Clonebraney or Clonabreany, Crossakeel, Co Meath – a ruin

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. “(Wade/IFR) An early C19 house, of which only two ruinous wings remain. Handsome stable yard with pedimented archway.”

Record of Protected Structures:

Clonabreanay, townland: Clonabreanay

An early 19th century House with only two ruinous wingsremaining. incl stable yard

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. 113. …In 1814 the seat of Robert Wade.

https://meathhistoryhub.ie/houses-a-d/

Clonabreany 

Clonabreaney 

Clonabreany House outside Crossakeel was demolished in the last century. There was a house here in 1786 but the house was described as being an early 19th century house. There was extensive woodlands surrounding the house. There was the Bleach Wood, the Long Wood and the Tunnel Wood. 

Cromwell is said to have encamped on Crossakiel Hill and offered 1000 acres of Clonabreaney to one of his officers who had distinguished him in the fight. The officer refusing said he would not want to live in a swamp like that and so a drummer boy spoke up saying he would be delighted with 1000 acres of the land and Cromwell said ‘Young Wade, I will give you 2000 acres of it.’ 

Henry Wade purchased lands in Meath in 1663 and was confirmed with 1490 acres at Clonabreaney in 1684. John Wade of Clonabreaney was MP for Athboy 1703-14 and for Trim 1728-35.  John was the eldest son of Henry Wade. He had a house in Trim. Henry Wade had been granted lands in Westmeath by Charles II and John had purchased lands at Clonabreaney from the Forfeited Estates Court in 1703 after the Battle of the Boyne. He purchased 100 acres in Dublin and 3151 acres in Meath. John Wade had served as High Sheriff of Meath in 1702 and he died in 1735. 

Walter Wade, a descendant of Henry Wade of Clonabreany, became a noted botanist in the late eighteenth century. He successfully proposed the establishment of a botanical garden at Glasnevin in 1795. 

John was succeeded by his nephew, Clotworthy Shields, who took the name Wade in 1735 in order to inherit the estate.  Clotworthy was killed by a fall from his horse ten years later and was succeeded by his cousin, John Daniell, who took the name Wade. 

Robert Wade of Clonabreany was High Sheriff of Meath 1772. He was succeeded by his eldest son, William Blaney Wade. When William died he was succeeded by Robert. Robert Craven Wade was born 1809 and served as High Sheriff of Meath 1840 and for Co. Wicklow 1847. The Wades were said to be good landlords and slaughter an ox a week to feed the people during the famine. 

In 1883 Robert Craven Wade of Clonabreaney held 5174 acres in Meath, 4055 in Wicklow and 367 in Louth making a total estate of 9,596 acres. Robert died in Surrey in 1898. His eldest son William George Clayton Wade died in 1882 and was buried at Crossakiel. The estate then went to Craven Henry Clothworthy Wade who lived at Rockfield, Co. Wicklow. He died in 1911. 

The estate was broken up in the early part of the twentieth century. Clonabreaney House was levelled in the middle of the twentieth century but the stable block remained standing. In 2009 the old estate manager’s house was completely restored and opened as Clonabreany House, a venue for weddings, occasions and conferences.  Clonbreany now features the restored courtyard, containing 10 self-contained houses and two restored Georgian houses.