George
Charles Bingham was born on the 16th of April 1800, third Earl of
Lucan; he was a soldier, Landlord and MP.
The eldest son of Richard Bingham, 2nd earl of Lucan and Elizabeth
Belasyse. As a member of a family with
status he did what was expected of him and joined the military. In 1826 he had become Lieutenant-Colonel of
the 17th Lancers by securing his promotions through purchases, he
was however unpopular with his officers and men. In April 1837, the third earl of Lucan took
the decision to move to Castlebar, he retired on half pay from the army. This decision would allow him to have greater
control over the management of his estate.
He succeeded his father to the earldom in 1839. The Lucan family formerly Bingham had a long
tradition of connection with Castlebar; an outline of their family tree is
shown below. Lucan’s residence in
Castlebar was a lodge known as Lawn House; Castlebar house was burned in 1798. The site for the new lodge was surveyed in
1825. In terms of gentleman’s homes elsewhere
during the period it was a modest dwelling. The building is now St Joseph’s
Secondary school.
The Model farm was located in the townland of Gorteendrunagh/ Guirtin Drunach –meaning little field of strife. The townland is situated in the west side of Castlebar, including a portion of the town. It is recorded in The Field Name Book as containing 243.5 acres statute measure arable and pasture and included the eastern suburbs of Castlebar, the Military Barracks, Lawn house and Demesne and is traversed by several roads.
The Model farm was located in the townland of Gorteendrunagh/ Guirtin Drunach –meaning little field of strife. The townland is situated in the west side of Castlebar, including a portion of the town. It is recorded in The Field Name Book as containing 243.5 acres statute measure arable and pasture and included the eastern suburbs of Castlebar, the Military Barracks, Lawn house and Demesne and is traversed by several roads.
Buildings at the Farm 1901 Stable 8, Coach House,1 Harness Room, 1 Cow House, 8 Dairy, 3 Piggery, 13 Fowl House, 2 Boiling House, 1 Barn, 4 Turf House, 2 Workshop 2 Shed, 5 Store, 2 Forge, 1 Corn Mill, 1 Saw Mill, 1 Kiln, 1 Engine House, 1 Source; Census Returns 1901.Click on image for link. |
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Arrival of the Earl and Countess of Lucan.
The arrival of the Earl and Countess of Lucan and family on Wednesday last at the lawn filled all classes in this town and its vicinity with the liveliest joy. His Lordship’s tenantry were anxious to testify their gratification by escorting his lordship into town and illuminating their houses, but this expression of their respect and esteem was suppressed at the earnest desire of Lord Lucan himself, with whose feelings at the demise of his father would have been inconsistent. Many of our readers will remember the congratulations with which his Lordship as Lord Bingham, was greeted on his first visit to Castlebar; and we know that a renewal of the rejoicings of that period would no more than adequately express the feelings of the inhabitants of Castlebar on this occasion.
We rejoice to find that his Lordship’s health, once severely threatened, is fully restored ; and that it is his intention to spend a considerable portion of each year at the Lawn. Various circumstances have long concurred to deprive Castlebar of the benefits that must arise from the residence of the head of the Bingham family in it. And though we are aware that the friends and tenants of the late Earl would now, as they have often done, acknowledge with gratitude that the landlord’s place was as well supplied as it could by possibility have been, by a humane, zealous and enlightened agent; yet still the occasional presence of the landlord himself must always be an advantage. That advantage is greatly enhanced when the landlord is one who has proved in more than one situation of public responsibility that he is possessed of high talents, of most thorough business habits, and an earnest regard for the interests of those in any way dependant upon him.
When his lordship resigned the command of the 17th Lancers it was unanimously admitted that no officer had ever more combined a strict and uncompromising regard for discipline with an entire control over the affections of the soldiers; we believe that no officer ever received a more flattering proof of the esteem of the corps which he commanded than his Lordship.
We congratulate then, the tenantry of his Lordship’s large estates on the accession to those estates and to the family title of one so likely to interest himself for the improvement of the condition of the lower classes; and we trust that his lordship will enter actively upon all the duties which belong to his high station in Mayo. That society is less disturbed, and life and property more secure in this neighbourhood than in any other part of the country is, all will admit, mainly owing to the firmness and activity with which the laws have been enforced by the noble Earl’s agent. As the times become more critical, and prospects of society more clouded, it is a circumstance particularly fortunate that his Lordships personal presence and influence should be thrown into the scale in favour of social order and security.
We only echo the ardent wishes of every tenant on his Lordships estates, and we are bold to say of every respectable inhabitant of Mayo, when we pray that himself, his noble Countess and family may find everything here of such an agreeable nature as to induce their prolonged residence amongst us; and that they may long live in health and happiness to enjoy the satisfaction that must ever result from a due discharge of the duties that pertain to exalted rank, ample fortune and high character. Source ; The Mayo Constitution,September 10th 1839.
Public Meeting
To address the Earl of Lucan
REQUISITION
Castlebar, Sept 10, 1839.
We the undersigned respectfully request a meeting of the inhabitants of Castlebar and its vicinity, at the courthouse, on Wednesday, the 11th inst., for the purpose of adopting a congratulatory address to be presented to the Right Hon., the Earl of Lucan, upon the occasion of his arrival at Castlebar.
A meeting having been convened in pursuance of the above requisition which received a large number of respectable signatures, John Burke, Esq., of Ballynew, was called to the chair, when the following address was adopted, and was presented by the Chairman, accompanied by the following gentlemen: Wm .B Stoney,Rector,Hon.,Fredrick Cavendish, Chas. O Malley, Patrick Boyd, Charles Malley, John C. Garvey, Graham Acton, John Malley, Charles F. Higgins, and John Sheridan, Esqrs.
ADDRESS
OF THE INHABITANTS OF CASTLEBAR AND ITS VICINITY
TO THE RT.HON.THE EARL OF LUCAN.
Castlebar, Sept. 13th 1839.
My Lord,
We, the inhabitants of Castlebar and its vicinity, with the most sincere delight take this early opportunity of expressing the unbounded gratification created in our minds, by the appearance of your lordship amongst us.
At the same time we beg with profound respect, to offer our sympathy on the melancholy decease of your noble father, the late Earl of Lucan, at whose death we are equally concerned and grieved.
But, my Lord, while we condole with your Lordship we beg leave to congratulate you on the state of your health, and on your safe arrival among your tenantry, and on the estates of your ancestors.
We have, my Lord, always rejoiced at the visits of you and your family to this country, and never were more inclined to do so than on the present occasion, when your Lordship cheers us by your presence ,accompanied by your amiable Countess and interesting family.
And we assure your Lordship it is our sincerest wish, that we may long enjoy the cheering pleasure of your Lordship’s and their presence amongst us in prosperity and happiness.
We have the honour to be,
My Lord,
With sentiments of profound respect,
Your Lordships’
Very obedient humble servants,
Valentine O,C. Blake High Sheriff, Wm Glanville, John Bourke, Chairman, George Papworth, Frederick Cavendish, Wm. Malley, M.D., William B. Stoney, Rector, Samuel Huston, Charles O Malley, Hawthorn Lodge, George Keys, Patrick Boyd, Mt Gordon, Henry Blake, Fisherhill, Richard Gibbons, P.P.,Joseph Bourke, Greenhill, John Malley, John Sheridan, Patrick Fitzgerald, John B. Lovelock, Henry Sheridan, James Hamilton, Clk, William Young, Patrick Harte, John Dudgeon, George Acton, William Kearney, Ballinvilla, Thomas Christie, Graham Acton, M.D., Andrew Gallagher, Richmond, Charles Malley, Thomas Moclair, Richard Morris, Patrick Mc Hugh, Edward Malley, Sen., Wm. Walsh, Alexander Bole, William Lavelle, Robert Blakeney, Matthew Archdeacon, James Malley, Joseph Gray, George Sheridan, Rockfield, Patrick Lavelle, John Langston, George Keane, Henry Pasley, Rector, Ballyheane, Anthony Walsh, Peter Bourke, Ballynew, John Walsh, John C Garvey, Edward Jeffers, Thomas Dillon, Surgeon, Co. Infirmary, John Troy, Richard Henry, P.P., Luke Christopher, Ned Davis, Thomas Quinn, Ignatius Kelly, Thomas Brennan, William Malley, Turlough, Thomas Geraughty, James Foy, Stephen Bourke, Thomas Haslett, John Glennon, John Gaffney, Moses Gray, Wm. Taylor, Robert Mc Guinness, Henry Murdock, Davis.R Young, Martin Dea, Charles Ellison, Patrick Walsh, William Atkinson, Tobias Butler, Richard Keane, John Beirne, Edward Walsh, Edward Malley, Jnr, Patrick Malley, John Young, William Masterson, John Knight,James Arthur, Alexander S Abbott, John Mc Hale, Henry Brett, William Semple, Turlough, Timothy Toole, John A. Malley, Charles F Higgins, Ferdinand Langston, Richard Gallaher, John Hamilton, Rockfield, James Conry, Charles Semple, Turlough, David Healy, John Flynn, Patrick Carney, Thomas Ellis, George M Sheridan, Pheasant Hill, Patrick Mc Greal, William Hynes, Thomas Geraghty, Martin Sheridan, Martin Lyons, Patrick Cogan, John Wilson, John Trimbleton, Edward Malley, Newport, Roger O’Dowd, Patrick Hughes, Ballynew, Redmond Carney, William Mc Nally, Redmond L. Carney, John Mc Nally, Henry Murphy, Matthew Gibbons, William Mc Tigue, Michael O Malley, James Mc Andrew, Patrick Malley, James Coyne, Austin O Malley, William Geraghty, John Layng, John Atkinson, John Harrison, Patrick Toole, Charles O Malley, Cloonane, Wm Mc Adam, Matthew Daniel, Theobald Thomas, Anthony Mc Hale, Charles Evans, David Tresham.
His Lordship’s Answer.
GENTLEMEN.
I thank you for the address you have presented to me. I have already received too many proofs of kindness towards myself, and friendly feeling for the different members of my family, to be unprepared for this new mark of your regard.
It is my intention to reside here a considerable portion of my time, and it shall be my study, by every means in my power to promote the property of Castlebar and the interests and happiness of all its inhabitants.
In the discharge of my duties of Landlord, or in any other capacity in which it may be my duty to act, I trust I shall give satisfaction, and succeed in retaining that good opinion you are at present pleased to entertain of me.
Lucan, Castlebar, Sept.13, 1839.
The principal landlords around Castlebar are Lord Sligo (whose estate extends over an immense tract of Mayo), Lord Lucan, Lord Dillon, and Miss Gardiner. The opinions I heard of Lord Sligo were in his favour. He is said to have dealt very reasonably with his tenants around Castlebar, but his reputation in other parts of the country, I believe, does not smell so sweet. Lord Lucan is owner of the town of Castlebar, or rather its ground rents, and the people about here don’t speak very highly of his efforts to improve the town and the district from which he draws his princely income. The town is without a market house for the accommodation of the country folk who bring their butter and eggs and fowl, and pay for the privilege of endeavouring to dispose of them in the street. Who that has been in Castlebar has not admired the green opposite Mrs Murtagh’s hotel; and thought what a pleasant public place of resort it could be made by a little expenditure? It lies in the centre of a large square – quite as large as Mountjoy square in the metropolis. A line of chains similar to those running along a quay wall cuts it off from the roadway, and inside this line of chains it is bordered by a pathway. You can promenade pleasantly along this pathway, but if the verdant grassy look of the green tempts you to wander over it, you will not have gone far when you are ankle deep in mud. Well the town commissioners – for there is a town board here, and, as in Ballina, their duties are confined to sweeping the streets and lighting a few gas lamps – are willing, it appears, to drain the green and plant it nicely with trees if Lord Lucan gives them complete control over it, but dog-in-the-manger like he will neither do that nor improve the green himself. His lordship is remarkable also for his craze for making huge cumbersome farms. Immediately surrounding Castlebar is the famous model farm of Lord Lucan. It comprises a thousand acres which are used for the support of a dairy of 200 cows. All the milk is churned and butter imported to London in 2lb lumps, where it finds a ready market. During the three summer months 600lbs of butter are exported in this fashion weekly, and a less quantity of course during the remainder of the year. The dairy is equipped with the most modern and improved machinery, and the separators and churns are driven by steam. There is a good deal of arable land on the farm, the produce of which is used by the cattle and other stock. There are thirty acres of oats, and this year the yield was 1ton 2cwt per acre. Four acres of cabbages yield forty tons to the acre. Thirty acres of Swedes yield 30 tons to the acre. The farm, although it is worked on high class principles, has severely felt the influence of the weather this year, for the crops are not so good either in quantity or quality as those of the last and preceding seasons. In fact I have heard on good authority the farm barely pays its expenses.
Before the establishment of this model farm a numerous and thriving class of cottiers occupied the suburbs of Castlebar. At that time every rood of ground maintained its man, but, as in the case of Sweet Auburn, after the famine of 1848, one only master grasped the whole demesne – that master was Lord Lucan, and how he grasped it illustrates a very curious feature of the many curious features of landlordism. A most extraordinary lease exists, or rather existed, in this district, for it is now almost extinct. Under one lease was grouped as many as twenty tenants. In some cases the tenants held joint interests, and in others one tenant only was mentioned in the instrument, and all others were sub-tenants, to him, but in every instance a clause provided that the rents of all should be paid together, and though even 15 of the tenants were able and willing to pay their rents would not be received until the rents of the other five were forthcoming. This arrangement afforded a twofold advantage to the landlord. In the first place it ensured full and punctual payment of the rents, for if two or three of the tenants under a lease were backward the others under the same instrument made up the deficit out of their own pockets in order to escape the costs of a process or the death sentence of eviction. And, secondly, if the landlord, wishing to gain possession of the land, determined on the latter course of action, the extermination was carried out most cheaply and expeditiously. In this manner was the country around Castlebar cleared after ’48 and the model farm established. Lord Lucan has another immense farm worked on similar principles at Kilmeena, near Newport, and a third at Cloonaglashiel, in the neigbourhood of Ballinrobe. The latter consists of about 2200 acres. It was formerly worked by a Scotchman named Simpson. His lease having lapsed about three years ago, he applied for a reduction in his rent and was refused, whereupon he surrendered the farm and was awarded £2,200 as compensation for his improvements. These three immense farms are used for grazing and dairying purposes, and as Lord Lucan breeds his own cattle he never patronises the local fairs, a course which is also murmured against by the people here. Landlords holding vast tracts in their own lands for grazing purposes can often do a deal of good by purchasing stock at the local fairs. As an instance of this I was informed by an extensive cattle dealer that the fair of Newtowngore, a short distance outside Ballina, was attended on last Monday by an agent of Lord Cloncurry, and so large was the number of cattle purchased by him for fattening on lands held by his lordship in the county of Galway that prices at the fair went up about ten shillings per head. Then again, Lord Lucan is an absentee – In fact, the four principal landlords of the county – Lord Dillon, Lord Sligo, Lord Lucan, and Sir Richard Palmer - reside out of Ireland, and drain County Mayo every year of over £120,000. FREEMANS JOURNAL AND DAILY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER 17thNOVEMBER 1885.
To address the Earl of Lucan
REQUISITION
Castlebar, Sept 10, 1839.
We the undersigned respectfully request a meeting of the inhabitants of Castlebar and its vicinity, at the courthouse, on Wednesday, the 11th inst., for the purpose of adopting a congratulatory address to be presented to the Right Hon., the Earl of Lucan, upon the occasion of his arrival at Castlebar.
A meeting having been convened in pursuance of the above requisition which received a large number of respectable signatures, John Burke, Esq., of Ballynew, was called to the chair, when the following address was adopted, and was presented by the Chairman, accompanied by the following gentlemen: Wm .B Stoney,Rector,Hon.,Fredrick Cavendish, Chas. O Malley, Patrick Boyd, Charles Malley, John C. Garvey, Graham Acton, John Malley, Charles F. Higgins, and John Sheridan, Esqrs.
ADDRESS
OF THE INHABITANTS OF CASTLEBAR AND ITS VICINITY
TO THE RT.HON.THE EARL OF LUCAN.
Castlebar, Sept. 13th 1839.
My Lord,
We, the inhabitants of Castlebar and its vicinity, with the most sincere delight take this early opportunity of expressing the unbounded gratification created in our minds, by the appearance of your lordship amongst us.
At the same time we beg with profound respect, to offer our sympathy on the melancholy decease of your noble father, the late Earl of Lucan, at whose death we are equally concerned and grieved.
But, my Lord, while we condole with your Lordship we beg leave to congratulate you on the state of your health, and on your safe arrival among your tenantry, and on the estates of your ancestors.
We have, my Lord, always rejoiced at the visits of you and your family to this country, and never were more inclined to do so than on the present occasion, when your Lordship cheers us by your presence ,accompanied by your amiable Countess and interesting family.
And we assure your Lordship it is our sincerest wish, that we may long enjoy the cheering pleasure of your Lordship’s and their presence amongst us in prosperity and happiness.
We have the honour to be,
My Lord,
With sentiments of profound respect,
Your Lordships’
Very obedient humble servants,
Valentine O,C. Blake High Sheriff, Wm Glanville, John Bourke, Chairman, George Papworth, Frederick Cavendish, Wm. Malley, M.D., William B. Stoney, Rector, Samuel Huston, Charles O Malley, Hawthorn Lodge, George Keys, Patrick Boyd, Mt Gordon, Henry Blake, Fisherhill, Richard Gibbons, P.P.,Joseph Bourke, Greenhill, John Malley, John Sheridan, Patrick Fitzgerald, John B. Lovelock, Henry Sheridan, James Hamilton, Clk, William Young, Patrick Harte, John Dudgeon, George Acton, William Kearney, Ballinvilla, Thomas Christie, Graham Acton, M.D., Andrew Gallagher, Richmond, Charles Malley, Thomas Moclair, Richard Morris, Patrick Mc Hugh, Edward Malley, Sen., Wm. Walsh, Alexander Bole, William Lavelle, Robert Blakeney, Matthew Archdeacon, James Malley, Joseph Gray, George Sheridan, Rockfield, Patrick Lavelle, John Langston, George Keane, Henry Pasley, Rector, Ballyheane, Anthony Walsh, Peter Bourke, Ballynew, John Walsh, John C Garvey, Edward Jeffers, Thomas Dillon, Surgeon, Co. Infirmary, John Troy, Richard Henry, P.P., Luke Christopher, Ned Davis, Thomas Quinn, Ignatius Kelly, Thomas Brennan, William Malley, Turlough, Thomas Geraughty, James Foy, Stephen Bourke, Thomas Haslett, John Glennon, John Gaffney, Moses Gray, Wm. Taylor, Robert Mc Guinness, Henry Murdock, Davis.R Young, Martin Dea, Charles Ellison, Patrick Walsh, William Atkinson, Tobias Butler, Richard Keane, John Beirne, Edward Walsh, Edward Malley, Jnr, Patrick Malley, John Young, William Masterson, John Knight,James Arthur, Alexander S Abbott, John Mc Hale, Henry Brett, William Semple, Turlough, Timothy Toole, John A. Malley, Charles F Higgins, Ferdinand Langston, Richard Gallaher, John Hamilton, Rockfield, James Conry, Charles Semple, Turlough, David Healy, John Flynn, Patrick Carney, Thomas Ellis, George M Sheridan, Pheasant Hill, Patrick Mc Greal, William Hynes, Thomas Geraghty, Martin Sheridan, Martin Lyons, Patrick Cogan, John Wilson, John Trimbleton, Edward Malley, Newport, Roger O’Dowd, Patrick Hughes, Ballynew, Redmond Carney, William Mc Nally, Redmond L. Carney, John Mc Nally, Henry Murphy, Matthew Gibbons, William Mc Tigue, Michael O Malley, James Mc Andrew, Patrick Malley, James Coyne, Austin O Malley, William Geraghty, John Layng, John Atkinson, John Harrison, Patrick Toole, Charles O Malley, Cloonane, Wm Mc Adam, Matthew Daniel, Theobald Thomas, Anthony Mc Hale, Charles Evans, David Tresham.
His Lordship’s Answer.
GENTLEMEN.
I thank you for the address you have presented to me. I have already received too many proofs of kindness towards myself, and friendly feeling for the different members of my family, to be unprepared for this new mark of your regard.
It is my intention to reside here a considerable portion of my time, and it shall be my study, by every means in my power to promote the property of Castlebar and the interests and happiness of all its inhabitants.
In the discharge of my duties of Landlord, or in any other capacity in which it may be my duty to act, I trust I shall give satisfaction, and succeed in retaining that good opinion you are at present pleased to entertain of me.
Lucan, Castlebar, Sept.13, 1839.
The principal landlords around Castlebar are Lord Sligo (whose estate extends over an immense tract of Mayo), Lord Lucan, Lord Dillon, and Miss Gardiner. The opinions I heard of Lord Sligo were in his favour. He is said to have dealt very reasonably with his tenants around Castlebar, but his reputation in other parts of the country, I believe, does not smell so sweet. Lord Lucan is owner of the town of Castlebar, or rather its ground rents, and the people about here don’t speak very highly of his efforts to improve the town and the district from which he draws his princely income. The town is without a market house for the accommodation of the country folk who bring their butter and eggs and fowl, and pay for the privilege of endeavouring to dispose of them in the street. Who that has been in Castlebar has not admired the green opposite Mrs Murtagh’s hotel; and thought what a pleasant public place of resort it could be made by a little expenditure? It lies in the centre of a large square – quite as large as Mountjoy square in the metropolis. A line of chains similar to those running along a quay wall cuts it off from the roadway, and inside this line of chains it is bordered by a pathway. You can promenade pleasantly along this pathway, but if the verdant grassy look of the green tempts you to wander over it, you will not have gone far when you are ankle deep in mud. Well the town commissioners – for there is a town board here, and, as in Ballina, their duties are confined to sweeping the streets and lighting a few gas lamps – are willing, it appears, to drain the green and plant it nicely with trees if Lord Lucan gives them complete control over it, but dog-in-the-manger like he will neither do that nor improve the green himself. His lordship is remarkable also for his craze for making huge cumbersome farms. Immediately surrounding Castlebar is the famous model farm of Lord Lucan. It comprises a thousand acres which are used for the support of a dairy of 200 cows. All the milk is churned and butter imported to London in 2lb lumps, where it finds a ready market. During the three summer months 600lbs of butter are exported in this fashion weekly, and a less quantity of course during the remainder of the year. The dairy is equipped with the most modern and improved machinery, and the separators and churns are driven by steam. There is a good deal of arable land on the farm, the produce of which is used by the cattle and other stock. There are thirty acres of oats, and this year the yield was 1ton 2cwt per acre. Four acres of cabbages yield forty tons to the acre. Thirty acres of Swedes yield 30 tons to the acre. The farm, although it is worked on high class principles, has severely felt the influence of the weather this year, for the crops are not so good either in quantity or quality as those of the last and preceding seasons. In fact I have heard on good authority the farm barely pays its expenses.
Before the establishment of this model farm a numerous and thriving class of cottiers occupied the suburbs of Castlebar. At that time every rood of ground maintained its man, but, as in the case of Sweet Auburn, after the famine of 1848, one only master grasped the whole demesne – that master was Lord Lucan, and how he grasped it illustrates a very curious feature of the many curious features of landlordism. A most extraordinary lease exists, or rather existed, in this district, for it is now almost extinct. Under one lease was grouped as many as twenty tenants. In some cases the tenants held joint interests, and in others one tenant only was mentioned in the instrument, and all others were sub-tenants, to him, but in every instance a clause provided that the rents of all should be paid together, and though even 15 of the tenants were able and willing to pay their rents would not be received until the rents of the other five were forthcoming. This arrangement afforded a twofold advantage to the landlord. In the first place it ensured full and punctual payment of the rents, for if two or three of the tenants under a lease were backward the others under the same instrument made up the deficit out of their own pockets in order to escape the costs of a process or the death sentence of eviction. And, secondly, if the landlord, wishing to gain possession of the land, determined on the latter course of action, the extermination was carried out most cheaply and expeditiously. In this manner was the country around Castlebar cleared after ’48 and the model farm established. Lord Lucan has another immense farm worked on similar principles at Kilmeena, near Newport, and a third at Cloonaglashiel, in the neigbourhood of Ballinrobe. The latter consists of about 2200 acres. It was formerly worked by a Scotchman named Simpson. His lease having lapsed about three years ago, he applied for a reduction in his rent and was refused, whereupon he surrendered the farm and was awarded £2,200 as compensation for his improvements. These three immense farms are used for grazing and dairying purposes, and as Lord Lucan breeds his own cattle he never patronises the local fairs, a course which is also murmured against by the people here. Landlords holding vast tracts in their own lands for grazing purposes can often do a deal of good by purchasing stock at the local fairs. As an instance of this I was informed by an extensive cattle dealer that the fair of Newtowngore, a short distance outside Ballina, was attended on last Monday by an agent of Lord Cloncurry, and so large was the number of cattle purchased by him for fattening on lands held by his lordship in the county of Galway that prices at the fair went up about ten shillings per head. Then again, Lord Lucan is an absentee – In fact, the four principal landlords of the county – Lord Dillon, Lord Sligo, Lord Lucan, and Sir Richard Palmer - reside out of Ireland, and drain County Mayo every year of over £120,000. FREEMANS JOURNAL AND DAILY COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER 17thNOVEMBER 1885.
There
was a realisation that in order to attract well educated and trained farm
managers with an understanding of the requirements to make farming a success a
proper infrastructure had to be put in place.
This also extended to the proper provision of suitable accommodation for
the farm manager. Examples from various
quarters where this had been achieved were promoted through newspaper articles
in a drive to encourage English and Scotch farmers to invest in the area. One example quoted in the Mayo Constitution,
January 1850 is of a Scotch farmer
taking a farm at Gortnor Abbey, estate of John Ormsby, one mile from
Crossmolina, with 167 acres of good land, perfectly drained and fenced, a
‘mansion in thorough repair’ with gardens and offices at a rate of £1 5s. Per
English acre. The farm in possession for
one year had 30 acres of wheat, 30 acres of turnips with a yield of 25 tons on
each acre. The reader is informed that
in one field three ploughs were at work.
The stock on the farm is also listed as 8 superior farm horses, 48 cows,
60 pigs and 57 sheep. The farm also
employed 30 to 40 men daily at 3s a week including food.
Central to the planning of the model farms was the economic benefits to be achieved in labour savings from the layout of the buildings. Little expense was spared in the choice and use of materials or the scale of the build undertaken by the Earl. Consideration was clearly given to the practical and functional aspects of the layout adapted.
Architects firms were busy in England at this time creating drawings of model farms and layouts offering new designs for farm houses, offices and cottages, which they could tailor to the needs of the client. The plans made their way into various publications and these were advertised in National and local newspapers as a means of generating business. The plans included distinct instructions for construction, explanatory reference, with general rules for estimation of costs depending on the circumstances of the locality. The plans were offered to all classes of tenantry and adopted the best systems of farming. An example of this type of advertisement appeared in an issue of The Mayo Constitution on the 2nd of February 1841.
The plans for the Model Farm at Castlebar were drawn by John Buonarotti Papworth (1755 – 1847), a professional Architects firm based in London. The use of architectural services at this time tended to be confined to the wealthy Landlords who undertook projects like this. Papworth had also designed, Laleham House, Surrey, constructed in the period 1803 – 1806, seat of the Earl of Lucan. Later he designed Lawn House for the Bingham family. Lawn House is based on a portfolio drawing by Papworth dating from 1818 which he later developed.
The construction of the Model farm has been attributed to ? Henry, Mullins and Mc Mahon building contractors of Dublin by The Irish Architectural Archive. The exact date of construction is not known however the plans were drawn up in November 1840. It also appears construction was carried in phases as indicated by dates on and amendments to the plans. The details of specifications for each of the buildings are highlighted on the drawings and show the great care and detail that went into the construction.
Some of the specifications listed also give an insight into the materials used, for example the stables were to be formed with oak and with hard brick on edge. Ventilation was to be taken into account and the walls were to be of brickwork. The roof was to be found with copper nails on slating. The floors were to be paved and of sufficient height to prevent the entrance of water, with the outer levels made amply declining from its surface, and sufficient for drainage. The whole of the floor of the barn was paved as a machine was used, and it was not to be used as a threshing floor.
As found elsewhere the increasing prevalence of threshing machines meant that many of the newly constructed farms only needed one barn, which signalled the decline in the method of hand flailing. This was more particular to agricultural practice in England where the development of model farms was widespread. In conjunction with this spread of new building types was the new farming philosophy, where new approaches in scientific and economical methods were put into practice.
A review of the layout of the farm plan highlights some of the thought process that went into the design in order to maximise the functional nature of the buildings and achieve economy through the interrelationship of buildings.
The positioning of the threshing barn was important and in this case central to the plan. It had a double set of doors, positioned opposite each other, with one set opening onto the farm yard. This meant the straw was easily dispatched to the relevant livestock.
The Turnip cutting area in the farm is also close to the oxen and horse and bull stalls. The fodder shed is beside the cows, loose horses and Calves. The forge is beside the stables.
Management of manure, due to its use elsewhere on the farm was also important and a large manure pit was placed in the farmyard centre. Straw used as under bedding for the livestock was trodden down and replaced with fresh straw.
The Dairy in the plan adapted by the Earl the orientation is North West. Traditionally it would have faced north to keep the building cool; the dairy would also be positioned as far as possible from the yard to prevent contamination of the produce. On a tour of the farm in 1852 Francis Head a travel writer is brought into the dairy a by a series of rooms which are filled with what the Earl described as ‘Cheshire Cheeses’, while pointing to the supervisor and staff whom he described as follows
‘There, are Cheshire dairymaids under the direction of a Cheshire woman married to a Cheshire Man’
The Farmyard also had its own ‘tilery’ which he established to manufacture his own drainage tiles. Water supply to the farm was also considered with a cistern to capture rainfall, troughs in the farmyard and the positioning of water troughs at ground level for pigs and fowl.
The following is a list of buildings at the farm recorded during his visit. Stalls for 400 head of cattle. 48 loose boxes for horses for animals, 10 cattle yards, 2 bone mills, A Flax house, A twelve horse power steam engine. The uses listed for the steam engine were many. The engine was run by a Scotsman and heated by turf at a cost of 5s a day. It was used for the following. Threshing, Cleaning, Grinding, Chaff cutting, Sawing, Lifting water to the premises, heating a Kiln for drying corn.
Central to the planning of the model farms was the economic benefits to be achieved in labour savings from the layout of the buildings. Little expense was spared in the choice and use of materials or the scale of the build undertaken by the Earl. Consideration was clearly given to the practical and functional aspects of the layout adapted.
Architects firms were busy in England at this time creating drawings of model farms and layouts offering new designs for farm houses, offices and cottages, which they could tailor to the needs of the client. The plans made their way into various publications and these were advertised in National and local newspapers as a means of generating business. The plans included distinct instructions for construction, explanatory reference, with general rules for estimation of costs depending on the circumstances of the locality. The plans were offered to all classes of tenantry and adopted the best systems of farming. An example of this type of advertisement appeared in an issue of The Mayo Constitution on the 2nd of February 1841.
The plans for the Model Farm at Castlebar were drawn by John Buonarotti Papworth (1755 – 1847), a professional Architects firm based in London. The use of architectural services at this time tended to be confined to the wealthy Landlords who undertook projects like this. Papworth had also designed, Laleham House, Surrey, constructed in the period 1803 – 1806, seat of the Earl of Lucan. Later he designed Lawn House for the Bingham family. Lawn House is based on a portfolio drawing by Papworth dating from 1818 which he later developed.
The construction of the Model farm has been attributed to ? Henry, Mullins and Mc Mahon building contractors of Dublin by The Irish Architectural Archive. The exact date of construction is not known however the plans were drawn up in November 1840. It also appears construction was carried in phases as indicated by dates on and amendments to the plans. The details of specifications for each of the buildings are highlighted on the drawings and show the great care and detail that went into the construction.
Some of the specifications listed also give an insight into the materials used, for example the stables were to be formed with oak and with hard brick on edge. Ventilation was to be taken into account and the walls were to be of brickwork. The roof was to be found with copper nails on slating. The floors were to be paved and of sufficient height to prevent the entrance of water, with the outer levels made amply declining from its surface, and sufficient for drainage. The whole of the floor of the barn was paved as a machine was used, and it was not to be used as a threshing floor.
As found elsewhere the increasing prevalence of threshing machines meant that many of the newly constructed farms only needed one barn, which signalled the decline in the method of hand flailing. This was more particular to agricultural practice in England where the development of model farms was widespread. In conjunction with this spread of new building types was the new farming philosophy, where new approaches in scientific and economical methods were put into practice.
A review of the layout of the farm plan highlights some of the thought process that went into the design in order to maximise the functional nature of the buildings and achieve economy through the interrelationship of buildings.
The positioning of the threshing barn was important and in this case central to the plan. It had a double set of doors, positioned opposite each other, with one set opening onto the farm yard. This meant the straw was easily dispatched to the relevant livestock.
The Turnip cutting area in the farm is also close to the oxen and horse and bull stalls. The fodder shed is beside the cows, loose horses and Calves. The forge is beside the stables.
Management of manure, due to its use elsewhere on the farm was also important and a large manure pit was placed in the farmyard centre. Straw used as under bedding for the livestock was trodden down and replaced with fresh straw.
The Dairy in the plan adapted by the Earl the orientation is North West. Traditionally it would have faced north to keep the building cool; the dairy would also be positioned as far as possible from the yard to prevent contamination of the produce. On a tour of the farm in 1852 Francis Head a travel writer is brought into the dairy a by a series of rooms which are filled with what the Earl described as ‘Cheshire Cheeses’, while pointing to the supervisor and staff whom he described as follows
‘There, are Cheshire dairymaids under the direction of a Cheshire woman married to a Cheshire Man’
The Farmyard also had its own ‘tilery’ which he established to manufacture his own drainage tiles. Water supply to the farm was also considered with a cistern to capture rainfall, troughs in the farmyard and the positioning of water troughs at ground level for pigs and fowl.
The following is a list of buildings at the farm recorded during his visit. Stalls for 400 head of cattle. 48 loose boxes for horses for animals, 10 cattle yards, 2 bone mills, A Flax house, A twelve horse power steam engine. The uses listed for the steam engine were many. The engine was run by a Scotsman and heated by turf at a cost of 5s a day. It was used for the following. Threshing, Cleaning, Grinding, Chaff cutting, Sawing, Lifting water to the premises, heating a Kiln for drying corn.
Fisherhill farm in ruins today is an example of the model farm concept. This farmyard is located as short distance from where the Earl had his farmyard. The cut stone buildings and layout of the yard are characteristic of the period.
Following
the improvements made by The Earl to his land at Cloongashel, Ballinrobe, James Simpson
a Scottish farmer took possession of the
land in October 1856. The holding now,
2,260 acres was leased for £2,200 per year for 25 years. The Landlord paying all the taxes. Capital which Simpson had at the start of the
lease was in the region of £8,000 to £10,000.
The increased acreage in part is attributed to lands also let at
Gallowshill.
Details of stock and crops have been recorded by travel writers to the farm at different times. Simpson was opposed to the idea that Ireland was only suitable for grazing farms for the supply of beef and mutton to England. He was more in favour of the combined method of grazing and tillage and this he put into practice on his farm with 1350 acres under tillage and the remainder of his farm laid down in grass in 1862. The tillage of the land would have been helped by the removal of 13,000 carts of stones by Simpson after the lease was taken up, as highlighted under the claim for compensation for improvements.
The crop rotation system employed by him was a five-shift rotation, whereby a crop of Oats was followed by Turnips, and then either Wheat or Barley and lastly the land is sown with grass seed. The previous season in 1861 he had 230 acres of turnips planted; half of these were eaten by sheep in order to clean the land for the next crop.
The stock held by Simpson in 1862 is indicative of the scale of the operation; he had 150 bullocks and heifers. Store cattle were 200 which he could winterhouse and feed with harvested turnips and oil cakes. Keeping the Cattle indoors for a couple of months allowed the land to rest and also allowed Simpson to keep more stock by having early grass. Cattle stock were sent on a weekly basis to the Smithfield Market in Dublin. He also had 1,300 ewes and 1,400 lambs.
In a similar manner to the farm at Castlebar, he had a steam engine, both at Cloongashel and Gallowshill, which drove a saw mill, bone grinding mill, and a threshing machine. Despite the mechanisation the farm still had work for 14 pairs of horses.
The wages paid out by Simpson are also known from travel writings of the period. The ploughmen started off at a rate of 7s. per week on an incremental scale to 10s. a week which was the highest rate allowed. A ploughman that was married received 8s. a week, with a free cottage and garden with a cow. At harvest time the general rate of pay was 18d. a day. It is also noted that sometimes he employed up to 300 extra labourers during the harvest.
When asked in 1852 how the plan was working, the Scottish Steward at Castlebar replied,
‘At Ballinrobe, where the system has been completed, the result is that the land has become of double its former value; that is to say, would keep double the amount of stock.’
When the lease for the farm came up for renewal a failure to agree new terms led to a breakdown in the relationship between the Earl and Simpson. Given the economic climate and pressure from foreign competition, at the end of the lease Simpson was unable to profitably take the farm at the old rate and looked to reduce it by £150 per annum. This was not agreed, Simpson surrendered the farm and began a legal case seeking compensation for improvements to the farm. Compensation was eventually awarded but at a reduced rate much to the dismay of Simpson and the Judge who had praise for his style of farming but was constrained by law to award a lower amount. It appears Simpson returned to either England or Scotland in 1881.
Details of stock and crops have been recorded by travel writers to the farm at different times. Simpson was opposed to the idea that Ireland was only suitable for grazing farms for the supply of beef and mutton to England. He was more in favour of the combined method of grazing and tillage and this he put into practice on his farm with 1350 acres under tillage and the remainder of his farm laid down in grass in 1862. The tillage of the land would have been helped by the removal of 13,000 carts of stones by Simpson after the lease was taken up, as highlighted under the claim for compensation for improvements.
The crop rotation system employed by him was a five-shift rotation, whereby a crop of Oats was followed by Turnips, and then either Wheat or Barley and lastly the land is sown with grass seed. The previous season in 1861 he had 230 acres of turnips planted; half of these were eaten by sheep in order to clean the land for the next crop.
The stock held by Simpson in 1862 is indicative of the scale of the operation; he had 150 bullocks and heifers. Store cattle were 200 which he could winterhouse and feed with harvested turnips and oil cakes. Keeping the Cattle indoors for a couple of months allowed the land to rest and also allowed Simpson to keep more stock by having early grass. Cattle stock were sent on a weekly basis to the Smithfield Market in Dublin. He also had 1,300 ewes and 1,400 lambs.
In a similar manner to the farm at Castlebar, he had a steam engine, both at Cloongashel and Gallowshill, which drove a saw mill, bone grinding mill, and a threshing machine. Despite the mechanisation the farm still had work for 14 pairs of horses.
The wages paid out by Simpson are also known from travel writings of the period. The ploughmen started off at a rate of 7s. per week on an incremental scale to 10s. a week which was the highest rate allowed. A ploughman that was married received 8s. a week, with a free cottage and garden with a cow. At harvest time the general rate of pay was 18d. a day. It is also noted that sometimes he employed up to 300 extra labourers during the harvest.
When asked in 1852 how the plan was working, the Scottish Steward at Castlebar replied,
‘At Ballinrobe, where the system has been completed, the result is that the land has become of double its former value; that is to say, would keep double the amount of stock.’
When the lease for the farm came up for renewal a failure to agree new terms led to a breakdown in the relationship between the Earl and Simpson. Given the economic climate and pressure from foreign competition, at the end of the lease Simpson was unable to profitably take the farm at the old rate and looked to reduce it by £150 per annum. This was not agreed, Simpson surrendered the farm and began a legal case seeking compensation for improvements to the farm. Compensation was eventually awarded but at a reduced rate much to the dismay of Simpson and the Judge who had praise for his style of farming but was constrained by law to award a lower amount. It appears Simpson returned to either England or Scotland in 1881.
Clearances
During the development of the farmland around Castlebar and other areas many of the tenants were removed from the land as part of the consolidation process. The article below is an example of one account where this took place. The townland mentioned is a short distance from where the model farm was constructed.
On yesterday, according to notices served on the relieving officer by George Ormsby, chief Crowbar to Lord Lucan, the following individuals, with their families, were hunted from house and home by his lordships bailiffs. The town lands, on which this cruel act was performed, are Upper and Lower Moneen- a short mile from Castlebar.
Lower Moneen- Patt Lavan, Owen Lavan, Bryan Lavan, Francis Blain,Winny Walsh, Bryan Carny, Patt Rily, John Rily, (eldest daughter dead in the house), Jas.Joyce, John Johnston, and Biddy Rily.
Upper Moneen- Jas Walsh, Margaret Killien, Widow (John) Comber, Biddy Mc Dermott, Patt Hopkins, Myles Walsh, Patt Walsh (sen), Mary Cleary, Mich.Colman, Patt Morrison, Peggy Dilion,Walter Mc Donnell, (eight in family lying in fever), Jas Maughan, Cath. O Hara, John Flynn, Mary Divir, Ann Mc Hale, Patt Walsh (Jun), and William Flynn.
Source; Telegraph or Connaught Ranger, Wednesday, 7 February 1849.
During the development of the farmland around Castlebar and other areas many of the tenants were removed from the land as part of the consolidation process. The article below is an example of one account where this took place. The townland mentioned is a short distance from where the model farm was constructed.
On yesterday, according to notices served on the relieving officer by George Ormsby, chief Crowbar to Lord Lucan, the following individuals, with their families, were hunted from house and home by his lordships bailiffs. The town lands, on which this cruel act was performed, are Upper and Lower Moneen- a short mile from Castlebar.
Lower Moneen- Patt Lavan, Owen Lavan, Bryan Lavan, Francis Blain,Winny Walsh, Bryan Carny, Patt Rily, John Rily, (eldest daughter dead in the house), Jas.Joyce, John Johnston, and Biddy Rily.
Upper Moneen- Jas Walsh, Margaret Killien, Widow (John) Comber, Biddy Mc Dermott, Patt Hopkins, Myles Walsh, Patt Walsh (sen), Mary Cleary, Mich.Colman, Patt Morrison, Peggy Dilion,Walter Mc Donnell, (eight in family lying in fever), Jas Maughan, Cath. O Hara, John Flynn, Mary Divir, Ann Mc Hale, Patt Walsh (Jun), and William Flynn.
Source; Telegraph or Connaught Ranger, Wednesday, 7 February 1849.
Resistance
The clearances created great disquiet among the communities where they occurred and incidents of retaliation against those in the employment of the Earl occurred as did incidents involving his stock. In August 1850, at Ballymacragh, on the Westport road 4 bullocks, the Earls property were found dead, a report in the Connaught Telegraph recounts the Earl visited the site and gave instructions that cattle thus dying should be buried eight foot underground and also that the secret of so many falling on his farms should be kept from the public. Cattle were also brought from adjacent farms for attendance by a steward at a house in Rathbawn and subsequently died. The Earls Vet failed to discover a cure for the destructive distemper. When the cattle died they were removed to the farmyard. A correspondent to the paper remarked however, if all the cattle are removed from the lands of the evicted tenants
‘The natural occupiers will purify all around and remove the anathema which at present poisons every blade of grass and herbage’
The clearances created great disquiet among the communities where they occurred and incidents of retaliation against those in the employment of the Earl occurred as did incidents involving his stock. In August 1850, at Ballymacragh, on the Westport road 4 bullocks, the Earls property were found dead, a report in the Connaught Telegraph recounts the Earl visited the site and gave instructions that cattle thus dying should be buried eight foot underground and also that the secret of so many falling on his farms should be kept from the public. Cattle were also brought from adjacent farms for attendance by a steward at a house in Rathbawn and subsequently died. The Earls Vet failed to discover a cure for the destructive distemper. When the cattle died they were removed to the farmyard. A correspondent to the paper remarked however, if all the cattle are removed from the lands of the evicted tenants
‘The natural occupiers will purify all around and remove the anathema which at present poisons every blade of grass and herbage’
He has taken for years the personal management of his estates. He leaves his estates. He is the most extensive agriculturalist in the British islands, and, to the most minute particular, everything in these extensive operations is done by his directions.
Major General the Earl of Lucan.
Mayo has the honour of sending as her contingent to the ‘coming struggle’ the commander of the British Calvary. The Earl of Lucan goes as General of a division his command being what we have stated. We would have confined ourselves to a simple statement of this fact, accompanied with the expression of the hearty wishes of this county for the success and honour of the noble soldier who goes from amongst us, had a London journal, the Morning Advertiser, and not thought fit to attack the noble Earl’s appointment. The writer of that article has not scrupled to make assertions that have not a shadow of foundation in truth. It insinuates that his lordship is the secret friend of Russia, and that he and the Countess of Lucan are the personal friends and warm admirers of the Emperor Nicholas. The Countess of Lucan never saw the man. So much for this fact in the article. It is true his lordship was present at the capture of Varna and Shumia, as there stated. What then? Is it that he desires the extension of Russia? His lordship is a man who looks narrowly and deeply into things, and takes pains to form a correct judgement of them.
When he was in Turkey in 1828, his mind was occupied in probable events beyond that war. Since he returned home he communicated his deliberately formed opinion to some of the greatest warriors and statesmen of this age, and it was this, that an English fleet should be stationed in the Black Sea. And this is the secret friend of Russia! His advice was laughed at, but current events show that he was right.
But it is not worthwhile to waste time on this miserable attack. We believe there is no man going to the war who makes such sacrifices as Lord Lucan. He has taken for years the personal management of his estates. He leaves his estates. He is the most extensive agriculturalist in the British islands, and, to the most minute particular, everything in these extensive operations is done by his directions. He lays aside all. He rises up from the retirement of his home where his young, beautiful, amiable family have so many things to bid him stay, and girds himself with the weapons of war and takes with him his eldest son to bear together the perils of the battle for the honour and safety of his country. And is this lofty patriotism to receive no other return than the cowardly innuendoes and attacks of a correspondent of a London Journal? It would be a bad day for the nation when the worth of its patriots could be thus rewarded.
We believe that the issue of battles and the supremacy of nations depend simply on the Divine will, and neither on the strength of armies nor the genius of their commanders. But in a lower and secondary point of view we do look to his favour on the valour of our troops and the skill of our generals. On this ground we cherish bright hopes of the career of the Earl of Lucan. His mind is eminently practical, and whatever he does he does in earnest and makes himself acquainted with in its most minute details. Besides, the blood of the valorous chieftain and great military genius flows in his veins. Patrick Sarsfield was the first Earl of Lucan. The present Earl is descended from the Sarsfields. The first Earl had a bad cause in hand but he was a great soldier. The present possessor of the title goes out to fight in the cause of justice and civilization, and we dare to hope that the result of his toils and perils in the cause of injured Turkey and threatened Europe will win for him a military reputation not inferior to that of his great namesake who so often led the ‘Irish Brigade’ to victory.
The Constitution, 28th March 1854.
Mayo has the honour of sending as her contingent to the ‘coming struggle’ the commander of the British Calvary. The Earl of Lucan goes as General of a division his command being what we have stated. We would have confined ourselves to a simple statement of this fact, accompanied with the expression of the hearty wishes of this county for the success and honour of the noble soldier who goes from amongst us, had a London journal, the Morning Advertiser, and not thought fit to attack the noble Earl’s appointment. The writer of that article has not scrupled to make assertions that have not a shadow of foundation in truth. It insinuates that his lordship is the secret friend of Russia, and that he and the Countess of Lucan are the personal friends and warm admirers of the Emperor Nicholas. The Countess of Lucan never saw the man. So much for this fact in the article. It is true his lordship was present at the capture of Varna and Shumia, as there stated. What then? Is it that he desires the extension of Russia? His lordship is a man who looks narrowly and deeply into things, and takes pains to form a correct judgement of them.
When he was in Turkey in 1828, his mind was occupied in probable events beyond that war. Since he returned home he communicated his deliberately formed opinion to some of the greatest warriors and statesmen of this age, and it was this, that an English fleet should be stationed in the Black Sea. And this is the secret friend of Russia! His advice was laughed at, but current events show that he was right.
But it is not worthwhile to waste time on this miserable attack. We believe there is no man going to the war who makes such sacrifices as Lord Lucan. He has taken for years the personal management of his estates. He leaves his estates. He is the most extensive agriculturalist in the British islands, and, to the most minute particular, everything in these extensive operations is done by his directions. He lays aside all. He rises up from the retirement of his home where his young, beautiful, amiable family have so many things to bid him stay, and girds himself with the weapons of war and takes with him his eldest son to bear together the perils of the battle for the honour and safety of his country. And is this lofty patriotism to receive no other return than the cowardly innuendoes and attacks of a correspondent of a London Journal? It would be a bad day for the nation when the worth of its patriots could be thus rewarded.
We believe that the issue of battles and the supremacy of nations depend simply on the Divine will, and neither on the strength of armies nor the genius of their commanders. But in a lower and secondary point of view we do look to his favour on the valour of our troops and the skill of our generals. On this ground we cherish bright hopes of the career of the Earl of Lucan. His mind is eminently practical, and whatever he does he does in earnest and makes himself acquainted with in its most minute details. Besides, the blood of the valorous chieftain and great military genius flows in his veins. Patrick Sarsfield was the first Earl of Lucan. The present Earl is descended from the Sarsfields. The first Earl had a bad cause in hand but he was a great soldier. The present possessor of the title goes out to fight in the cause of justice and civilization, and we dare to hope that the result of his toils and perils in the cause of injured Turkey and threatened Europe will win for him a military reputation not inferior to that of his great namesake who so often led the ‘Irish Brigade’ to victory.
The Constitution, 28th March 1854.
A
combination of the great global depression of the 1870s and further innovations
both scientific and mechanical had considerable repercussions for the
agricultural world and the model farm.
The opening of the Suez Canal 1869 also extended the world of trade
routes to new market opportunities. The large grazing ranches of Landlords
paled into insignificance beside the vast plains of the Americas. The foundation of the Land league 1879, and
ensuing unrest against graziers signalled the approach of the end for this way
of life and the farm.
The reasons for the decline are many, chief among them however was the opening of markets abroad and the influx of produce to Britian. Contemporary Newspaper reports outline what was happening at the time. Fairs held at Newtown, Balla and Ballina in August 1870 fell short of expectations with little or no demand and no attendance by Jobbers as cattle were not required for other places. The collapse in the grain market is commented on by Cuff and Sons at the Smithfield market in Dublin where they mentioned its continued ‘downward trending.’ In 1879. The attempt by the Earl in this period to supply the British market failed due to decline in demand. Developments in refrigeration and steam travel also contributed to the decline, as did improvements in the quality of both mutton and beef elsewhere.An outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1900 further devastated the export market. Landlords that had invested heavily in grazing farms could not possibly have foreseen these events.
The Earl died on the 10th November 1888. Shortly afterwards the family set about putting his affairs in order. This included the sale of the stock at Castlebar.
The reasons for the decline are many, chief among them however was the opening of markets abroad and the influx of produce to Britian. Contemporary Newspaper reports outline what was happening at the time. Fairs held at Newtown, Balla and Ballina in August 1870 fell short of expectations with little or no demand and no attendance by Jobbers as cattle were not required for other places. The collapse in the grain market is commented on by Cuff and Sons at the Smithfield market in Dublin where they mentioned its continued ‘downward trending.’ In 1879. The attempt by the Earl in this period to supply the British market failed due to decline in demand. Developments in refrigeration and steam travel also contributed to the decline, as did improvements in the quality of both mutton and beef elsewhere.An outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 1900 further devastated the export market. Landlords that had invested heavily in grazing farms could not possibly have foreseen these events.
The Earl died on the 10th November 1888. Shortly afterwards the family set about putting his affairs in order. This included the sale of the stock at Castlebar.