Box of leases of Clonoghill, barony of Ballybritt, on the outskirts of Birr, and adjoining Newbridge, to which some of the leases refer [see Q/84]. Also mentioned are the 2 substantial houses situated in the townland of Clonoghill,
Elmgrove and Syngefield. A number of papers, ending in 1946, relate to the former property. Because of Clonoghill’s proximity to Birr, an unusually high proportion of the leases also include holdings in the town. One interesting component of the box is the probate of a local land surveyor, Maurice Downer, 1786, whose estate included part of the lands of Clonoghill; this will is of interest as giving some indication of the degree of affluence enjoyed by a member of his profession. The box also includes papers relating to the sale of a fee farm grant of Elmgrove Bridge to Offaly County Council in 1989.

Box of leases of Siffin, alias Seffin, barony of Ballybritt, situated on the outskirts of Birr towards Roscrea. The box also includes papers relating to the sale of properties and fee farm grants in Seffin to Edward Dooley and other purchasers.

Envelope of leases of Scurragh, barony of Ballybritt, on the outskirts of Birr. The lease of 1912 describes Scurragh as being part of the Townparks of Birr, and the subsequent leases are of ‘Townparks’ and do not specifically mention Scurragh. The envelope also includes papers relating to the sale of properties in Scurragh to the Birr Urban District Council and other purchasers.

Envelope of leases of premises and fields in Clonahane or on the outskirts of Birr in the direction of Clonahane. [For the background to Clonahane, see Q/29.]

Envelope of leases of Powlduff, barony of Ballybritt. [In date order.]

Envelope or leases of Loretto, barony of Ballybritt. [In date order.]

c.25 leases of lands in the manor of Parsonstown, Co. Wexford, which reverted to the Parsonses of Parsonstown, King’s County, between 1708 and 1711, [and seems to have been settled by them on a younger son, Piggott Parsons, brother of Sir Laurence Parsons, 3rd Bt, on the failure of whose issue it seems to have reverted to the King’s County Parsonses, only to be used again as an appanage in the mid-19th century]. Some of the lands mentioned are Cullentrough, barony of Gorey; Ballyduff, Mangan,
Killenagh, Howell’s Land and Glascarrig, barony of Ballaghkeen; and parts of the manor of St John’s (Tomnegranoge, Knockmarshal, etc), barony of Bantry. [The documents are in date order and are ready for numbering, or rather re-numbering, as each has an obsolete number written on it.]

Envelope of leases of Derrinduff, baronies of Ballybritt and Clonlisk. [In date order.]

Box of leases of Crinkle, alias Crinkhill, barony of Ballybritt, on the outskirts of Birr, and many of them therefore including holdings in the town. The Crinkle leases also contain an above-average number of integral maps, some of
them rather handsome. Included under Crinkle are the sub-denominations of Whiteford and Birr View, the latter of which is described in a lease of 1797 as ‘the spot of ground whereon the viewing-house for the quality is placed to see the races of Birr’. Crinkle was also the site of the Birr Military Barracks, and a lease of 1831 is from the 2nd Earl of Rosse to the Ordnance Department. A number of the leases are dated 1763 (the earliest date in the box), which would suggest that a substantial middleman’s lease, perhaps of the whole townland, fell in in that year. The box also includes papers relating to the sale of a fee farm grant of the Military Road (purchased by Michael O’Dwyer) and to the sale of the Old Schoolhouse (purchased by John and Sophia Hogan).

Envelope of leases of Clonlagga, barony of Ballybritt, a bog adjoining Birr. [In date order.]