Showing 27 results

Annual report for year ending July 1859, including a list of leasholders and undertenants who have surrendered their several leases; general account of income and expenditure; detailed statements of disbursements including costs of drainage and building improvements; a list for compensation for surrender of tenancies and emigration; and a detailed rental of entire estate.

Contains a summary report outlining the mechanism of the leaseholder's compensation fund, the distribution of which, W. S. Trench describes as 'the most arduous and most serious task of responsibility I have ever had to encounter.' Also discusses estate improvements such as the drainage of 125 statute acres, particularly in Meelaghans where 100 acres 'of miserable cut away bog' was drained and cultivated. Also discusses improvements to the labourers' cottages through the additions of chimneys and windows and a proposal to enter the new cottages for the award of the Gold Medal offered by the Royal Agricultural Society. Further estate improvements include new roads through Killellery, Lugmore and Meelaghans.

Agrarian unrest is also discussed in the context of the case of Henry Kane, tenant, who along with his brother, Michael Kane, each held a farm in Killurin. On the death of Michael, Henry took immediate posssession of his brother's farm, to which the Trenchs objected. Report discusses general tenant support for Kane, even from outside the estate, and includes descriptions of intimidatory tactics by Ribbonmen. Also discusses measures to have Henry Kane ejected from the land altogether.

Drawings in the report include:
Page 2: 'Ancient pan found on Geashill Estate, 4 feet broad x 14 inches deep' (The Geashill Cauldron)
Page 11: 'Ancient keg of butter found 12ft below surface of Red Bog. 2 feet long x 13 inches broad.'

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to management of the Charleville estate. Matters referred to include: claims for damage caused to Charleville Castle alleged to have occurred while the military was using the Castle and Electric Plant; list of articles damaged, broken and missing in Charleville Castle; settlement of accounts for preparation of leases to Denis Walsh and John Kelly; letter from Income Tax Advisor agreeing to the sum of £211.14.10 as repayment claim against Colonel Howard Bury's liability as executor of the estate of Lady A J Howard Bury; settlement of the estate of the deceased Lady Howard Bury.

Includes copy of letter from Office of Public Works to Charleville Estate Office, " We have read your letter dated 1st instant regarding the compensation amounting to £341.4.0 awarded in full discharge of all claims by Lady E H Bury arising out of the military occupation of Charleville Castle, Tullamore. Of this award the sum of £100 allowed in respect of structural damage was arrived at by arrangement between local officer, Mr Shortall, and Mr Bouchier, by whom no doubt our reasons for reducing your claim for £141.9.7 under this heading were fully accepted... The assessment of £30 in connection with the use of the electric plant covers all charges in connection therewith. It must be borne in mind that at the beginning of the occupation by the Army the electric plant was not in working order until the military officers had the engine and dynamo overhauled and that the plant was not used continuously by the Army during the occupation. We are satisfied after the most exhaustive inquiries that our allowance for the consumption of coal is fair and reasonable...(23 November 1927).

Estate papers comprising of estate accounts, tenancy agreements, farms accounts, land titles and correspondence.

An artificially constructed collection of generally dissociated documents relating to the Charleville Estate and the Bury family/earls of Charleville. Contains some legal documents such as marriage settlements and leases; correspondence relating to financial matters on the Charleville Estate and associated estates, e.g., the Marlay estate.; newspaper cuttings on various members of the Bury family; and correspondence and drawings relating to the Bury family jewels.

Bundle of deeds and copy deeds constituting a re-settlement of the Rosse estate by the 4th and 5th Earls (1898), with sequel releases and appointments of new trustees of the settlement.

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence concerning aspects of estate management undertaken by A. & L. Goodbody, solicitors on behalf of Lord Digby, such as correspondence with the Irish Land Commission involving the valuation; inspection and sale of the estate; legitimacy of land ownership; rental arrears; payment receipts; the transfer of Geashill National School; employee salaries; and estate repairs.

Includes letter from Goodbody to Digby: ‘…The Michael Dunne the Inspector means lives with his sister on a 15 acre farm P.L.V. £6 and had 4 cattle. Perhaps you can identify him. The reason who these allottees are asked to raise representation is because the personal representative has to agree to consolidate the plots they are getting with the land they already have. We can ask the Commissioners to waive the consolidation, but cannot anticipate whether they will or not. This may delay matters…’ (1 December 1927)

Handwritten letter from James Chissell to Lord Digby: ‘Received from Messrs A. & L. Goodbody the sum of two hundred pounds, that being the amount of compensation given to me by Lord Digby in consideration of the land taken from me by the Estates Commissioners, for purpose of relieving congestion on the Geashill Estate.’ (23 August 1927)

Letter from Goodbody to Digby: ‘…Then in regard to Reggie’s letter, which I return to you. He knows his own mind very well and as he made you the offer I should advise you to abide by it. I wrote him recently about the National Roman Catholic School at Geashill. It was originally built by your family and vested in the Educational Commissioners at the nominal rent of 1/- and now our mutual acquaintance the Reverend Father Phelan has asked me to vest it free of charge in the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church.’ (15 July 1927)

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include Matters referred to include repairs to tenants’ houses; employer’s liability insurance premiums; cleaning of sewage at Geashill Garda Barrack; repairs to boiler at Clonad Saw Mills; a visit by Lord Digby to Ashford Castle and Birr Castle; the possibility of three phase electricity to Clonad in the future; queries on the rights of Lord Digby to buy land in Ireland at the same rate of stamp duty as an Irish citizen under the Irish Nationality & Citizens Act 1935-1937; and the death of George Muir on 22 September 1950.

Includes letter from Offaly County Council to Goodbody Solicitors regarding the felling of trees on Digby estate to "give clear passage on public roads for buses and in other cases to prevents damage to road by overhanging trees". (24 November 1948).

Includes letter from the Department of Industry & Commerce in relation to an inspection carried out at Clonad Sawmills under the Holiday (Employee) Act 1929, where irregularity was observed in annual leave and that “workers not allowed 7 consecutive whole holiday within their employment years” (18 July 1950). This was responded to by the Estate Agents on 1 August 1950 confirming that this statutory would be observed at the sawmills.

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include sale of timber; fishery rates; repairs to tenants' premises; tree seeds required for the estate; acquisition of cottage site by agreement under Labourers Acts; litigation between Lord Digby and Andrew Brazil over cattle wandering in Digby's plantation at Clonad and destroying 1500 young trees.

Includes letter to Kennedy from Digby on the death of King George IV, " Alas the sad news of yesterday has made it impossible for me to come over next week as I shall be on duty twice every 24 hours at the lying-in-state. We don't yet know when the funeral will be, but it will probably be Friday 15th..." (7 February 1952).