Estate: Purcell (Altamira)

Associated Families

• Purcell (Altamira)
• Purcell (Burton Park)

Description

A junior branch of the Purcells of Burton Park, county Cork, the Purcells of Altamira intermarried with their cousins of Burton Park and with the Leaders of Mount Leader. In the mid 19th century Pierce Purcell held an estate in the parishes of Kilbrin, Knocktemple and Kilshannig, barony of Duhallow and Liscarroll, barony of Orrery and Kilmore, county Cork. In the 1870s Pierce Purcell of Dromore, Mallow, owned 1,942 acres in county Cork. At the time of Griffith's Valuation the representatives of Richard Harris Purcell, an uncle of Pierce Purcell of Altamira, held land in the parishes of Kilbolane, barony of Orrery and Kilmore, Mourneabbey, barony of Barretts and Kilcully, barony of Cork. In November 1850 the fee simple estate of Burnfort and the freehold estate of Cloghlucas, amounting to 778 acres and belonging to Richard Harris Purcell and others, was advertised for sale. In the 1870s Richard H. Purcell of Burnfort owned 737 acres in county Cork.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Lackeel (H2787) An early 19th century house valued at £12 was held by Charles Daly in the mid 19th century from Pierce Purcell. This house is still extant.	Lackeel	Kilbrin	Kanturk	Castlecor 160	Duhallow	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.23013 -8.80213 OSI Ref: R452 090 Discovery map #73. OS Sheet #16.
Old Dromore (H2788) Smith refers to the "pleasant seat" of Sir Matthew Deane, "lately rebuilt, with an elegant front of hewn stone". A larger house built in the early 1780s was dismantled almost as soon as it was built by Sir Robert Deane, lst Baron Muskerry. Hajba writes that Jeremiah and Richard Gifford Campion occupied Dromore Old in the last decade of the 18th century. A house valued at £23 in the mid 19th century was the home of the Williamson family located on the Purcell estate. Occupied by U[sher] Williamson in 1814, Reverend Benjamin Williamson in 1837 and in the early 1850s. In 1894 Slater refers to it as the residence of Mrs. Williamson. In the latter half of the 20th century the home of the Hegartys. A house is still extant at Dromore.	Dromore North	Kilshannig	Kanturk	Kilshannig 248	Duhallow	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.09266 -8.64790 OSI Ref: W556 936 Discovery map #80. OS Sheet #42.
Altamira (H2909) Originally a Smyth house, Altamira became the home of the Purcell family in the late 18th century and remained in their possession for about a century. Occupied by William Purcell in 1814 and 1837 and by his nephew Pierce Purcell at the time of Griffith's Valuation. Pierce held the property from the Earl of Bandon and Lady O'Brien. The house was valued at £34. In the 1940s the Irish Tourist Association Survey noted that Altamira was then the residence of the Hannigan family.	Altamira	Liscarroll	Mallow	Liscarroll 240	Orrery and Kilmore	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.27783 -8.79273 OSI Ref: R459 143 Discovery map #73. OS Sheet #7.
Burnfort (H3206) Burnfort valued at £7 was occupied by the representatives of Richard Harris Purcell at the time of Griffith's Valuation and held by them in fee. A house is still extant at the site.	Burnfort	Mourneabbey	Mallow	Ballynamona 247	Barretts	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.06503 -8.60375 OSI Ref: W586 905 Discovery map #80. OS Sheet #42.
Annabella House (H3278) Smith records Courthorp Clayton as resident at Anabell in 1750. The Hoares were resident at Annabelle in the late 18th century as Wilson refers to it as the seat of Mr. Hoare in 1786. The house was occupied by Richard Harris Purcell in 1814 and in 1837 and by Elizabeth Purcell at the time of Griffith's Valuation. She held the property from the Earl of Limerick and the buildings were valued at £35. This house was demolished in the latter half of the 19th century and the County Council office now stands on the site.	Annabella	Mallow	Mallow	Mallow Rural 250	Fermoy	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.13937 -8.65296 OSI Ref: W553 988 Discovery map #80. OS Sheet #33.
Highfort (H3799) The Purcells originally lived in a thatched house located a short distance from the present building and this house was associated with a Whiteboy attack. John Purcell was knighted for his defense of his property. The later house was built by his son, Dr. Richard Purcell, circa 1837 and Dr Richard's wife, Mrs Eliza Purcell, was resident in the early 1850s when the house was valued at £21+ and held from Pierce Purcell. Mrs Eliza Purcell was the second daughter of Pierce Purcell of Altimira. Occupied by Daniel Stephen Wigmore in the early 20th century. The Irish Tourist Association Survey of the 1940s noted that it was then the residence of the O'Sullivan family. It is no longer extant.	Knockbarry	Liscarroll	Mallow	Liscarroll 240	Orrery and Kilmore	Cork	Lat/Lon: 52.24540 -8.80387 OSI Ref: R451 107 Discovery map #73. OS Sheet #16.

Archival sources

• Cork County Library: Irish Tourist Association Survey files, Parish of Liscarroll
• National Archives of Ireland: Encumbered Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Purcell, 12 Nov 1850, Vol 3 (41), MRGS 39/001, (microfilm copy in NUIG)

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. : Barony of Duhallow, 110 (Lackeel), Part II, 17 (Dromore North)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Orrery and Kilmore, 77 (Altamira), 79 (Highfort)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Barretts, 22 (Burnfort)
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND'[Primary Valuation of Tenements]', 1850-1858. : Barony of Fermoy, 123 (Annabella)
• 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] : 377
• LEET, Ambrose. A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 168 (Dromore - U. Willliamson), 5 (Annabella)
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: II, 208 (Upper Dromore - Rev B. Williamson), 338-339 (Annabella), 280-281 (Altamira & Highfort)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 132

Modern printed sources

• BENCE-JONES, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 3 (Altamira), 228 (Old Dromore)
• BURKE, Sir Bernard. A genealogical and heraldic history of the Landed Gentry of Ireland. London: Harrison & Sons, 1904: 498
• HAJBA, Anna-Maria. Historical Genealogical Architectural notes on some Houses of Cork. Volume I: North Cork. Whitegate: Ballinakella Press, 2002: 28, 29, 88, 150