Lisnavagh House
Encyclopedia
The Lisnavagh Estate lies jut outside the village of Rathvilly
in Co.Carlow
. Lisnavagh is the family seat of the Bunbury family, Barons Rathdonnell
. The first known house at Lisnavagh is thought to have been built by William Bunbury in 1696 in the parklands below the existing house and there were farm buildings fairly close by. The map from the 1840 Ordnance Survey
shows the location of this house, grounds and buildings, but there is little else to tell what sort of a house this was, or what style it was in. The map also shows "Foundations of House" to the northwest, near the top of the hill, which is where a new house was planned but never completed. There is still a large square hole in the ground there. The new house was actually built nearer to the old house in the end.
In 1847, Captain William McClintock Bunbury commissioned the very reputable Daniel Robertson
to build a "New House at Lisnavagh". Daniel Robertson
had already proved himself with his designs at Powerscourt Estate
and Johnstown Castle, amongst several other places, and Lisnavagh was probably one of the last serious designs that he undertook. As well as the house, which was designed in the Gothic Revival style, he also designed the gardens and pleasure grounds, and the farmyard about a mile away.
In 1952 about two thirds of the house was taken down and the house remodelled to take account of the significant reduction in house staff and the generally bleak financial outlook at the time. Electricity
was also introduced into the house at this time. The pleasure grounds and gardens had largely been "let go" in and around the World Wars and much of them became overgrown and abandoned.
In 2005, the house underwent a major renovation project. It is now availaable to hire for private events and a whole new generation are enjoying the house and gardens. In 2007, GQ magazine named Lisnavagh as one of the "Top 100 things in the world."
Rathvilly
Rathvilly is a village in County Carlow, Ireland. The area has the family seat of Baron Rathdonnell. Rathvilly has won the Irish Tidy Towns Competition on three separate occasions, 1961, 1963, and 1968.-History:...
in Co.Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
. Lisnavagh is the family seat of the Bunbury family, Barons Rathdonnell
Baron Rathdonnell
Baron Rathdonnell, of Rathdonnell in the County of Donegal, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1868 for John McClintock, with remainder to the male issue of his deceased younger brother Captain William McClintock-Bunbury . The barony of Rathdonnel was the second-last barony...
. The first known house at Lisnavagh is thought to have been built by William Bunbury in 1696 in the parklands below the existing house and there were farm buildings fairly close by. The map from the 1840 Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey
Ordnance Survey , an executive agency and non-ministerial government department of the Government of the United Kingdom, is the national mapping agency for Great Britain, producing maps of Great Britain , and one of the world's largest producers of maps.The name reflects its creation together with...
shows the location of this house, grounds and buildings, but there is little else to tell what sort of a house this was, or what style it was in. The map also shows "Foundations of House" to the northwest, near the top of the hill, which is where a new house was planned but never completed. There is still a large square hole in the ground there. The new house was actually built nearer to the old house in the end.
In 1847, Captain William McClintock Bunbury commissioned the very reputable Daniel Robertson
Daniel Robertson
-Career:Robertson may have worked under Robert Adam in London, England; later he worked at Kew and Oxford. Robertson was an early exponent of the Norman Revival, designing both St Clement's Church, Oxford and St Swithun's parish church in Kennington, Berkshire in this style as early as...
to build a "New House at Lisnavagh". Daniel Robertson
Daniel Robertson
-Career:Robertson may have worked under Robert Adam in London, England; later he worked at Kew and Oxford. Robertson was an early exponent of the Norman Revival, designing both St Clement's Church, Oxford and St Swithun's parish church in Kennington, Berkshire in this style as early as...
had already proved himself with his designs at Powerscourt Estate
Powerscourt Estate
Powerscourt Estate , located near Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland, is a large country estate which is noted for its house and landscaped gardens, today occupying 19 hectares . The house, originally a 13th century castle, was extensively altered during the 18th century by German architect...
and Johnstown Castle, amongst several other places, and Lisnavagh was probably one of the last serious designs that he undertook. As well as the house, which was designed in the Gothic Revival style, he also designed the gardens and pleasure grounds, and the farmyard about a mile away.
In 1952 about two thirds of the house was taken down and the house remodelled to take account of the significant reduction in house staff and the generally bleak financial outlook at the time. Electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
was also introduced into the house at this time. The pleasure grounds and gardens had largely been "let go" in and around the World Wars and much of them became overgrown and abandoned.
In 2005, the house underwent a major renovation project. It is now availaable to hire for private events and a whole new generation are enjoying the house and gardens. In 2007, GQ magazine named Lisnavagh as one of the "Top 100 things in the world."
External links
- http://www.lisnavagh.com