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).

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to management of the Charleville estate. Matters referred to includes: letter to Rev G Cooney on the arrangements that the new factory on the gaol premises will not require either the front or side walls to be demolished; the conveyance of premises in Tullamore by Salts Ireland Ltd for use as a factory; subscriptions from various individuals and businesses in Tullamore towards the new factory; draft agreement between Esther Molloy, Rev Gerald Cooney, Rev Eric Rennison, John Williams, Francis J Egan, Henry F Brenan, Joseph Kearney, Joseph Clarke, Michael English, Michael Walsh, John Horgan, Thomas J Lawless for the transfer of lands in Spollinstown [Spollanstown] for the purpose of erecting a factory within Tullamore; attempt to trace the title to premises in Church Street, Tullamore (former King's County Infirmary) by solicitors for Offaly County Council.

Includes copy of letter to Colonel Howard Bury about the Salts Ltd factory in Tullamore, "As you have probably heard a new company is being formed in Ireland for the purpose of promoting a spinning factory in this town, and it will be a most important industry, and will give a very considerable amount of employment. There was great difficulty in getting the factory here because there were at least a dozen other towns in the Saorstat who were trying to get it established. As a result, however, of the efforts of various people Tullamore has succeeded. When the English gentlemen who are interested in the promotion of this factory originally interviewed some representative people here in this town they stipulated that they would not consider Tullamore unless they could get the land which they required at a price not exceeding £60 per acre. They pointed out that they could get land for this figure in other parts of the country, and indeed in some places they could get it for nothing. This shows the anxiety there was to get this factory. It was necessary to give an undertaking required, but eventually when negotiations were entered into between the local committee, of which I am Honorary Secretary, with the owners of certain of the lands to be acquired, it was found that considerably larger sums per acre would have to be paid for at least some of the land which was wanted. There are some other claims also which have to be met... (6 July 1937).

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to management of the Charleville estate. Matters referred to includes: drafting of lease of house on Charleville Road for the Presbyterian Church of Tullamore; endorsement on lease to the Tullamore Laundry Company for the Tullamore Creamery Company; conditions of sale of lands on the Tottenham Estate in the townland of Rochford Demesne to Colonel Bury; draft conveyance of 4 labourers cottages in the townland of Ballard to be sold at the rate of £35 per acre.

Original incoming and copy outgoing correspondence relating to the administration of the Geashill Estate. Matters referred to include installation of a telephone at the Forester's Lodge, Digby Estate; proposed sale of Garda Barracks; insurance renewals; fisheries rates; accounts for purchase of timber; issuance of gun and wireless licences; arrangements for Lord Digby to meet the Irish Land Commission to discuss Geashill queries.

Includes letter to Kennedy from Digby: "Thank you for your letter of March 29th dealing with the Archdeacon and the appointment of his successor. I quite realise the difficulty with regard to anybody having to take on the Geashill Rectory, when the upkeep is bound to be great. With regards to building a bungalow rectory in the Castle grounds at Geashill, the idea does not appeal to me much, especially as now I have decided to plant all land I have got left, and which probably go onto my Schedule B Assessment, which is what I would like to happen. I should have thought that part of the rectory grounds could have been sliced off as a site for the new rectory. Unless, of course, the Garda Barracks house is to be given up by the Garda as was considered as a remote possibility last year" (1 April 1960).

Letter from Department of Posts and Telegraphs: "with reference to your letter of the 30th May to the Postmaster, Tullamore we are now arranging to provide the telephone and the usual agreement will be forwarded for signature in the next few days. The rental will be £14 16s 0d per annum which is calculated on the actual radial measurement of 3 mile 3 furlongs between the Forester's house and Killeigh Exchange. The minimum term of agreement will be for five years. The telephone will be connected to Tullamore exchange for engineering reasons" (3 July 1961).

Copy of letter to Canon A K Palmer: "I have received a letter from The Hon. Captain Edward Digby in which he says that Lord Digby and he wish to make a contribution towards the new school at Geashill and he has requested that I forward you cheque for £300" (14 August 1962).

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to management of the Charleville estate. Matters referred to includes: 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.

Original incoming and copy outgoing letters relating to management of the Charleville estate. Matters referred to includes: details of sale of holdings in Tyrellspass to John Clarke; sale of land in Tullamore town park [Spollinstown] to P & H Egan.

Copies of approximately 1000 outgoing letters, averaging at 1 per page. Some letters illegible due to fading.
Includes letter to E. des. H. Browne, Charleville Estate Office, Tullamore re Sherlock Estate: ' Replying to yours of the 20th inst. It is begging the question to suggest that these tenants understood or were satisfied with the last receipts you gave, or with any of the receipts. The original rent in the time of Sherlock's predecessor was £2.1.10. I have a whole bundle of receipts in evidence of this. It was customary by the Landlord as shown by receipts to give a substantial abatement off this rent and eventually some years before Mr. Sherlock became owner and according to my instructions after a valuation was made by the agent, the rent was fixed at the figure of rent paid. The original tenant was John Fitzgerald Snr and his brother Bernard resided on the lands with him. John allowed Bernard the use of half the lands on paying half the rent., and eventually Bernard's name found its way into the rental, and ever since Mr. Sherlock acquired the estate, half of the rent was paid by Bernard. John died and was succeeded by his widow Mrs Bridget Fitzgerald on whose death John Fitzgerald Jr became the tenant, and John Jr and Bernard appear to be now tenants in common of these lands. I give you these particulars as Mr. Sherlock in court did not seem to be conversant with the facts. It is admitted that the yearly rent of £1.14.0 has been regularly paid every year. These illiterate men paid very little attention to receipts which they can hardly be blamed for not understanding: they were content so long as they paid their year's rent and heard no more about it. But now that the question has been raised they will naturally decline to pay the next gale of rent except in exchange for a proper receipt up to date.' (28 January 1914)

Linen-backed paper map of Tullamore town and leaseholders created by the Charleville Estate Office in 1869. Map is based on an earlier map from 1790s (now lost).