Papers about Birr Church of Ireland church and parish, including historical compilations of the rev. Dr Samuel Hemphill, Rector of Birr, covering the period 1612-1903. The compilations consist of a small quarto notebook containing MS. Copies of 1642 depositions concerning the neighbourhood of Birr; another containing a history of Birr Church of Ireland church (taken from vestry books, parish registers, etc), 1760-1903); and two succession lists of Birr incumbents, 1612-1912. The sub-section also includes a series of printed annual reports on the parish and on the diocese of Killaloe and Kilfenora, 1900-10.

Letters and tradesmen’s accounts to the 5th Earl relating to seeds, shrubs, trees and planting, including 3 letters from Augustine Henry [botanist renowned for his flora-collecting explorations in central and western China], 1908-10. One of
Henry’s letters, dated 26 July 1909, is about [Chinese?] plant specimens at Birr; it has been photocopied by PRONI, T/3498/4.

Four envelopes of tradesmen’s accounts to the 5th Earl, including a few to Lady Rosse, from London, Dublin and Birr tradesmen (primarily the first) for all manner of goods (among them a pendant brooch supplied by C. Faberge,
1910), but excluding accounts for major items connected with Birr Castle and gardens [for which see M/25 and 33 respectively], 1910-18; together with 7 volumes of Birr Castle house-keeping books kept by Lady Rosse/de Vesci and (in one case) her sister, Countess de la Feld, 1910-30. [See also T/30. Not in chronological order.]

Draft index to Birr town leases, prepared in 2005 by Margaret Hogan. Properties are arranged by street and ordered chronologically within each street. The index (copies of which are included on a CD and diskette) also
gives the name, occupation, and other particulars about the lessees.

Leases of premises in Wilmer Road and Wilmer Terrace. This sub-section also includes papers relating to the sale of properties in Wilmer Terrace to Ann Ritchie and other purchasers.

Envelope of leases of premises in Chapel Lane or described as ‘near the Chapel’. [In date order.]

Envelope of leases of premises in Mellsop Street, the last of them stating that it is now known as Townsend Street. [In date order.] The envelope also includes papers relating to the sale of Townsend Street fee farm grants to Michael Kearns
and Gerard and Evelyn Bell.

Miscellaneous leases, which seem to have it in common that they are of premises and fields near the Birr Castle demesne. [In date order.]

Leases of premises in Love Lane

Box of leases of premises in or near Birr which, even with the aid of Q/16/1, it has not proved possible to pin precisely or even approximately.