Country Houses

Duckett's Grove, Rainstown, Co Carlow

Ducketts Grove Rainstown, Carlow was designed in a Castellated Gothic revival style by Thomas A. Cobden for John Davidson Duckett circa 1825. The building incorporates numerous towers and turrets of varying shapes – round, square and octagonal. One tall octagonal turret rises from the structure. Duckett’s Grove is elaborately ornamented with oriels and niches containing statues. Several statues on pedestals surrounded the building and lined the approaches. The house itself is situated in the townland of Rainstown, between Carlow and Tullow but the estate comprised several large townlands and parts of others. Following the departure of the Ducketts the estate was managed by an agent until 1921 then by local farmers and later by the Land Commission. The division of the lands was completed by 1930. Duckett’s Grove was destroyed by fire in April 1933 but the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Carlow County Library

Duckett's Grove, Rainstown, Co Carlow
Carlow County Library

Duckett's Grove, Rainstown, Co Carlow

Ducketts Grove Rainstown, Carlow was designed in a Castellated Gothic revival style by Thomas A. Cobden for John Davidson Duckett circa 1825. The building incorporates numerous towers and turrets of varying shapes – round, square and octagonal. One tall octagonal turret rises from the structure. Duckett’s Grove is elaborately ornamented with oriels and niches containing statues. Several statues on pedestals surrounded the building and lined the approaches. The house itself is situated in the townland of Rainstown, between Carlow and Tullow but the estate comprised several large townlands and parts of others. Following the departure of the Ducketts the estate was managed by an agent until 1921 then by local farmers and later by the Land Commission. The division of the lands was completed by 1930. Duckett’s Grove was destroyed by fire in April 1933 but the cause of the fire has not been determined.

Carlow County Library

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Duckett's Grove entrance gate

The entrance to Duckett's Grove is an elaborate castellated gateway. It features numerous battlemented towers. Two great archways open onto two different drives. The main archway has a portcullis and is surmounted by an immense armorial achievement which was originally coloured. The arms of the Duckett family is also featured at the entrance to Duckett's Grove.

Carlow County Library

Duckett's Grove entrance gate
Carlow County Library

Duckett's Grove entrance gate

The entrance to Duckett's Grove is an elaborate castellated gateway. It features numerous battlemented towers. Two great archways open onto two different drives. The main archway has a portcullis and is surmounted by an immense armorial achievement which was originally coloured. The arms of the Duckett family is also featured at the entrance to Duckett's Grove.

Carlow County Library

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Country houses were the homes of the landed gentry. They were the physical expression of their place in society and symbolised power and status.

The importance of the demesne, with the perimeter clearly defined and marked by ornate gates and gate lodges with the big house at the centre, can be clearly seen at Oak Park and Duckett's Grove, two large estates not very far apart. They are also two striking examples of different architectural styles.

Oak Park House, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow

The Bruen Family purchased Oak Park, formerly known as Painestown around the year 1775. In 1832, Henry Bruen commissioned William Vitruvius Morrison to redesign the house. It is remodelled in the classical style and retains the existing house as its central component. The front façade features a two-storey Ionic portico set on a pedestal. Today Oak Park House and demesne is the property of Teagasc – the agricultural research body. It has recently become the administrative headquarters for Teagasc.

Carlow County Library

Oak Park House, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow
Carlow County Library

Oak Park House, Oak Park (Painestown), Carlow

The Bruen Family purchased Oak Park, formerly known as Painestown around the year 1775. In 1832, Henry Bruen commissioned William Vitruvius Morrison to redesign the house. It is remodelled in the classical style and retains the existing house as its central component. The front façade features a two-storey Ionic portico set on a pedestal. Today Oak Park House and demesne is the property of Teagasc – the agricultural research body. It has recently become the administrative headquarters for Teagasc.

Carlow County Library

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Oak Park House - rear view

Oak Park Estate now Teagasc Research Institute is situated about two miles from the centre of Carlow town. The photograph shows the rear of the house which looks towards the gardens. On this side the house had three central windows and single-storeyed bow windows to either side. These were situated on the ground floor and were balustraded. To the left of the entrance were found the service wing and the offices.

Carlow County Library

Oak Park House - rear view
Carlow County Library

Oak Park House - rear view

Oak Park Estate now Teagasc Research Institute is situated about two miles from the centre of Carlow town. The photograph shows the rear of the house which looks towards the gardens. On this side the house had three central windows and single-storeyed bow windows to either side. These were situated on the ground floor and were balustraded. To the left of the entrance were found the service wing and the offices.

Carlow County Library

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The classical design of Oak Park contrasts with the gothic revival style of Duckett's Grove. The house at Duckett's Grove was elaborately ornamental with oriels and niches containing statues. It was designed in a castellated gothic revival style by Thomas A. Cobden for John Davidson Duckett circa 1825. It incorporated numerous towers and turrets of varying shapes; round, square and octagonal. One tall octagonal turret rises from the structure. Several statues on pedestals formerly surrounded the building and lined the avenues. The first Ducketts arrived in Ireland in Cromwellian times. Duckett's Grove is situated in the townland of Rainstown, near Carlow town. The land passed to the management of an agent in 1921. Local farmers known collectively as the Killerig Land Committee purchased the estate soon after. When they failed to agree on the division of the land it was taken over by the Land Commission. The division of the land was completed by 1930. The Duckett's Grove mansion was destroyed by fire in 1933. The cause was never determined, and it is now a picturesque ruin.

Painstown was the property of the Cooke family in the seventeenth century. It was lost to the family after the defeat of James II. Oak Park or Painstown was purchased by Henry Bruen in 1775. Oak Park House was described as a 'very neat house' in 1815. In 1832 William Vitruvius Morrison was commissioned to redesign the house. His main contribution was the front portico supported by double height ionic columns. James Fenlon and John Nowlan were responsible for erecting the impressive columns. It should be noted that the portico is off-centre to the right. The house underwent major refurbishment in 1877 under architects McCurdy and Mitchell. New wings recessed behind single storey colonnades at the front gave the building a palatial look. However the building had major restoration work carried out after a fire destroyed the centre portion of the building in 1902. W.M. Mitchell was the architect in charge.

Lisnavagh House, Lisnavagh, Co Carlow

Lisnavagh House is situated near Rathvilly in County Carlow. It was designed by Daniel Robertson in the Tudor style and completed in 1849. Lisnavagh is considered to be one of the largest of Robertson’s Tudor Manor houses. It is built of grey stone with many gables and mullioned windows. It also has some oriel windows. The house has very little ornament but features a loggia of segmental-pointed arches.The magnificent gardens are open to the public.

Carlow County Library

Lisnavagh House, Lisnavagh, Co Carlow
Carlow County Library

Lisnavagh House, Lisnavagh, Co Carlow

Lisnavagh House is situated near Rathvilly in County Carlow. It was designed by Daniel Robertson in the Tudor style and completed in 1849. Lisnavagh is considered to be one of the largest of Robertson’s Tudor Manor houses. It is built of grey stone with many gables and mullioned windows. It also has some oriel windows. The house has very little ornament but features a loggia of segmental-pointed arches.The magnificent gardens are open to the public.

Carlow County Library

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Lisnavagh House, situated near Rathvilly in County Carlow, was completed in 1849 in a different style to Oak Park and Duckett's Grove. It was designed by Daniel Robertson in the Tudor style, for William McClintock Bunbury M.P. It is considered to be one of the largest of Robertson's Tudor Manor houses. Built of grey stone with many gables and mullioned windows it has some oriel windows.

The house has very little ornament but features a loggia of segmental-pointed arches. In the 1950's the house was greatly reduced in size. Today, Lisnavagh gardens are open to the public. Many of the original trees and features still remain.