Steeple Tower, Mullaghagarry Wood, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, 27 Oct 2019, v1 Short
Mullaghagarry Tower, known locally as the Steeple Tower is located in Mullaghagarry Woods (Mullach an Gharraí) on the outskirts of the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar on the R236 road from Convoy to Raphoe, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.
Most people assume that the tower was some form of military observation post as it has magnificent views across the Finn Valley. However, it was probably originally built as an observatory by a Henry Stewart (1743-1840).
It was built on the highest point, Meenavally Hill (2019m) on the Tyrcallan (Tír Challann) Estate which was bought from the Rev. Oliver McCausland in 1789 in a joint purchase by Henry and a partner, George Whitlocke of Wokingham, Berkshire.
The Tower & Tyrcallan House
The square tower is approximately 7 metres in height and contains a narrow stone spiral stairway to the parapet.
Observatory
The tower is listed by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a protected structure Ref No: 40906908 describing it as “Mullaghagarry Tower, originally built as a detached folly or observation tower on square-plan, built c. 1800, having tapering profile, and with viewing platform to the roof associated with Tyrcallan House (see Ref No: 40906914, a hunting lodge that survives in a dilapidated condition to the south-west of the tower)”.
Folly
A ‘Folly’ in architecture terms is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose.
Stewart of Tyrcallan Papers
Henry Stewart was born 1 May 1749 in County Donegal, Ireland (Son of William (Stewart) Stewart of Killymoon and Elinor (King) Stewart), they had five sons, eldest, William, Edward Michael (KO06/11), James Robert, Thomas (b. 1802), and youngest, James Robert and one daughter, Louisa.
Henry Stewart's wife, Hon. Elizabeth Packenham/Pakenham, who he married Jan 1793 (to 1840) was the eldest daughter of Edward Michael Packenham, 2nd Baron Longford. Elizabeth Pakenham's younger sister Catherine married Arthur Wellesley the 1st Duke of Wellington hence Catherine became the Duchess of Wellington. A brother, Sir Edward Pakenham, was a general in the British Army who lost New Orleans to Andrew Jackson in 1815.
Henry is the first one in the family to have had a university education, obtaining a B.A. degree at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1768 at the age of 19. He is also recorded as "of the Middle Temple 1766 and of the Irish Bar 1773; Member of Parliament for Longford Borough".
Henry was a land agent (perhaps 'consultant or accountant' would be a better description) who managed the estate affairs of a number of families on a basis which was professional by the standards of the day. The archive relates to his own and his clients' estates and business affairs and those of his partner, Graves Chamney Swan, with offices in Clare Street and then at 6 Leinster Square, Dublin. His most important clients were the 2nd and 3rd Viscounts Palmerston who owned estates mainly in County’s Dublin and Sligo. He was also agent for the 2nd Baron Longford (who became his father-in-law)
In 1797 Henry's father William died and his elder brother James (the third of that name) then 55 years of age, inherited the vast Stewart estate. In 1821 James Stewart died and the third William inherited the estate, he was then aged 41 years and by 1830, when his uncle Henry Stewart was 81 years old, this William was so heavily in debt that he petitioned the Irish Encumbered Estates Court for the sale of his lands. The sale did not take place until 1851 so Henry was spared the stress of seeing the Tyrcallan family estate being finally lost. Henry died in Dublin on 13th September 1840 aged 91 years and is buried in Derryloran (Cookstown)
Encumbered Estates' Court
The Encumbered Estates' Court was established by an Act of the British Parliament in 1849, to facilitate the sale of Irish estates whose owners, because of the Great Famine, were unable to meet their obligations. It was given authority to sell estates on application from either the owner or an encumbrancer (somebody who had a claim on it) and, after the sale, distribute the proceeds among the creditors, granting clear title to the new owner(s).
James Stewart (1741-1821)
Henry Stewart was the younger brother of James Stewart (1741-1821) of Killymoon, Cookstown, MP for Co. Tyrone, 1768-1812.
Henry Stewart Family
Henry and Elizabeth's eldest son, William (named after his paternal grandfather), entered the Church and married but had no children. When the Stewart Estate was being auctioned off, Henry made an unsuccessful attempt to buy some of it.
Elizabeth (Packenham) Stewart
Henry’s wife, Elizabeth Packenham/Pakenham was born 18th July 1769 and died at 31, Upper Merion Street, Dublin on 10th August 1851 in her 83rd year, approx. 11 years after her husband. She was buried in Mt. Jerome Cemetery on the south side of Dublin.
Tyrcallen Estate Sale
The Morning Chronicle (London) 4th Nov 1844 Tyrcallen Sale – it looks from later newspaper reports that a family called Fenton were there in the 1870’s & 80’s.
Mr. W. W. SIMPSON has received instructions from the representatives of the late Henry Stewart,, Esq., to OFFER for SALE by AUCTION, at the Commercial-buildings, Dublin, on Thursday, the 28th of November, at one o'clock, in one lot, the TYRECALLEN ESTATE (forming part of the manor of Stranorlar), eligibly situate within seven miles of the seaport of Letterkenny, and only six from Castlefin, from whence there is a navigable communication to Londonderry. It comprises a gentle-manly residence, with suitable offices, surrounded by pleasure grounds and plantations, laid out with great taste, and by a beautiful demesne of nearly 500 acres, a great portion of which is planted, together with the townlands of Lismaree, Kilross, Knockfair, Dunwilley, Castlebane, Gortletteragh, Mullaghagarry, and Teevickmoy, the whole containing 1,138 statute acres of arable, pasture, wood and plantation land. The tillage and pasture surfaces are for the greater part of a fertile and productive description, and the former are adapted to the cultivation of flax, barley, oats, and green crop, of every variety. The mansion and demesne are in hand, the residue of the land is in the occupation of a respectable and Industrious tenantry, at moderate rents. This valuable property is situated in a highly picturesque and respectable neighbourhood, within a few miles of several gentlemen’s seats. It commands a fine prospect over the rich valley of the Finn, and of the extensive mountain range of Barnsemore. The property may be viewed, and descriptive particulars, with rentals and plans annexed, may shortly be had of Messrs. Stewarts and Kinkaid, 6, Leinster Street, Dublin; of Messrs, Terry, Seymour, and Webb, solicitors, 25, College Green, Dublin; of Henry Stewart, Esq., Tyrcallen,, who resides on the estate; at the place of sale; and of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 18, Bucklersbury, London.
Most of the estate including the tower is now the property of the Irish forestry board ‘Coilte’, (meaning "forests" or "woods"). On a good day to the SW you can see Barnsemore Gap and the Bluestack Mountains and looking NE the hillfort of Greenan Fort (Grianan of Aileach) and NW, Mount Errigal, Aghla More and Muckish Mountain, the latter all form part of the Derryveagh Mountain range.
The full version of this video is available on YouTube
Steeple Tower, Mullaghagarry Wood, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal, 27 Oct 2019, v1 Short
Mullaghagarry Tower, known locally as the Steeple Tower is located in Mullaghagarry Woods (Mullach an Gharraí) on the outskirts of the twin towns of Ballybofey and Stranorlar on the R236 road from Convoy to Raphoe, Co. Tyrone, Ireland.
Most people assume that the tower was some form of military observation post as it has magnificent views across the Finn Valley. However, it was probably originally built as an observatory by a Henry Stewart (1743-1840).
It was built on the highest point, Meenavally Hill (2019m) on the Tyrcallan (Tír Challann) Estate which was bought from the Rev. Oliver McCausland in 1789 in a joint purchase by Henry and a partner, George Whitlocke of Wokingham, Berkshire.
The Tower & Tyrcallan House
The square tower is approximately 7 metres in height and contains a narrow stone spiral stairway to the parapet.
Observatory
The tower is listed by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a protected structure Ref No: 40906908 describing it as “Mullaghagarry Tower, originally built as a detached folly or observation tower on square-plan, built c. 1800, having tapering profile, and with viewing platform to the roof associated with Tyrcallan House (see Ref No: 40906914, a hunting lodge that survives in a dilapidated condition to the south-west of the tower)”.
Folly
A ‘Folly’ in architecture terms is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose.
Stewart of Tyrcallan Papers
Henry Stewart was born 1 May 1749 in County Donegal, Ireland (Son of William (Stewart) Stewart of Killymoon and Elinor (King) Stewart), they had five sons, eldest, William, Edward Michael (KO06/11), James Robert, Thomas (b. 1802), and youngest, James Robert and one daughter, Louisa.
Henry Stewart's wife, Hon. Elizabeth Packenham/Pakenham, who he married Jan 1793 (to 1840) was the eldest daughter of Edward Michael Packenham, 2nd Baron Longford. Elizabeth Pakenham's younger sister Catherine married Arthur Wellesley the 1st Duke of Wellington hence Catherine became the Duchess of Wellington. A brother, Sir Edward Pakenham, was a general in the British Army who lost New Orleans to Andrew Jackson in 1815.
Henry is the first one in the family to have had a university education, obtaining a B.A. degree at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1768 at the age of 19. He is also recorded as "of the Middle Temple 1766 and of the Irish Bar 1773; Member of Parliament for Longford Borough".
Henry was a land agent (perhaps 'consultant or accountant' would be a better description) who managed the estate affairs of a number of families on a basis which was professional by the standards of the day. The archive relates to his own and his clients' estates and business affairs and those of his partner, Graves Chamney Swan, with offices in Clare Street and then at 6 Leinster Square, Dublin. His most important clients were the 2nd and 3rd Viscounts Palmerston who owned estates mainly in County’s Dublin and Sligo. He was also agent for the 2nd Baron Longford (who became his father-in-law)
In 1797 Henry's father William died and his elder brother James (the third of that name) then 55 years of age, inherited the vast Stewart estate. In 1821 James Stewart died and the third William inherited the estate, he was then aged 41 years and by 1830, when his uncle Henry Stewart was 81 years old, this William was so heavily in debt that he petitioned the Irish Encumbered Estates Court for the sale of his lands. The sale did not take place until 1851 so Henry was spared the stress of seeing the Tyrcallan family estate being finally lost. Henry died in Dublin on 13th September 1840 aged 91 years and is buried in Derryloran (Cookstown)
Encumbered Estates' Court
The Encumbered Estates' Court was established by an Act of the British Parliament in 1849, to facilitate the sale of Irish estates whose owners, because of the Great Famine, were unable to meet their obligations. It was given authority to sell estates on application from either the owner or an encumbrancer (somebody who had a claim on it) and, after the sale, distribute the proceeds among the creditors, granting clear title to the new owner(s).
James Stewart (1741-1821)
Henry Stewart was the younger brother of James Stewart (1741-1821) of Killymoon, Cookstown, MP for Co. Tyrone, 1768-1812.
Henry Stewart Family
Henry and Elizabeth's eldest son, William (named after his paternal grandfather), entered the Church and married but had no children. When the Stewart Estate was being auctioned off, Henry made an unsuccessful attempt to buy some of it.
Elizabeth (Packenham) Stewart
Henry’s wife, Elizabeth Packenham/Pakenham was born 18th July 1769 and died at 31, Upper Merion Street, Dublin on 10th August 1851 in her 83rd year, approx. 11 years after her husband. She was buried in Mt. Jerome Cemetery on the south side of Dublin.
Tyrcallen Estate Sale
The Morning Chronicle (London) 4th Nov 1844 Tyrcallen Sale – it looks from later newspaper reports that a family called Fenton were there in the 1870’s & 80’s.
Mr. W. W. SIMPSON has received instructions from the representatives of the late Henry Stewart,, Esq., to OFFER for SALE by AUCTION, at the Commercial-buildings, Dublin, on Thursday, the 28th of November, at one o'clock, in one lot, the TYRECALLEN ESTATE (forming part of the manor of Stranorlar), eligibly situate within seven miles of the seaport of Letterkenny, and only six from Castlefin, from whence there is a navigable communication to Londonderry. It comprises a gentle-manly residence, with suitable offices, surrounded by pleasure grounds and plantations, laid out with great taste, and by a beautiful demesne of nearly 500 acres, a great portion of which is planted, together with the townlands of Lismaree, Kilross, Knockfair, Dunwilley, Castlebane, Gortletteragh, Mullaghagarry, and Teevickmoy, the whole containing 1,138 statute acres of arable, pasture, wood and plantation land. The tillage and pasture surfaces are for the greater part of a fertile and productive description, and the former are adapted to the cultivation of flax, barley, oats, and green crop, of every variety. The mansion and demesne are in hand, the residue of the land is in the occupation of a respectable and Industrious tenantry, at moderate rents. This valuable property is situated in a highly picturesque and respectable neighbourhood, within a few miles of several gentlemen’s seats. It commands a fine prospect over the rich valley of the Finn, and of the extensive mountain range of Barnsemore. The property may be viewed, and descriptive particulars, with rentals and plans annexed, may shortly be had of Messrs. Stewarts and Kinkaid, 6, Leinster Street, Dublin; of Messrs, Terry, Seymour, and Webb, solicitors, 25, College Green, Dublin; of Henry Stewart, Esq., Tyrcallen,, who resides on the estate; at the place of sale; and of Mr. W. W. Simpson, 18, Bucklersbury, London.
Most of the estate including the tower is now the property of the Irish forestry board ‘Coilte’, (meaning "forests" or "woods"). On a good day to the SW you can see Barnsemore Gap and the Bluestack Mountains and looking NE the hillfort of Greenan Fort (Grianan of Aileach) and NW, Mount Errigal, Aghla More and Muckish Mountain, the latter all form part of the Derryveagh Mountain range.
The full version of this video is available on YouTube