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- Click on image to enlarge
- Map of Viewmount
c.1846
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Viewmount House |
Map cover |
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- Click on image to enlarge
- Map of Viewmount
c.1841
- (Part of the hand drawn map of the Robert
Clayton Browne, Esq estate map produced in 1841.)
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Note from Michael Purcell Dec 2009
The map (above) has a
outline drawing of View Mount House, outhouses, stores and stables and
also the Gate Lodge entrance. Accounts from the period claim that it was
in the field adjoining View Mount House ( to the left of it as you view
the map ) that an estimated 2,000 United Irishmen assembled before they
advanced on Carlow town to take part in the Battle of Carlow on the 25th
of May 1798 and because of this assembly the then owner of View Mount,
Sir Edward Crosbie, a few weeks after the event, was sentenced to be
Hanged, Drawn and Quartered . His body was buried near View Mount house
and some years later his head was buried at Urglin Churchyard. Up to the
present day members of the Browne-Clayton family claim that they often
saw a figure in the driveway of their home, Brownes Hill House, walking
about with his head under his arm and this long before they heard the
story of the execution of Sir Edward Crosbie !
The spot where his body was buried could be identified
up to a few years ago by several granite stones laid out in a nearby
field. On the map the world famous Dolmen is identified in another field
marked "Cromlech". Also identified is the site of St. Kevins Abbey and
of course Brownes Hill House itself with it very large stores and
stables and its famous gardens. There is another map of View Mount dated
1820 , the house, stables, outhouses and Gate Lodge are illustrated in
detail. We will publish this map later.
Viewmount House, Co. Carlow
Viewmount House itself was one of several handsome
residences built in the charming countryside of County Carlow during the
Georgian Age. It was one of the earliest houses in the county, built by
the Browne family in 1750 and predating Browne's Hill by 13 years. 18th
century MPs were wont to devote their latter years to overseeing the
construction of magnificent new homes that might reflect their lifetime
achievements for centuries to come.
Samuel Lewis noted in 1837, the house is 'pleasantly
situated and commanding a beautiful prospect of the neighbouring
country'. (1) To the front rises 'a noble mountain ridge, while in other
directions the prospect is bound by Lugh-naCuillagh and Mount Leinster'.
Source: Turtle Bunbury's website:
http://www.turtlebunbury.com/
