Garden No.
GA5261
Significance
Significant site - some loss of integrity
Landscape Elements
Ancient Remains, Buildings/Artefacts, Early Formal, Late Formal, Landscape Park, Plant Collection
Townland
Castle Ellen
Present on Ordnance Survey
First Edition: Yes, sheet 106
Second Edition: Yes, area reduced
Revised Edition: Yes, area reduced
Castle Ellen is a significant demesne, having once had early formal elements associated with the tower house of the same name which subsequently became a feature of its landscape park. Today, the house, pre-1840, and farmyard, pre-1894, remain relatively intact with a fine avenue, pre-1840, and entrance, pre-1894, to the west. Late formal elements include a terraced croquet lawn, pre-1894, and pleasure grounds with follies, pre-1894, to the south of the house. In the second half of the nineteenth century the woodland to the west was also redesigned and extended to its present shape, though some new conifer planting has taken place, at this time an underpass was also created for cattle along the main avenue, keeping them out of view. The house is associated with the Lambert Family of Athenry and Sir Edward Carson, whose mother Elizabeth lived there.
| Principal Building |
1:Impressive five-bay two-storey over basement house, pre-1840, facing west. |
| Ornamental Garden |
12:Pleasure grounds, pre-1894, with paths, woodland and follies, now somewhat overgrown, to south-east of house. |
| Outbuilding |
5:Farmyard, pre-1894, to immediate north of house, with fine two-storey ranges and arched entrance, partially intact. |
| Productive Garden |
7:Walled garden, pre-1840, to north-east of house, intact with exceptionally high (5m) box hedge; remains of glasshouse, pre-1894, to centre. |
| Parkland |
8:Parkland, pre-1840, to west of house, including remains of original 17th-century tower house which formed part of the landscape-park design, intact and retaining some individual specimen trees; new access road to old tower house and horse ring to north alter character, as well as hedge to front of house which screens the old castle somewhat. |
| Woodland |
9:Woodland, pre-1840, framed western approach to house, on map appears as though part of an earlier axial route to castle, modified and extended, pre-1894, outline intact but conifer plantations are now situated in some of this area along with new housing; wooded area to north of tower house, pre-1894, intact; area to south-east of house, pre-1840, intact; clumps, pre-1840, to outer areas of demesne, now gone. |
| Avenue, Drive or Walk |
4:Main avenue, pre-1840, led west-east before turning north to the house; the First Edition OS Map, 1840, suggests an earlier avenue on axis with the 17th-century castle, traces of which are now gone. |
|
10:Service avenue, pre-1894, to north of parkland led to north of farmyard, now a local road with new housing, a few trees remain to north and closer to the yard. |
|
| Gate Lodge or Gateway |
3:Fine cast-iron gateway, pre-1894, with gate lodge, pre-1894, to west, on opposite side of road, centred in pairs of convex walls, forming {}-shape |
| Boundary or Boundary Wall |
2:Random-rubble stone walls to boundary with main road. |
| Other |
6:Terraced croquet lawn, pre-1894, to immediate south of house. |
|
11:Ruins of 17th-century tower house lay to immediate west of house with bawn enclosure and form landscape feature. |
|
|
Underpass for cattle created on the main avenue so as to allow for the movement of cattle without visual impact. |
Associated with the Lambert Family; Elizabeth Lambert was the mother of Sir Edward Carson who spent his childhood summers at the estate.
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Site Footprint Visible | Yes |
| Boundary Defined | Yes |
| Significant Development | No |
| Architectural Features | |
|---|---|
| Principal Building | Yes |
| Garden Building | Yes |
| Buildings of Indeterminate Purpose | No |
| Gateways and Gatehouses | No |
| Avenues, Drives and Walks | |
|---|---|
| Avenue | Yes |
| Drive or Walk | Yes |
| Garden Features | |
|---|---|
| Ornamental Garden | Yes |
| Walled Garden | Yes |
| Orchard | No |
| Parkland | Yes |
| Woodland | Yes |
| Natural Water Feature | No |
| Artifical Water Features | No |
| Allée | No |
| Vista | No |
| Other | No |
