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 Ballindarra, barony of Ballybritt, on the outskirts of Birr. [Sometimes these, in common with other leases of suburban or rural townlands in King’s County, include in the same lease premises in the town of Birr. There
is therefore a good deal of inevitable overlap between the King’s County and Birr runs of leases. Within each townland or denomination there is also a good deal of duplication, because when renewable leases expired, the tenant’s original was returned to the Estate Office and often survived there along with the Estate Office counterpart.]

Envelope or leases of Loretto, barony of Ballybritt. [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).

Two envelopes of leases of Cappaneale, including Cows Bawn, barony of Ballybritt, on the outskirts of Birr. [In date order.] The sub-section also includes papers relating to the sale of properties in Cappaneale to Tony Kelly and various other purchasers.

Envelope of leases of Clondalla, alias Clondallow, alias Clondallagh, barony of Eglish, adjoining Boolanarrig. [In date order.] The leases, up to and including 1825, are from members of the Berry family of Dovegrove, an adjoining townland; Clondalla, Dovegrove and Clonahane were held by them under a perpetuity from the Viscounts Loftus/ Marquesses of Drogheda. In or about the 1830s, the 2nd Earl of Rosse must have acquired the Berry interest, which was tantamount to outright ownership, in these townlands, subject
to continued Berry occupation of and residence in part of Dovegrove. These townlands were then subsequently settled on the 2nd Earl’s third son, the Hon. Laurence Parsons, who is a party to the leases of 1860, 1865 and 1872 in this sub-section.] The sub-section also includes papers relating to the sale of Clondallow to Daniel J. Earley, and deeds and documents relating to the (re )purchase of ‘Finnegan’s field’ in 1997.

Survey and valuation of the Digby estate completed by Michael Cuddehy, land surveyor, for Lord Digby, on 3 January 1798 and a further valuation on 25 June 1799 listing lands in the barony of Geashill that are out of lease. Townlands surveyed in the initial valuation are listed in Cuddehy's accompanying note as Annaharvey, Ballymooney, Ballyknockan, Ballycue and Ballyduff, although only those of Ballycue and Ballyduff are extant. The valuation is tabular, listing tenants' names, a description of their holdings (e.g. 'moory pasture', 'oat field', 'big fallow field' etc.), a measurement in A.R.P (acres, roods, perches) and a yearly value.

The second list entitled 'Lands in the Barony of Geashill out of lease except the parts disposed of as herein 25 June 1799' contain a list of the townlands Annaharvey, Ballymooney, Ballycue, Bluebell, Ballyduff , Dalgan, Ballydownan, Curragh, Killellery, Ballyavill, Cappincur, Kinockballyboy, Ballinagar, Killleigh, Scrub, Killeenmore, and Killurin. Each description is accompanied by a reference number for a map by Cuddehy which is not extant. There are also comments by Cuddehy on certain plots such as 'Darby Smollen declared tenant' in respect of a plot in Ballydownan and he notes that Cuddehy himself is proposed for a plot in Ballymooney of 149 acres.

Lease of part of the lands of Ballyduff from Edward Earl Digby to William Southern, at the yearly rate of £59-12-10.
Including 'A map of part Ballyduff containing 59.2.23 Plantation measure. Part of the Estate of The Right Honourable Earl of Digby in the Barony of Geashill and King's County. Layed down by a scale of 20 Perches in one Inch in February 1800 by Michael Cuddehy', hand coloured.

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

Lease of part of the lands of Ballyduff from Edward Earl Digby to Loughlin Boland for one life, or twenty-one years from 25 March 1819, at the yearly rate of £7-14-2.
Including 'A map of part of the lands of Ballyduff in the Barony of Geashill and King's County. Part of the Estate of the Right Honourable Earl Digby. Surveyed by John Molloy 1819', hand coloured, scale 20 Perches to an Inch, with bordering land leased to Peter and Denis Flanagan, Dan Siney and John Carroll and Partners.