1750 Woodlawn House For Sale In Ballinasloe Ireland

1750 Woodlawn House For Sale In Ballinasloe Ireland

Approx $1,059,000 USD

Woodlawn House, Woodlawn, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, H53PX44 Galway, H53 PX44 Ireland

22 beds ¦ — baths ¦ 30,000 sqft ¦ 113 acres

Mansion, Fixer-Upper

Property Website

Realtor Information:

Sherry Fitzgerald ¦ Country Homes – Farms & Estates ¦ +353 87 412 2356

About This 1750 Woodlawn House For Sale In Ballinasloe Ireland

The history of Woodlawn Estate pre-dates recorded history and has its roots in Irish folklore and mythology through the Diarmuid and Grainne mound which is recorded on the Archaeological maps of the estate. Mota Ghrainne Oige is the gaelic name for Woodlawn and this translates as the moat or resting place of young Grace. Legend has it that Grace and her lover, Diarmuid O Duibne, were trying to escape from the powerful Fionn MacCumhall, who had earmarked Grainne as a bride for himself. The pursuit of the young lovers extended over most of Ireland and Woodlawn is thought to be one of their places of refuge.

Woodlawn House & Estate was built in the mid-18th century by Frederick Trench, the First Baron Ashtown. Frederick Trench was the grandson of John Trench, who was rewarded for his services during the Williamite War by being appointed Dean of Raphoe. John Trench is an ancestor of the Barons Ashtown.

Originally part of the Martin and Barnewall lands, the estate was acquired by the Trench family in the early 18th century. Frederick Trench initiated an extensive building program, which included the construction of the house and its surrounding structures, such as a church, gamekeepers’ lodge, family mausoleum, and artisan cottages.

In the 1850s, the second Lord Ashtown transformed Woodlawn House into a fashionable Victorian Palladian villa. This extensive expansion and remodelling, designed by J. F. Kempster of Ballinasloe, included a new facade, the addition of a second storey to the wings, and interior redecoration. Further developments in the late 1800s included gardening projects, a mill building, outbuildings, and an underfloor-heated glasshouse. Additionally, a railway line was diverted to ensure the estate had its own station, which remains part of the Dublin to Galway railway line today.

The house was vacated and its furnishings sold when the third Lord Ashtown became bankrupt in the 1920s. Eventually, the fourth Lord Ashtown sold it to his cousin, Derek Le Poer Trench, in 1947, who then sold it in 1973.

WOODLAWN HOUSE

Woodlawn House is a distinguished example of Italianate architecture, notable for its grandeur and bold design, which stood out from the typical constructions of its era. This three-story Palladian mansion covers over 30,000 square feet and includes 26 bedrooms, showcasing the opulence and scale typical of aristocratic homes of the 18th and 19th centuries. The estate features a variety of ancillary structures and amenities, such as a red brick walled garden, multiple courtyards, a gate lodge, stewards lodge and an ornamental lake, all of which contribute to its historical and architectural significance.

Currently, Woodlawn House and its surrounding estate are in need of comprehensive restoration to revive it to its former glory. The estate spans approximately 45.75 hectares (113.05 acres) of woodland and parkland, providing a serene and expansive backdrop that complements the mansion’s grandeur.

Photography Credit: Sherry Fitzgerald ¦ Country Homes – Farms & Estates