Estate: Browne (Westport)

Associated Families

• Browne (Marquess of Sligo)

Description

A very large estate in county Mayo, much of it formerly Bourke property, was acquired by Colonel John Browne in the late 17th century following the Acts of Settlement. He also owned lands in a number of baronies in county Galway and other counties. Over 12,500 acres in counties Mayo, Galway and Roscommon were granted to him in May 1677 and he also received grants of smaller acreages in June and August of 1677 and in March 1681. Following the Jacobite War the Colonel was forced to sell much of his property but he retained most of his lands in the county Mayo baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole and some of his property in the barony of Carra. These estates formed the nucleus of what became the largest estate in county Mayo owned by the Browne family of Westport. During the 18th century additional estates were purchased from the Bell family in the barony of Clanmorris; from Christopher Irwin in county Roscommon; from the Medlycotts at Newport Pratt; from John Evelyn at Oldhead and the remainder of the Bourke estate. In 1801 the Arbuthnot estate at Burrishoole, which included Aughness in the barony of Erris, was purchased and in 1818 the Lehinch estate in the baronies of Kilmaine and Clanmorris was bought from Henry Blake of Renvyle, county Galway. Although George Browne 3rd Marquess of Sligo sold some property in 1854, he remained the largest landholder in county Mayo, owning 114,881 acres in 1876. Most of the estate was sold to the Congested Districts Board in 1914 although the sale was not formally finalized until the early 1920s with the Land Commission. The family retained Westport House.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	Map Ref
Westport House (H304) Built on the site of the O'Malley castle of Cathair na Mart by Colonel John Browne, expanded by his grandson to the design of Richard Cassels, the house remained in the possession of the Browne family for over three centuries. The house and grounds have functioned as a major tourist attraction in the west of Ireland since the early 1960s. Sold in January 2017 to Hotel Westport Ltd, a company owned by the locally based Hughes family.	Westport Demesne	Oughaval	Westport	Westport Urban 155	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.80017 -9.53611 OSI Ref: L988 845 Discovery map #31. OS Sheet #88.
Mount Browne (H305) A house built in the early 18th century and used by the first generations of Brownes at Westport. Wilson describes it as the seat of Mr. Browne in 1786. It was later occupied by Denis Browne, Member of Parliament, brother of the 1st Marquess of Sligo, and other family members. It was leased by John D. Browne from the Marquess of Sligo's estate at the time of Griffith's Valuation, when it was valued at £30. The Irish Tourist Association file of the 1940s states that the mansion had been demolished.	Mountbrown	Aghagower	Westport	Aghagower North 132	Burrishoole	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.77486 -9.47602 OSI Ref: M027816 Discovery map #31. OS Sheet #88.
Oldhead House/Oldhead Lodge (H306) Part of an estate bought by John Browne 3rd Earl of Altamont in 1794 this house, situated very close to the seashore, was let to various persons during the 19th century including Isidore Blake, Reverend Francis Ruttledge. At the tie of Griffith's Valuation it was occupied by Campbell Sawers and valued at £8. It is labelled Oldhead Lodge on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map but as Oldhead House on the later 25-inch edition. In 1936 the house was sold to John Gardner of Lackafinna, Cong, county Mayo. It later became a hotel and is now the centre of a holiday village.	Oldhead	Kilgeever	Westport	Louisburgh 143	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.77438 -9.77639 OSI Ref: L829 820 Discovery map #30. OS Sheet #86.
Boathaven Lodge (H307) Like Oldhead House, a summer residence, owned by the Browne family, Marquesses of Sligo, and let to various persons. At the time of Griffith's Valuation it was leased by Hugh Wilbraham and valued at £14. It is labelled Boathaven Lodge on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map but does not appear on the 25-inch edition of the 1890s. Modern building occupy the site now.	Oldhead	Kilgeever	Westport	Louisburgh 143	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.77894 -9.77203 OSI Ref: L832 825 Discovery map #30. OS Sheet #86.
Cherry Cottage (H308) A house inhabited mainly by agents to the Marquess of Sligo, including George Hildebrand in the mid nineteenth century and George Taylor in the early 20th century. At the time of Griffith's Valuation it was valued at £15. The Hastings interest in this house was sold in the Landed Estates' Court in November 1874. It is still extant.	Drumminaweelaun	Oughaval	Westport	Westport Rural 154	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.79263 -9.56316 OSI Ref: L970 837 Discovery map #31. OS Sheet #87.
Summerville/Villa Lodge (H309) A house orginally built for a member of the Browne family, it was leased by the 2nd Marquess of Sligo to Courtney Kenny of Ballinrobe in 1830 and was used by the Kennys as a summer residence. Courtney Kenny leased the property to John Sidney Smith, agent to the Westport estate in 1855. The house was valued at £14 at this time. A drawing, map and 20th century accounts re this property are included in the Kenny Papers.	Rossbeg	Oughaval	Westport	Westport Rural 154	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.79355 -9.56167 OSI Ref: L971 838 Discovery map #31. OS Sheet #87.
Delphi Lodge (H310) The original house is marked on Bald's map of Mayo compiled between 1809 and 1816 so it was most likely built in the early 1810s and certainly was in existence by 1816. It was constructed as a sporting lodge for the 2nd Marquess of Sligo, who had visited Delphi in Greece. It was leased to Thomas Spencer Lindsey of Hollymount House, county Mayo in the 1820s, to Stepney St George of Headford Castle, county Galway in the 1830s and to the Honourable Reverend William Conynham Plunket, a brother of Bishop Thomas Plunket, in the 1850s. Plunket was succeeded as tenant by Captain and Mrs Houstoun and other members of the Houstoun family. William Weinholt took over the lease of Delphi Lodge in 1884 and it was at this time that the building of a new 'Delphi House' began, which is the house that now occupies the site. When the 6th Marquess of Sligo sold his estate to the Land Commission, he bought back this property and the 20th century history of Delphi Lodge is well documented in the Westport Estate Papers. The house was bought by Peter Mantle in the 1980s and is now run as a guest house specializing in fishing holidays.	Tawnyinlough	Kilgeever	Westport	Bundorragha 130	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.63193 -9.74621 OSI Ref: L845 661 Discovery map #37. OS Sheet #115.
Aasleagh Lodge (H311) Documents in the Westport Estate Papers record the leasing of the fishing at Aasleagh 'Assdia' by the Viscounts Bourke of Mayo to the ffrench family of Galway in the 17th century. The 19th century lodge was let to the Honourable David Plunket in the 1850s. It was burnt down in 1923 but renovated and leased as a fishing lodge to various persons. It was let to Lord and Lady Brabourne, relatives of the Brownes of Westport, in the 1970s before its sale to the Fisheries Board.	Srahatloe	Aghagower	Westport	Erriff 131	Murrisk	Mayo	Lat/Lon: 53.61685 -9.67001 OSI Ref: L895643 Discovery map #37. OS Sheet #116.

Archival sources

• Irish Architectural Archive: Delphi Lodge photos. 011/051
• Mayo County Library: Irish Tourist Association. Topographical and General Survey, 1941-1945. File Mayo West 1-6, parish of Aghagower (Mountbrown)
• National Archives of Ireland: Landed Estates’ Court Rentals (O’Brien), Hastings, 6 Nov 1874, Vol 117, MRGS 39/053, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
• National Archives of Ireland: Papers of legal firm of Cathcart and Hemphill relating to estates of Marquess of Sligo, 1677-1905. M.5788 (1-43)
• National Archives of Ireland: Solicitors' Papers re Moy and other fisheries, Co Mayo and associated families of Gore, Browne, Ormsby, Jones, Atkinson, Little, Clarke, Orme, FitzGerald and Clive, 1611-1957. Acc. 1165
• National Archives of Ireland: Records of Kelly, Burke & Gill, solicitors, Westport, include copy leases from the Brownes to John Gibbons and William Kelly, 1782, 1854. Business Records Survey, Mayo 4/1-2
• National Library of Ireland: Westport Estate Papers 1594-1993, Collection List 78
• National Library of Ireland: Microfilm of papers and rentals relating to Browne family of Westport, Co Mayo, originals now in NLI. p.940
• National Library of Ireland: Pedigree of Browne of England and of The Neale, Westport, Breafwy, Palmerstown, Ellistron and Brownestown, Co Mayo 1438-1845. GO MS 172, 4-41
• National Library of Ireland: Map of Westport demesne and channel. 21.F.41(1)
• National Library of Ireland: Mahon of Castlegar Papers, sketch plans of Castlegar House and plan of farmyard at Westport House, c 1800. MS 24,593
• Trinity College Dublin: Correspondence of Howe Peter 2nd Marquess of Sligo, 1815-1839. Ms 6403

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. : Westport Union, 6 (Mount Browne), 54 (Aasleagh), 83 (Cherry Cottage), 87 (Summerville), 107 (Westport House), 115 (Dephi) & 134 (Boathaven)
• 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] : 415
• LEET, Ambrose. A directory to the market towns, villages, gentlemen's seats, and other noted places in Ireland. Dublin: Printed by B. Smith, 1814 : 294 (Mount Browne), 387 (Westport House)
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol I, 92 (Mount Browne) & 94 (Westport House & Boathaven)
• M'PARLAN, James. Statistical survey of the county of Mayo. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1802: 102
• ORDNANCE SURVEY NAME BOOKS, County Mayo: Vol IV, 383 & 406 (Boathaven), 392 & 425 (Delphi), Vol VI, 187 (Cherry Cottage) & 192 (Villa Lodge)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of Untenanted Lands in Rural Districts, Distinguishing Demesnes on Which There is a Mansion..., HC 1906, c, 177: 370 (Westport House)
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland, 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 243 and index
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 24th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland, [Cd 8356], HC 1916, vi, 564-586. Appendix VIII: 54
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 312
• SLATER, Isaac. Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats. (Manchester: 1894) : xxxiv, 80 (Westport House)
• 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: 215
• WILSON, William. The Post-Chaise Companion or Travellers Directory Through Ireland. The author: Dublin, 1786 : 396 (Mount Browne)
• YOUNG, Arthur. A Tour in Ireland 1776-1779. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1970 reprint: 250-258

Modern printed sources

• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: Ó FLANAGÁIN, Peadar. An outline history of the town of Westport – Part I – the origins and early development of the town of Westport, 1750-1780. I (1981), 5-12
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: Ó FLANAGÁIN, Peadar. An outline history of the town of Westport – Part II. Westport – A new town 1780-1825. II (1982), 35-52
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: JEFFERS, Brendan. Westport, an early Irish example of Town Planning, 1734-1950. VIII (1988), 40-46
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: JEFFERS, Brendan. Westport – An Early Irish Example of Town Planning. IX (1989), 48-59
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: MULLOY, Sheila. His Excellency the Marquis of Anglesey, Lord Lieutenant and General Governor of Ireland, visits Westport, April 1831, IX (1989), 60-65
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: DUFFY, Fintan. Westport Estate and Town: an Example of Planned Settlement according to Picturesque Principles – Part I. XIX (1999), 48-63
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: DUFFY, Fintan. Westport Estate and Town: an Example of Planned Settlement according to Picturesque Principles – Part II. XXI (2001), 14-26
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: LANE, Pádraig G. Some Mayo Rents and Leases of Pre-Famine Years. XXIII (2003), 94-98
• Cathair na Mart : Journal of the Westport Historical Society: CLESHAM, Brigid. The Westport Estate Papers. XXVI (2008), 90-105
• Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies: the journal of the Irish Georgian Society. : BOWE, Patrick. Irish Sporting Lodges. VII (2004), 106-139
• Irish Arts Review: CHAMBERS, Anne. The Westport House Document Collection. Special Edition (2004), 29-35
• Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society: CLESHAM, Brigid. Lord Altamont's letters to Lord Lucan about the Act of Union 1800. LIV (2002), 25-34
• Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society: O’MALLEY, Sir Eoin (Owen). O’Malleys between 1651 and 1725. XXV (1952-1953), 32-46
• Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society: Nĺ CHINNÉIDE, Síle. A Frenchman’s Tour of Connacht in 1791. XXXV (1976), 52-66
• The Irish Genealogist: CHAMNEY, Anne R. Extracts from Father Clare’s Annotations to the Conformity Rolls, include reference to this family. X (2001), 427-454
• Weekly Irish Times: 19 Nov 1938 Westport House
• BENCE-JONES, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 283
• HEANEY, Henry (ed). The Irish Journals of Robert Graham of Redgorton. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1999: 263 (Delphi)
• HOWARD, Joseph Jackson and CRISP, Frederick Arthur (eds). Visitation of Ireland. Baltimore: reprint by Genealogical Publishing Co. Inc., 1973: Vol V, 26-34
• KINSELLA, Eoin ‘The articles of surrender and the Williamite settlement of Ireland: a case study of Colonel John Browne (1640-1711)’, Ph.D. thesis, University College, Dublin, 2011. : All
• MANTLE, Peter. Double Delphi, The Rise and Fall of a Fisherman's Fantasy, Wallop Books, 2017.: All
• MCVEIGH, John (ed). Richard Pococke's Irish Tours. Blackrock, Co Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1995: 87-88
• MOSLEY, Charles (ed). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999: II, 2640-2644
• NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: Sligo, originals now in National Library. No. 204
• RUANE, Patrick. Thesis entitled Mayo Country Houses before 1840 - Vernacular country houses in the classical tradition (M.U.B.C.), 1996: Appendix VI
• SLIGO, The 10th Marquess. Westport House and The Brownes. Westport: Westport House, (2nd edition) 1998 : All