Maps, plans, and printed sale papers, relating to Cronebane, alias Castle Howard, Avoca, Co. Wicklow.

This series relates mainly to Sheelah Lefroy and her husband Langlois Lefroy.

Castle Howard was purchased by Langlois Lefroy circa 1924, who in that year would have been flush with the capital which his wife, Sheelah's marriage settlement, brought to them. . He sold Cronebane in 1954, on inheriting Carrigglas Manor, Longford, Co. Longford, from his elder brother, and died in 1957, when his widow, Sheelah, née Trench, moved back to Loughton to live with her unmarried sister, Thora. The last item in the box is a statement of account for 1957-1958 showing the value of the late Langlois Lefroy's and his wife, Sheelah's, investments under the provisions of her marriage settlement of 1924.

Handwritten extract from 'A guide to the County of Wicklow' published by William Curry, Jun, and company 1835.
The extract describes Avoca and Castle Howard 'Before the tourist leaves this delightful spot, (Avoca), he is recommended to visit C-H (Castle Howard), the seat of Robert Howard, Esq. A handsome bridge of one arch is thrown across the Avonmore, from the battlements of which springs a lofty arched gateway of rustic masonry, bearing on its summit a lion passant, holding an arrow in his mouth (the crest of the Wicklow family, of which Mr. Howard is a member), tolerably executed in soft stone. Passing through this arched way, proceed up the hill to the right, and apply for permission to drive through the demesne : which request is not only never refused, but granted with much politeness. Near the entrance, on the lawn sloping towards the river, stands Mrs. H's (Howard) cottage, the exterior and interior decorations of which are extremely chaste and appropriate ; and close by the cottage, on a little green mound beside a rivulet, which, running beneath a rustic bridge, rolls down several artificial falls, is a model of the castle itself; an extremely beautiful modern building, the design of which is grand, chaste, and picturesque. It unites the ideas of a castle and abbey; nor is Mr. R. Morrison's talent and taste more conspicuous in any of his beautiful works, than in the reconciliation of internal convenience with an irregular outline, which he has so ably and scientifically accomplished at C-H (Castle Howard). The avenue now winds round the hill, or rather rock, for the road is actually cut through a solid rock for the most part of its length, at every step of which is a delightful, extensive, and rich view of the valley of Cronebane, Ballymurtagh, and the M of the W (meeting of the waters). Pursuing the direction of the avenue, you arrive at the castle, standing on the very apex of the mountain, having a great expanse of level ground in front.'

The file also contains a letter from B. Redmond the Wicklow County librarian.

Documents contained within this file include a copy of an ordnance survey map from 1838 which records the property of the Lefroys at Cronebane. The file also includes a plan of the garden at Cronebane and an inventory of plants

Two copies of a letter from Clarke Delahunt & co, Wicklow enclosing particulars of sale and a report describes Cronebane. The file also contains suggestions of advertisements to be run in the 'Irish Times', the 'London times' 'Country Life' and The Field' and three copies of the advertisements.

Copy of an indenture: This indenture made the ninth day of October in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven between the associated Irish mine company of the first part, Brabazon noble senior late of Cronebane in the county of Wicklow but now of America, esquire of the second part, William Rowley late of Ravensworth in the county of Dublin in that part of the United Kingdom called Ireland but now of the city of Bristol in that part of the United Kingdom called England, esquire, sole assignee of the estate and effects of the said b.n bankrupt of the third part, Abraham Mills of the city of Dublin of the fourth part, and of militia of the fifth part. Includes Two copies of map of Cronebane in the county of Wicklow the state of the Associated Irish Mine Company and to which the deed refers.

18 June 1929 rental, particulars and conditions of sale of the lands of Castle Howard containing 198 acres and part of the lands of Cronebane containing about 70 acres, both statute measure, and both situate in the barony of Arklow and County Wicklow. to be sold by public auction by Messrs. James H. North & Co., auctioneers at their salesrooms 110 Grafton Street Dublin.

Also includes newspaper cuttings realting to the sale, a schedule of legal documents relating to the sale and two copies of a family tree of the Howard family.