Antrim Castle: 1824

ANTRIM CASTLE, COUNTY ANTRIM, SEAT OF THOMAS HENRY, SECOND VISCOUNT FERRARD, FROM AN ENGRAVING BY JOHN PRESTON NEALE

"Antrim Castle adjoins the town from whence it takes its name; a view up the principal street of which is commanded from the parapet of the adjoining terrace garden, ascended from the Castle yard by a handsome flight of stone steps."

"It is enclosed from the town by a gateway, and stands on a walled terrace, overhanging the river Sixmilewater, which flows into the vast waters of Lough Neagh, within sight of the Castle, at about the distance of a quarter of a mile."

"This castle is among the few found to be preserved in Ireland, of those erected in pursuance of the injunctions of the grant made by JAMES I for the protection of the colonies or plantations then about to be established."

"The building was raised, as appears by an inscription, on a large carved mantel of stone, covering the centre of the principal front, in the year 1613, by Sir Hugh Clotworthy, and has been subsequently altered according to the different tastes of its successive proprietors."

"The front of the Castle is also decorated with the armorial bearing of the family, and those of their alliances, surmounted by the royal arms of England, and a carved head, in relief, of CHARLES I."

"THE suite of rooms is extensive and modern, the entire Castle having undergone a thorough repair in the time of the last Earl of Massereene."

"The exterior towards the Court has been recently restored by the present possessor to the character of the period in which it was originally erected."

"Few places in Ireland command greater power of beauty, or extent of drive."

"Its demesne and deer-park stretch along the shores of Lough Neagh for above two miles, ornamented with fine old timber and copse wood, covering every headland, down to the river edge, with various plantations, calculated to blend in the scenery of as rich and highly cultivated  a county as any to be found in Ireland."

"The view over the lough towards the south is bounded only by the horizon, which towards the west it rests on the distant Tyrone and Derry mountains, and the nearer woods of Shane's Castle, the ancient seat of the Earl O'Neill, whose towers project into the lough itself."

"These two fine domains, indeed, embrace, with their woods and pleasure grounds, the whole of the bay of Antrim, an extent of six or seven miles."

"The gardens are on the same side of the river with the Castle."

"An ancient bridge of six arches, represented in the plate, leading to the park and outgrounds, is overlooked by one of those old mounts, ascended by a winding path, erected in strict accordance with Bacon's notions, being, as he recommends, "some forty feet high."

"THE gate-house, leading from the town of Antrim to the Castle Court, has been also added by the present possessor, and is remarkable for the sympathetic hinges on which the massive gates are opened and closed."

First published in June, 2020.

Downhill: 1824

Downhill, SEAT OF THE REV SIR HENRY HERVEY ASTON BRUCE, BARONET, FROM ENGRAVINGS BY JOHN PRESTON NEALE

"THIS magnificent seat was erected by Frederick, 4th Earl of Bristol, Bishop of Derry, and is a proof of his great taste in architecture, a science to which his lordship devoted great attention."

"It was bequeathed to its present possessor by the late Earl of Bristol, from whom, in the female line, Sir Henry Bruce is descended, and in the male line, through a noble and honourable race from Robert le Brus, a noble Knight of Normandy, who accompanied WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR into England."

"The mansion is situated near Coleraine, on the edge of the sea, not far from the entrance to Lough Foyle; it is surrounded by pleasure grounds, planned with exquisite skill, the ruggedness of the soil being happily relieved by judicious cultivation of such shrubs as are best adapted to the spot."

"The romantic Glen, including the Lawn, is curved nearly in the form of a horse-shoe, whose two heels are the openings to the north-west."

"From the Lodge, on the Coleraine side, the road winds through a fine wood, having on the left a shady and sequestered glen; a small river runs through the wood, crossed by a bridge, much admired for the singularity of its architecture."

"The view from the Strand Lodge displays at once the beauty of the grounds in front of the house, the rich verdure of the grass giving pasture to fine large Ayrshire cows and Merino sheep."

"On either side of the lawn the plantation displays the grassy green of the larch, contrasted with the bluish hue of the pine and Scots fir; a romantic effect is produced by the appearance of the tabular and columnar basaltic rocks, whose naked protrusions, and wild ruggedness, prevent the smooth-mown lawn and decorated slopes from tiring the fancy too much by the recollection of artificial labour."

"On the right, over the plantation, is seen the Mausoleum, erected by the late Earl of Bristol to the memory of his brother, formerly ambassador to the Court of Spain, where he proved himself a minister of great vigilance, capacity, and spirit, particularly with relation to the family compact between the Houses of Bourbon: he died in 1775."

The Mausoleum is virtually rebuilt by Stephen Price and Peter McMullan in a short video clip here. I'd urge readers to watch this.

"THE Mussenden Temple is a beautiful and singular erection, it is so called after a sister of Sir Henry Bruce, Bart, who married Daniel Mussenden, of Larchfield, County Down; she was a very beautiful lady, and left one son at her decease."

"It is adapted as a library, and contains a small collection of books."

"This building overhangs the sea, and the view of the Strand from thence, during a storm in particular, is truly magnificent; the prospect is bounded by a long range of the Donegal Mountains."

"From the grounds is a view of an old chapel, now a ruin, adjoining which is the burying-ground containing the family vault; at other points the prospect is beautiful and continually varied: the disposition of the whole clearly evinces the hand of taste."

"The interior of the mansion presents also the same claims to our attention; it is richly decorated, and abounds with works of art, collected by the Earl of Bristol."

"In the entrance hall is a statue of the Fighting Gladiator."

"The staircase is extremely light and elegant, it is of stone, with gilt balustrades, the walls painted in fresco, with rustic scenery: from the dome, in which is painted a representation of the Deity dividing light from darkness, depends a large glass chandelier."

"In the corridors of communication are a variety of statues in niches, Flora, Minerva, Leda, Diana, Venus, Apollo, etc, and many busts."

"In the dining-room, the chimney-piece is mosaic, upon which is placed a clock, with the figures of Telemachus and Mentor in a galley; the sideboards, at each end, are supported by Egyptian figures, and adorned with hieroglyphics in ormolu."

"The ante-room to the library is adorned with appropriate busts, and the library, beside an excellent collection of books in four large mahogany cases, and one in the form of an organ, filled with various engravings, contains many curious specimens of art."

"Also a very handsome large mahogany table, holding a musical clock."

"The roof is a dome painted as sky, from which depends a glass chandelier."

"A gallery communicates to the upper part."

Downhill House and Mussenden Temple are virtually revived by Stephen Price and Peter McMullan in this video clip, superbly done if I might add.

First published in June, 2020.

Carton House: 1824

CARTON HOUSE, THE SEAT OF THE MOST NOBLE AUGUSTUS FREDERICK, DUKE OF LEINSTER, FROM ENGRAVINGS BY JOHN PRESTON NEALE

"CARTON HOUSE, the principal seat of His Grace the Duke of Leinster, is at the same time one of the noblest mansions in Ireland."

"The structure is uniform, and extends in length four hundred feet from wing to wing."

"The centre building, two hundred and forty feet in length, is appropriated to a complete suite of state rooms, consisting of a hall, in form of a parallelogram, forty-five feet six inches, by nineteen feet six inches: this apartment is generally used as a billiard-room."

"The Grand Staircase is seventeen feet by nineteen feet six inches."

"The suite of rooms upon the park front, which is given in the annexed view, consists of a dining-room of grand dimensions, fifty-two feet five inches in length, by twenty-four feet in breadth, and twenty-four feet high; an ante-room, eighteen feet four inches by seventeen feet two inches."

"A noble drawing-room, thirty-five feet six inches long, nineteen feet six inches wide, and twenty-seven feet high: At one end of this elegant room is an organ; the other end opens to the library, which is forty-six feet in length, and nineteen feet six inches wide; to which is attached a reading-room in dimension eighteen feet four inches by twenty-one feet six inches; beyond which is the Duke of Leinster's private room."

"A dressing-room and baths complete the suite."

"The wings are attached to the centre by an open colonnade of the Doric order."

"In one of the wings is comprised the stables, coach-houses, etc, etc; and the other contains the kitchen and offices, all upon a grand scale."

"CARTON HOUSE is situated eleven miles from Dublin, and about one mile from Maynooth, and had been successively a residence of the families of TALBOT and Ingoldsby, previously to its coming into the possession of the present noble family."

"THE ESTATE, with its appurtenances, was purchased by Robert, 19th Earl of Kildare, 27th January, 1739, of Thomas Ingoldsby, of Walridge, in Buckinghamshire."

"The Earl of Kildare greatly improved the edifice by additional buildings, and desired by his will that the whole might be completed according to the plan which he had approved of."

"The Earl died at this seat, 20th February, 1743, aged 69."

Carton House is said to have cost £26,000 to build in 1739, equivalent to almost £4.9 million in 2024.

The estate, near Maynooth, County Kildare, is now a luxury hotel and resort.

First published in June, 2022.

Glenarm Castle: 1824

GLENARM CASTLE, THE SEAT OF ANNE CATHERINE, COUNTESS OF ANTRIM suo jure, FROM ENGRAVINGS BY JOHN PRESTON NEALE

"This noble edifice stands on the sea-shore, near the bay of the same name, in a situation remarkable for its natural beauties."

"In Plate I is represented the principal entrance to the Castle, over a bridge, which formerly led to the town of Glenarm, a new bridge, seen in the distance in our View, has been erected under the direction of the present proprietors, nearer to the sea, with a better access to the town; and, by the skill of W Morrison, the architect, a grand and imposing effect has been given to the Mansion by the erection of a gateway, corresponding in appearance with the remains of the ancient castle."

"THE general view of this noble building is given in Plate II in which the opposite side of the entrance gateway and old bridge is seen; under is a Fall of Water."

"The Castle here presents a most noble appearance; its curious towers and gable rising behind the walls which enclose it."

"The mansion has been lately rebuilt by William Morrison."

"It has been in the possession of the noble family of MacDonnell for some centuries."

"A monastery was also built at Glenarm in 1465, by Robert Bisset, a native of Scotland, which, together with the lands belonging thereunto, were granted to Alexander MacDonnell, an ancestor of its present owner."

Click to Enlarge

Thomas Milton (1743-1827), also engraved the Castle (above) ca 1790.

First published in June, 2020.