• History of Ashley Park

  • Ashley Park was known until the eighteenth century as Rathone, 'earthen fort', a name derived from several Neolithic ring forts found in the estate. The first known reference to the site occurs in 1640 when the lands of Rathone were recorded in the ownership of John Grace of Ballylensey. At this time it appears that there was at least one dwelling on site, on the island in Lough Ourna. Another record of 1640 notes a thatched cottage standing besides an already ruined castle, or tower house, part of which still survives. By 1660 the lands had passed to an Englishman, Peter Foxwell, who lost them through the Cromwellian Grantees to a Samuel Wade.
  
  
  • The original house of Ashley Park is believed to have been built in about 1700 by John Head, a native of Waterford. In 1692 Head augmented his fortune by marrying Samuel Wade's daughter, Elizabeth and, partly with her money, proceeded to build a gentry house on land to the north of the lough. Sadly, no illustrations of the original house are known to have survived nor any maps to record any formal layout which may have been around it.
  
  
  • By the mid 1700s John Head's son, also named John had inherited. He began to build the present house, probably incorporating part of the original house, as well as to lay out the surrounding landscape. The house was first recorded in Taylor & Skinner, Maps and Roads of Ireland in 1777 and by a tourist, W. Wilson, in his Post-Chaise Companion of 1786, who commented that it was "pleasantly situated, near a fine lough". However, Head's improvements resulted in bankruptcy in 1816, the year of his death. Despite this, his widow continued to live at Ashley Park until the property was sold by the Courts in 1824 and bought at auction by another local landowner, George Guy Atkinson. John Head's son and heir, Michael, from whom his widow was estranged, had already moved to another family house, Modreeny, near Cloughjordon.
  
  
  • George Atkinson increased the landholding of the Ashley Park estate in the years following his purchase, but did not, it seems from map evidence, increase the area of ornamental park land. He also caused scandal by marrying a serving girl. On his death in 1872 the property passed to his eldest son James, who added the north wing of the house in about 1883. The Chinese Reading Room was also added around this time following a visit by Atkinson to Hong Kong.
  
  
  • Following his death, the property passed to the eldest of his three daughters, Alice Marjory. In 1903 she married Major Thomas B. Biggs of Bellevue, Coolbawn and her husband changed his name to Biggs-Atkinson. Several further modifications were carried out to the house following their marriage. A wooden verandah, possibly a replacement of an earlier feature, was erected along the south front of the house and a heated conservatory/garden room was built to the east of the house. In the park a new curving drive with a formal stone gate arch and a Gothic lodge were also created. Much of the surviving shrub planting in the garden and productive gardens is believed to date from this period.
  
  
  • Alice Marjory died in 1919 and her husband later married Bessie Dyson who lived at Ashley Park until her death in 1963, her husband having died in 1945, From the collection of nursery catalogues and notebooks found in the archive, Bessie Biggs-Atkinson appears to have been a very keen gardener and farm manager, annually marking off roses and shrubs in her garden and recording the progress of her poultry and livestock.
  
  
  • Following her death, the ownership passed to a niece who lived in South Africa who rarely visited. With the property gradually declining, it was sold at auction to the Mounsey family in 1983. Extensive renovation work has been undertaken over the past fifteen years to restore the house back to its former glory. Much of the gardens have been replanted and existing shrubs restored.
  
  

• The Castle on the Island

  • Ashley Park House sits on the shores of Lough Ourna. The name, according to local legend, came about after the local priest saw two farm hands toiling in the fields on the Sabbath. He scolded them and sent them off to Mass with the words, "You'll never harvest barley in this field again" ringing in their ears. When the farm hands returned from Mass, the field was covered by a lake - Lough Ourna - Gaelic for Lake of the Barley.
  
  
  • There is probably an element of truth in this delightful story as the lake is artesian, fed by constant inflow of clean, fresh water.
  • In the middle of Lough Ourna is a small island. On the island is the ruin of an old stone tower, a corner of a larger structure dating back to some time in the middle ages. You can take the boat out and row around the island to get a closer look.
  
  

• The Gardener's Cottage

  • Tucked away in a corner of the walled garden is the two storey stone Gardener's Cottage. Allowed to go to ruin with the rest of the garden, the Cottage was finally restored in 2005. A major undertaking that was sensitively carried out to ensure the cottage remained at one with the rest of the garden. The windows and doors are exact reproductions of the originals - sadly the originals had rotted too much to be saved, but were used by the craftsmen to faithfully recreate the intricate trellis detail.
  
  
  • The entrance to the cottage is from the garden, a delightful separately landscaped area with paths leading off to various points in the garden. You can drive down to the cottage; once there you are in perfect seclusion!
  
  
  • Entering the cottage, your eye is immediately drawn to the fireplace. The chimney runs up one corner of the room with a pine surround set in the middle. A stone hearth set with old fire tongs for you to tend the real peat fire. To the right is the period kitchen, complete with oven, refridgerator and hob. So you can go self catering or join us in the main house for breakfast and dinner.
  
  
  • A cosy sofa and armchair are positioned around the fireplace - somewhere comfortable to collapse into after a long walk. An elm settle and table provide a rural setting by the windows - a relaxing spot for reading the papers after breakfast.
  
  
  • The spiral stairs take you up to the bedroom and ensuite bathroom. From the bedroom you get views to the lake and into the garden, truly a relaxing experience. The large bed with its soft pillows and duvet provide a wonderful night's sleep, but it is the peace and quiet you notice the most. You wake up with the sun streaming in and the birds singing. OPen the windows and in streams the fresh country air.
  
  
  • The cottage is available for rent - email us for details!

• The Front Lodge

  • As you enter the grounds of Ashleypark, the first thing you notice is the stone archway and the imposing gate lodge to the left. The lodge was built around the same time as the arch - around 1870 of stone obtained from a nearby quarry.
  
  
  • The lodge was restored in 1993 as one of the first projects undertaken in the overall restoration programme at Ashleypark. There are lodges on both entrances to the property with many features matching those of the main house. The back lodge (not shown here) was restored in 1996.

Went to Dublin for a few days and then to Ashley Park House. What a magical place. Great for families with small children. Very relaxing. On lake with a row boat for guests to use. Sean and Margret were wonderful hosts. The food - Breakfast and Dinner - was amazing. 5 star dinners, for sure. Worth every euro! Was great...
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