Estate: Townsend (Castletownsend)

Associated Families

• Townsend (Castletownsend)
• Townsend (West Carbery)
• Townsend (Dunbeacon)
• Townsend (Derry & Myross Wood)
• Townsend (Seafield)
• Townsend (Garrycloyne Castle)
• Townsend (Kinsale)
• Townsend (Firmount)

Description

Burke's ''Irish Family Records'' indicates that the first of this family to be established in Ireland was Richard Townsend, an officer in the Cromwellian army, who acquired Castle Townsend and other lands in west Cork in the late 1660s (6,543 acres). The estate of Richard M.F. Townsend amounted to over 7100 acres in county Kerry in the 1870s. Burke notes that this property was inherited by virtue of descent from the Knight of Kerry. The Ordnance Survey Field Name Books had reported that Capt Hickson of Dingle acted as agent for the Townsend estate in that area. The representatives of the late Rev. Maurice Townsend owned over 8000 acres in county Cork at the same time. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Rev. Maurice was among the principal lessors in the parishes of Castlehaven and also held townlands in other parishes in the same barony including Creagh, Drinagh, Dromdaleague, Kilmacabea, Myross and Skull. John Sealy Townsend, a barrister and descended from the Castletownsend family, was among the principal lessors in the parishes of Castleventry, Ross and Kilmichael, barony of East Carbery, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. Samuel Townsend of Skibbereen was among the lessors in the parish of Drinagh, at the same time. In 1874, over 100 acres of Samuel Nugent Townsend's estate in West Carbery was offered for sale in the Landed Estates Court.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
The Grove (H1759) At the time of Griffith’s Valuation, Mrs. John Hickson was leasing this house, valued at over £27, from Reverend Maurice Townsend. 1n 1837, Lewis describes the property as formerly belonging to the Knight of Kerry. It is most likely the property at Dingle referred to by Wilson in 1786. It is no longer extant. A new community school for Dingle has been constructed near the site.	Grove	Dingle	Dingle	Dingle	Corkaguiny	Kerry	Lat/Lon: 52.14247 -10.28200 OSI Ref: Q438014 Discovery map #70. OS Sheet #43.
Mardyke House (H2490) John Sweetman was leasing this property from the Townsend estate at the time of Griffith's Valuation when it wa valued at £13 5s. In 1814 Leet refers to it as the seat of Thomas Baldwin. It is no longer extant.	Coronea	Abbeystrowry	Skibbereen	Skibbereen Rural 309	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.54735 -9.27162 OSI Ref: W118335 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #141.
Lurriga House (H2505) Rev. Maurice Townsend was leasing this property to Rev. Richard Wright at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £27. The house is almost completely gone though some ruins remain.	Lurriga	Abbeystrowry	Skibbereen	Skibbereen Rural 309	West Carbury (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.55914 -9.26185 OSI Ref: W125348 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #141.
Lurriga Mill (H2506) James H. Swanton was leasing this property from Rev. Richard Wright at the time of Griffith's Valuation. It included a house valued at £8 10s and a mill valued at £88. In 1906 the representatives of Timothy M. Downing owned the property, then valued at £8. The house no longer exists but there are still buildings at the mill site.	Lurriga	Abbeystrowry	Skibbereen	Skibbereen Rural 309	West Carbury (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.56004 -9.26188 OSI Ref: W125349 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #141.
Glencurragh (H2507) Rev. Maurice Townsend was leasing this property to Daniel McCarthy at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £19 15s. It does not appear on the 1st edition Ordnance Map but is labelled as Glencurragh on the later 25-inch map. A house remains at the site though substantial modern development has taken place in the area.	Marsh	Abbeystrowry	Skibbereen	Skibbereen Urban 310	West Carbury (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.55630 -9.27475 OSI Ref: W116345 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #141.
Rinneen House & Mills (H2528) At the time of Griffith's Valuation, James Swanton was leasing a house valued at £9 at Carrigtishane from Rev, M. Townsend. A mill in the same location (W183333), held by Messers. Swanton, Goold and McNamara, was valued at £56. Information locally suggests that James Swanton built the house. Local sources claim the house was later used by the Catholic Church as the priest's house. It is now a ruin which was offered for sale in 2009. The mill buildings, now disused, are still extant.	Carrigtishane	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.54562 -9.17930 OSI Ref: W182332 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Castle Townsend (H2529) Rev. Maurice Townsend held this property in fee at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £37. Lewis recorded it as the residence of Col. Townsend in 1837. In the later 1770s it was also the seat of the Townsend family. Wilson, writing in 1786, refers to Castle Townsend as the seat of Richard Townsend, "beautifully situated by Glandore Harbour". In 1906 it was owned by Charles L. Townsend and valued at £53. In 1945 the Irish Tourist Association Survey dated the present structure to 1860 noting that the previous house had been badly damaged by fire in 1858. It is still held by the family and accommodation is offered in part of the property. See http://www.castle-townshend.com.	Castletownsend	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.52945 -9.17744 OSI Ref: W183314 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Point House/Cosheen (H2530) John Somerville was leasing Point House from Rev. M. Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £20. Lewis recorded it as the seat of R.B. Townsend in 1837. It is labelled Point House on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map but as Cosheen on the 25-inch edition of the 1890s. It is still extant and known by the latter title.	Castletownsend	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.52587 -9.17591 OSI Ref: W184310 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Castletownsend (Coghill) (H2532) Sir Jocelyn Coghill was leasing this property from Rev. M. Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £22 10s	Castletownsend	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.52584 -9.17879 OSI Ref: W182310 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Castletownsend (Herbert) (H2533) Mary Herbert was leasing this property from Rev. M. Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £25. There were a number of marriages between members of the Townsend family and the Herberts of Muckross, Killarney.	Castletownsend	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.52677 -9.17593 OSI Ref: W184311 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Smithville (H2536) Rev. M. Townsend was leasing this property to Eleanor Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £12 10s.	Raheen	Castlehaven	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.53545 -9.20642 OSI Ref: W163321 Discovery map #`89. OS Sheet #142.
Brade House (H2650) John Swanton was leasing this property from Rev. Maurice Townsend at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £15 10s. Lewis had noted it as the seat of Rev. E.P. Thompson in 1837. It was the residence of Samuel Jervois in 1814. Taylor and Skinner's 1783 map also indicate it as a Jervois residence. In 1786 Wilson refers to it as the seat of Mr.Jervis. In 1906 it was owned by Katherine Townsend and valued at £44 5s. There is still an extant house at the site.	Brade	Myross	Skibbereen	Castlehaven North 317	West Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.57460 -9.15697 OSI Ref: W198364 Discovery map #89. OS Sheet #142.
Kilnagross (H2824) At the time of Griffith's Valuation, William Sullivan was leasing this property to Rev. Somerset Townsend, when it was valued at almost £12. In 1837, it was the seat of Rev. W. Sullivan. It is no longer extant.	Beanhill South	Kilnagross	Clonakilty	Kilnagross 49	East Carbery (East)	Cork	Lat/Lon: 51.64900 -8.86842 OSI Ref: W399444 Discovery map #86. OS Sheet #122.

Archival sources

• Cork County Library: Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Castlehaven
• National Archives of Ireland: Deeds relating to the Townsend family of Co. Cork, 1836-81. D. 12,632-9
• National Archives of Ireland: Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), Townsend, 26 June 1875, Vol 119, MRGS 39/054, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
• National Archives of Ireland: Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Robinson & Townsend, (Killaloan, Co Tipperary), 23 Jan 1852, Vol 13 (26), MRGS 39/006, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
• National Library of Ireland: Copy of confirmation of arms to the descendants of Richard Boyle Townsend, late of Castle Townsend, Co. Cork and to his son, John Townsend of Castle Townsend, Feb. 19, 1828. Genealogical Office: Ms.107, pp.18-9
• Trinity College Dublin: Minutes and accounts of Castletownsend harriers, 1834-37. M.4263

Contemporary printed sources

Many of these resources are now available online. For a list with Web links please see the Online Printed Sources Links

• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Corkaguiny Barony: 57 (The Grove)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : West Carbery (East) Barony: 2 (Carrigfadda), 4 (Coronea), 18 (Lurriga & Marsh), 42 (Whitehall), 44 (Aghills), 47 (Carrigtishane), 49 (Castletownsend), 61 (Raheen), 129 (Brade), 131 (Clontaff), 135 (Myross)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : East Carbery (East) Barony: 116 (Beanhill South)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : East Carbery (West) Barony: 68 (Lisbealad), 71 (Ballyhalwick)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : West Carbery (West) Barony: 21 (Derreeny)
• HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878. [available online at www.askaboutireland.ie] : 449
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol.I, 5 (Abbeystrowry Parish), 297 (Castlehaven Parish)
• ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS County Kerry: Vol.II, Clahaan Parish, 29.
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion..., HC 1906, c, 177: 249 (Whitehall, Brade, Castletownsend)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland, 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 74, 184
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of names of proprietors and area and valuation of properties in counties in Ireland, held in fee or perpetuity or long leases at chief rents, 1876. (412) LXXX. 395: 74.
• TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 171
• TOWNSEND, Horatio. Statistical survey of the county of Cork... Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1810: 338, 340, 342
• WILSON, William. The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 229 (Castle Townsend)

Modern printed sources

• Irish Ancestor: CROOKSHANK,Mrs. Agnes Townsend's notebook. VIII (1976), pp.96-113
• Irish Ancestor: ffolliott, Rosemary. Some lesser known country houses in Munster and Leinster. III (1) 1971, 49-51. [includes picture and description of Brade]
• BENCE-JONES, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 78 (Castle Townsend), 259 (Shepperton), 284 (White Hall)
• BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic dictionary of the landed gentry of Great Britain and Ireland. London: 1862-1863: 1527
• MONTGOMERY-MASSINGBERD, Hugh (ed). Burke's Irish Family Records. London: Burke's Peerage, 1976: 1114-1125.
• O'HEA O'KEEFFE, Jane. Voices from the great houses: Cork and Kerry. (Cork: Mercier Press, 2013): 83-93