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Source: Carloviana Vol.1 No 3 December 1953 Pages 30-36. STORY OF ATHY ROAD
By ALICE TRACEY Cont from Part 1
IN
FACE OF HEAVEN
In
1832 a number of prominent citizens of Carlow were arrested and held in
custody for non-payment of tithes, and amongst them was the President of
Carlow College, Father Andrew Fitzgerald and Mr. Thomas. Haughton, a
Quaker and a member of a Yorkshire family that settled in Carlow at the
end of the 18th century, and who were at this time very
prominent in commercial circles in the town.
The
Bishop, Dr. Doyle (the great J.K.L.) immediately set about making a case
for regaining ‘them their freedom. The pen of J.K.L. was a mighty
weapon, so he wrote a document and sent it to the prisoners for their
signatures.
Thomas Haughton, now living in Kelvingrove and next-door neighbour of
the Bishop, took exception to the phrase in the face of Heaven which
appeared in the document, and he sent word to His Lordship that he would
sign nothing in which the words hell, heaven or soul appeared. “Strike
them out,” was Dr. Doyle’s reply, “but tell Tom Haughton from me that he
won’t get rid of them in reality so easily”.
Thomas was a magistrate and was rather a thorn in the side of the
majority of his colleagues by reason of his liberal views. They took a
poor view of Thomas lending the Repeal Committee a house in Pembroke and
attending a dinner there with the Liberator and 170 guests.
At
a special Road Sessions held on 25th May, 1840, an intimation was
received from the Queen’s County Grand Jury that they were willing to
contribute two-thirds of the cost of building a new bridge over the
Barrow. The Grand Jury suggested that the bridge be built at the same
place as the existing bridge, but Thomas Haughton though it would be a
better plan to build it further up on the river, whereupon a fellow
magistrate interjected, amid laughter: “Yes, somewhere about
Kelvingrove, I suppose. That would suit you, Mr. Haughton.” This remark
indicates that the name of the house was already changed from Easton at
this period.
Thomas Haughton had three daughters, the eldest of whom, Anne, married
Frederick Grubb, of Cahir Abbey, Co. Tipperary (a member of a well-known
Quaker family) in the Friends Meeting House, Carlow, on 7th
September, 1842. Jane, his second daughter, whose name Major Fitzmaurice
tells me, is carved on one of the beech trees in Kelvingrove, married
another member of this family, Thomas Cambridge Grubb.
For
these further facts relating to Kelvingrove I am indebted to Major
Fitzmaurice whose family owned it and resided there for upwards of a
century. His grandfather was the immediate successor of Thomas Haughton,
who died in 1851. When William Fitzmaurice died in 1928, the Mental
Hospital Committee purchased Kelvingrove. It is now the annexe to that
institution.
Arthur Fitzmaurice made many improvements to the place. He erected a
granite front to the house, built the north wing and extensive
greenhouses. A gate lodge at the left of the entrance gate has now
disappeared.
THE
TEA HOUSE
Major Fitzmaurice throws light on something which has puzzled many
people taking a stroll along the Barrow past Kelvingrove, the origin or
use of the keep-like structure in the grounds.
Originally a lime kiln, Arthur Fitzmaurice castellated it, put in and
glazed Gothic-style windows, so with suitable rustic furniture it was
transformed into one of those tea-houses so favoured by ladies in
Victorian days.
Overlooking the Barrow and facing the Slieve Margy hills, it doubtless
was a pleasant place to linger on Summer afternoons, but alas, its peace
was shattered. A queen wasp built herself a nest therein and her brood
increased and multiplied, and with angry buzzing they held the keep.
The
efficiency of potassium cyanide in the case was either unknown or
over-looked, and fire was resorted to with effective results as regards
the invaders, but disastrous for the ladies’ bower.
BRAGANZA
has been the residence of the of Kildare and Leighlin since 1826, when
it was purchased for Dr. Doyle as a token of regard and gratitude and to
fix the attention of posterity on the period and the prelate. It was
also, until the purchase of the old Presbytery (now vacated) in 1889,
the residence of the parochial clergy. Indeed, for a short time prior to
the purchase of the Presbytery, Braganza housed two Bishops, the
Administrator and two Curates.
The
duplication of Bishops is explained by the fact that the Prelate of the
time, Dr. Walshe, failing in health, had asked for a co-adjutor, and
Dr.
Lynch, already a co-adjutor Bishop in Scotland, was appointed. After a
short sojourn in Braganza, he took up residence in Tullow. Braganza
house and its architect (Thomas Cobden) have already been dealt with by
Rev. P. J. Brophy in the 1949 issue of the Old Carlow Journal.
I
must mention, however, one of its occupants, Dr. Comerford, to whom
delvers in the local history of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin owe
a very great debt, for he was a pioneer who did a valiant part in
preserving in his Collections the history of every parish.
Carpenters Cottage
on the road beyond Braganza was long occupied by a family named
Carpenter.
Returning from the town boundary, BELGRIFFIN is the
first house on the eastern side of the road. Advertised in the Carlow
Sentinel of 3rd September, 1836 (and in many successive
issues) as: “A most desirable residence, newly built and commodious,
adjoining the town of Carlow, and within the borough, fit for the
reception of a large respectable family. The House is situated on the
beautiful road, leading from Carlow to Athy, on part of the lands of
Strawhall, opposite Braganza House. The compartments are roomy and
comprise two parlours, a drawing room, four bed-chambers, a kitchen, a
pantry and two rooms for accommodation of servants.
Application to John Ryan, Market Cross. N.B.—The tenant can be
accommodated with two or more acres of land, contiguous to the house”.
Whether John Ryan succeeded in getting a tenant for his house between
1836 and ’40 I cannot say, but another advertisement in the Sentinel on
2nd March in the latter year offered the house for sale with 4 acres 1
rood and 3 perches of part of the lands known as the 40 Acres. On house
and out-offices, the advertisement states, up-wards of £1,000 had been
expended. Apply to John Littledale, Auctioneer.
The
road at the entrance to Belgriffin used be flooded after heavy rain up to
quite recently. At the 1840 Special Road Sessions Mr. Forth, the Co.
Engineer, applied for £7 10s., the cost of having had water drained from
the road near Strawhall. The road was impassable after heavy rain, and a
great quantity of water lay in the adjoining grounds. The Magistrates
insinuated that Mr. Forth. who lived in the vicinity, wanted the work
done for his own use and benefit and thought he should foot the bill
himself.
“The Elms”
“The Elms” formed portion of the Oak Park estate and was also built on
part of the 40 Acres. These forty acres, incidentally, are to be found
in bits and pieces from the Gas Works to Belgriffin.
During Michael’s tenancy a fire broke out in a stable at the rear of the
premises, and “the exertions of Messrs. Morgan, Athy road, the
constabulary and people of the neighbourhood” in assisting to extinguish
it are described in the Sentinel of 3rd Nov., 1838, as being
beyond praise.
Many military men attached to the various regiments that succeeded each
other in the town rented the house. Also, a number of doctors. One of
these, Dr. O'Callaghan, M.O.
to the County Infirmary, resigned his post, and went to London, where he
made a name for himself in Harley Street.
Mr.
John Hammond, M.P. for Carlow, leased “The Elms,” his sister,
Mrs.
Aylward, lived there and, as I mentioned, exchanged houses with Capt.
Carey and went to live in “Danesby.” Mr. McConkey was a later tenant.
The property was sold to the Irish Sugar Co. in 1926, and was for some
time used as a Manager's residence.
RUTLAND PLACE, ATHY ROAD.
Opened Feb., 1819.
School held in a private house, rented by the master, Rev. John
Caldwell, M.A. The schoolroom was 25 feet square. Terms: 50 guineas per
annum; - 5 gns. entrance. Rutland Place: Private school, teacher Mrs.
Hoffman, opened Jan., 1823, terms £4 11s. per year.
RUTLAND PLACE:
Mental Hospital
Carlow Mental Hospital now caters for Co. Kildare patients as well as
those of Co. Carlow. When it opened in 1830, and for ten years, it
catered for Carlow and Counties Kilkenny and Wexford.
In
1840 the Mental Hospital or, -as these institutions were called, for
many years, the lunatic asylum, in Waterford was opened and the Kilkenny
and Wexford patients were transferred there. It seems amazing to think
that they were transferred on jaunting cars, but I have been assured
that this was the case, parents of older people remembered seeing
numbers of cars leaving the town with patients and keepers bound for
Waterford.
Medical Science has made immense strides in the hundred and twenty odd
years, and close confinement and barred windows are now things of the
past. The Carlow Hospital has been much extended through the years, and
in its spacious. well-wooded grounds it has little resemblance to an
institution in the generally accepted sense of the word.
Portion where the church now stands was formerly a nursery owned by
Mr.
J’. P. Nolan, a noted horticulturist in his day, and the rear portion
bordering on the Co. Infirmary grounds was occupied by a starch factory
and a number of small dwelling houses. These were demolished and an
enclosing wall was erected around the entire grounds.
In
1840 a Mr. Wm. Parsons and his wife Lavinia were Governor and Matron.
They resided at “The Elms.” At that particular time the house was named
“Ellenville.” Down the years many resident medical ofiicers have in their
turn devoted themselves to the care of the mentally afflicted, and it is
good to learn that even in 1835, when these poor people were almost
regarded as criminals, that H.M.’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, visiting
the Asylum officially, expressed himself, as being well satisfied with
the conduct of the place.
Greenbank House
was
advertised in the Carlow Sentinel of 17-9-1836: "To be let,
forever, or on such terms as may be agreed on, with or without a. fine.
Greenbank House, situate on Athy Road, Carlow. A most desirable family
residence. newly built, with an acre of garden." The tenant could be
accommodated with an acre of town park adjoining the premises. Samuel
Haughton, Esq., who was letting the house, also sought proposals for
setting a large house in Burrin Street.
The Quarries
I
take it that Thomas was our friend of Kelvingrove, and his brother
Samuel the builder of. Greenbank. Erected in the locality then known as
The Quarries (which extended to the junction of the Athy and Dublin
roads) considerable excavation had to be done in the adjoining field to
get sufficient material to level up the site. Hence the front portion of
the house, the drive and shrubbery are level with the road and much
higher than the field.
1
have only come across the name of Colles on one other occasion in
connection with Carlow: a doctor Colles whom J.K.L., consulted regarding
his health in 1833, so there may have been a relationship between the
two. Mr. Colles did not remain long in Greenbank, as his furniture was
advertised for auction in 1840. In 1840 at the Special Road Sessions, I
mentioned previously, Mr. Samuel Haughton offered Greenbank (at a price)
for the purpose of a Fever Hospital. The authorities at the time were
considering building or purchasing a suitable building. Mr. Haughton’s
price was £1,200, which he said was but two-thirds of its value. The Co.
Surveyor, Mr. Forth, estimated that £350 would be required for the
necessary alterations.
Unfortunately, only £1,000 had been earmarked by the Grand Jury for
Hospital purposes. Samuel sportingly reduced his figure to £950 and the
meeting unanimously recommended the proposition to the Grand Jury for
adoption, but for some reason they turned down the offer.
I
am also unable to say if there was any other tenant in Greenbank until
Mr. Samuel Wilfred Haughton took up residence there.
Drove Royal Train
Wilfred was very proud of having driven the royal train from Kingstown
to Dublin on the occasion of Queen Victoria’s first visit to Ireland in
1849. He made many improvements in Greenbank and at one time thought of
making a large pond in the hollow field. Several springs were there, and
he bored for others, but the gush of water would not rise sufficiently,
so he scrapped the idea and built a couple of pseudo classical summer
houses instead. Then he planted daffodil bulbs in profusion and arranged
them to display the disposition of Wellington’s troops at
Waterloo—-another Victorian whimsy.
Quite a number of the bulbs have survived and still make a gallant show
in the Spring. It was probably Wilfred who erected the statue on the
front walk.
Rev. Godfrey Jamieson was a noted rugby player in his day. His wife was
a Miss Kidd from Tullow. After living for some little time in Greenbank,
his ecclesiastical superiors thought it desirable that he should reside
in the rectory at Killeshin, and accordingly he moved back there, and
Greenbank was once more vacant. A County Inspector of the R.I.C.,
Brookes by name, occupied the house for some-time until 1912, when it
was purchased by the late Mr. Michael Molloy, draper, Tullow Street.
Mr.
Molloy removed a dilapidated fiat-roofed two- roomed lodge at the left
of the entrance gate. He built the outside wall and replanted the
shrubbery. After the death of Mr. Molloy’s widow in 1948, Greenbank was
purchased by Very Rev. D. B. Kennedy. Adm., and is now parochial
property.
In this article, which was published in Carloviana 1953, the author refers to maps in the story but they dont appear in the original article therefore I have provided in Part 3 some copys of c.1800 OSi maps of Athy Road for your reference. |
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