAEL, his heir;
Charles.
The elder son,
MICHAEL TISDALL (1755-94), of Charlesfort, County Meath, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1788, wedded, in 1779, Juliana, daughter and co-heir (with her sister Jane, who married George, 1st Baron Headley) of Arthur Blennerhassett, of Ballyseedy, County Kerry, and had issue,
CHARLES ARTHUR, his heir;
James (Rev);
Archibald, rear-admiral in the Royal Navy;
Juliana; Catherine.
Mr Tisdall wedded secondly, the widow of the Rev _______ Crow.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,
CHARLES ARTHUR TISDALL (1782-1835), of Charlesfort, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1811, who espoused, in 1807, Elizabeth, daughter of John Vernon, of Clontarf Castle, County Dublin, and had issue,
JOHN, his heir;
William;
Archibald, major-general in the Army;
James;
Juliana; Henrietta; Elizabeth; Maria; Frances.
Mr Tisdall was succeeded by his eldest son,
JOHN TISDALL JP DL (1815-92), of Charlesfort, High Sheriff of County Meath, 1841, who married, in 1837, Isabella, daughter of the Hon George Knox, and had issue,
Charles Arthur, died unmarried 1869;
John Knox, father of CHARLES ARTHUR;
George William;
Henry Chichester;
Vernon Archibald;
Richard Louis;
Arthur James;
Alfred Oliver (Rev);
Harriet Elizabeth; Isabella Maria; Anne Charlotte.
Mr Tisdall was succeeded by his grandson,
CHARLES ARTHUR TISDALL (1875-1914), of Charlesfort, Major, Irish Guards, who wedded, in 1904, Gwynneth May, only child of Charles Adshead, and had issue, two daughters, of whom one was born in 1907.
In 1914 Major Tisdall died, just a month after the 1st World War broke out, killed in action in the retreat from Mons in Belgium.
The Major’s brother, William, came to live at Charlesfort in 1904, inherited in 1914 and remained there until his death in 1954.
During the 1st World War William stabled army horses at Charlesfort and tilled some of the land for vegetable growing.
William was High Sheriff of County Meath in 1921.
William’s son, Michael, was in the army and was accidentally killed in 1940 during a military training exercise.
William Tisdall’s wife also died the same year. Five years later William married a second time. His wife was Una Palmer Burke from Ballina.
William died aged 78 in 1954.
William was succeeded by his cousin, Dr Oliver Tisdall, who came with his family to live on the estate in 1955 and he immersed himself in its activities.
Dr Tisdall died in 1964; his widow sold Charlesfort in 1968.
In recent years the Hogan family have rescued Charlesfort House and restored it.
CHARLESFORT, near Kells, County Meath, is a Georgian house comprising two storeys with a lower wing.
The original house is said to have been built in the 1740s; remodelled in the 1780s; and again in 1841.
The hall has Corinthian columns, and the drawing-room – in the early 18th century style – contains panelling.
There is a frieze in the library.
The interior is said to have been rearranged by the Rev Daniel Beaufort.
Irish Historic Houses 
