Ducketts Grove – Carlow’s Gothic Ruined Mansion

On Monday September 5th 2005 Carlow County Council took possession of Ducketts Grove, the Georgian home of the Duckett Family, along with its walled gardens and lawns (10.773 acres) for use as a public park.

The towers and turrets of Ducketts Grove formerly centred on a 12,000 acre estate have dominated the landscape for over 200 years. The mansion was transformed into a spectacular castellated Gothic fantasy by Thomas A. Cobden for J. D. Duckett in 1830. The estate house was used as a training camp in the early 1920s by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), and later it was owned by a local farmers co-operative until it was taken over by the Land Commission. In the early 1930s the house and surrounding lands was owned by local firm Thompson’s Engineering Works. The main building was burned in 1933 but its impressive ruins and its surrounding landscape form a most romantic landscape making it one of the most photogenic estate houses in Ireland. It was in private ownership from the 1930s until it was recently acquired by Carlow County Council.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.R.A. training camp at Duckett’s Grove during the 1920’s. (L to R) James Hickey, O/C 6th Battalion; Kehoe, O/C 2nd Battalion; William Brennan, Area Quarter Master; Liam Stack, O/C Carlow Brigade; Thomas Finn, O/C 3rd Battalion and Frank Lawler, Training Officer.  Photo Carlow County Museum, ccm–81-274-01

Duckett’s Grove is described by Mark Bence-Jones in his book 'A Guide to Irish Country Houses'  "A square house of 2 and three storeys, transformed into a spectacular castellated Gothic fantasy by Thomas A. Cobden … for J. D. Duckett 1830. Numerous towers and turrets, round, square and octagonal; notably a heavily machicolated round tower with a tall octagonal turret growing out of it. The walls enlivened with oriels and many canopied niches sheltering statues; more statues and busts in niches along the battlemented wall joining the house to a massively feudal yard gateway; yet more statues manning the battlements of one of the towers, and disposed around the house on pedestals………. The house was burnt 1933 and is now a ruin. "

The Members of Carlow County Council unanimously recommended the proposal to purchase the property which will form part of the Council's Major Amenity Capital Programme. Ducketts Grove is one of the most picturesque sites in Carlow and the opening up of the lands for public use will add a major new tourist attraction to County Carlow. The derelict buildings will require some structural stabilisation to ensure the preservation of the building and towers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(L to R) Cllr. Michael Meaney, Cathaoirleach Carlow County Council and Mr. Joe Crockett, Carlow County Manager entering the Duckett Estate buildings on September 5th 2005. Photo Carlow County Museum.

“It is timely and appropriate that we are here at the wonderful gothic ruins of Duckett’s Grove to launch Heritage Week 2005 for County Carlow.  It is also a historic moment for the people of the county as I am delighted to say that Carlow County Council has now officially taken possession of this historic estate house and gardens.  In all we have acquired over ten acres and the development will form part of the Council's Recreation and Amenity Programme, which will include the restoration of the walled gardens and the development of a public park, forest walk and nature trail. There is no doubt that this project will be of significant benefit to the county and a major tourism attraction.”                                                                                                                                                  Cllr. Michael Meaney, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council speaking at the launch of Heritage Week 2005 at Ducketts Grove.

Between September 2005 and the proposed opening of the grounds to the public in the summer of 2007 there are two key actions to be achieved in the stabilisation and preservation of the property:

1. Conservation of Ducketts Grove House

A preliminary structural assessment of the main buildings has been completed by Malachy Walsh & Partners, Consulting Engineers.  It is clear from this assessment that the immediate focus will be to secure, make safe and eliminate destructive vegetation from the primary areas of Ducketts Grove.  Carlow County Council will now commission a Conservation Report which will prioritise the elements of the site which will require most urgent attention.

View of Duckett’s Grove June 2006 after initial works. Photo Carlow County Museum.

1. Restoration of the Walled Gardens & development of a Forest Walk and Nature Trail

A Historic Landscape report has been prepared for the overall site by Ms. Finola Reid, MI Hort, Historic Gardens Consultant.  This report has specific aims and recommendations for the renewal of the Ducketts Grove gardens.  It will be an objective to have natural and historic information boards.

Works get under way in the old walled gardens. Photo Carlow County Museum.

Carlow County Museum is interested in hearing from members of the public who have in their possession old photographs, letters, documents and ledgers relating to the Duckett family and estate. Also, the Museum is interested in current location of the estate house former furnishings such as family portraits, furniture and the whereabouts of the statues that once graced both the grounds and the exterior walls of the house. The items collected will be used in the near future to develop a special exhibition on the Duckett family, the Duckett estate as well as the people who lived on and worked the estate.