Castletown Cox
| Castletown Cox House | |
|
County Kilkenny | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Country house |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | S42832580 |
| Location: | 52°22’57"N, 7°22’17"W |
| History | |
| Built 1767-1771 | |
| For: | Archbishop Michael Cox by Davis Ducart |
| Country house | |
| Palladian | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Kelcy Warren |
Castletown Cox, or Castletown House, is a restored Palladian mansion and demesne in County Kilkenny. It is one of Ireland's grandest of country houses; built in the height of the Georgian Age for the Most Reverend Michael Cox, the Archbishop of Cashel.
Design
Archbishop Michael Cox commissioned the architect Davis Ducart to build his mansion in 1767. Ducart designed it on the three storeys over a basement, with seven bays, in the fashionable Palladian style. Some of the details were inspired by those of Buckingham House in Westminster.[1]
Restoration
The house was extensively restored in the early 21st century by George Magan, Baron Magan of Castletown. The house and 513 acres of land was offered for sale in 2017[2] and sold in 2018.[3] In 2019, Lord Magan was evicted from Castletown Cox for failure to make rental payments of €100,000 a year to the trust into which he had placed the estate.[4]
The estate
The formal gardens were designed by the Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury.[3] The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage lists the grounds as having the main features substantially present. Also listed on the estate are two gate lodges of special architectural interest, one a gothic styled three bay home from 1911, the other a two bay home c 1825. Both gateways from c 1825 are also listed as being of special artistic and architectural interest.
The farmyard, farm manager's house and remains of an ice house are all listed as being of special architectural interest.
References
- ↑ Keel, Toby (31 October 2017). "‘The most beautiful house in Ireland’ is up for sale" (in en). https://www.countrylife.co.uk/property/beautiful-house-ireland-sale-167794.
- ↑ Lyons, Madeleine. "Ireland's hidden Downton-on-Suir seeks €17.5m". https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/new-to-market/ireland-s-hidden-downton-on-suir-seeks-17-5m-1.3151072.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Gittens, Geraldine (11 April 2018). "In Pictures: International buyer snaps up Castletown Cox estate for around €20m". Irish Independent. https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/in-pictures-international-buyer-snaps-up-castletown-cox-estate-for-around-20m-36796847.html.
- ↑ Managh, Ray (10 September 2019). "British peer loses tenancy of €20m Castletown Cox estate". The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/british-peer-loses-tenancy-of-20m-castletown-cox-estate-1.4013733.