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Crooke's Castle, Aghavrin

Folly buildings in the Republic of Ireland
Crooke's Castle
Crooke's Castle

Crooke's Castle is an ornamental tower or folly in Aghavrin townland, 4.8 km (3.0 mi) north-west of Coachford village, County Cork, Republic of Ireland. It was built in the early 19th century by Thomas Epinetus Crooke of nearby Aghavrin House, who served during the Napoleonic Wars, mainly on board HMS Shamrock, a Royal Navy blockade ship. It is included on the Record of Protected Structures maintained by Cork County Council.The structure is referred to as a 'tower' located on Carrigaknubber Rock as per the 1842 surveyed OS map and named as 'Aghavrin Castle' in both the Ordnance Survey (OS) name book (c. 1840) and the 1901 surveyed OS map. The OS name book describes it as in the southern part of Aghavrin about 4 chains (0.080 km; 0.050 mi) north-east of the boundary with Rockgrove (townland). Locally, it is nowadays referred to as 'Crooke's Castle'.Early Irish ordnance survey maps indicate structures named 'tower' often located in or around a country-house demesne. These were mostly built in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth centuries, and sited in prominent positions to act as 'eye-catchers', and to afford good views from the tower itself. Many were used for tea parties, when tea drinking became fashionable in the eighteenth century. In A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837), Lewis describes the demesne of Ahavrin as small but well planted, and refers to 'an isolated rock at its southern extremity' upon which 'stands a picturesque castellated tower, surmounted by a light and graceful turret'. The OS name book describes it as a tower or turret, built by Captain Crooke on Carrigacnubber rock, generally known as 'Ahavrin Castle', and referred to by Herbert Gilman as the 'Admiral's Folly'. The Archaeological Inventory of county Cork describes it as a ruined square three-storey tower (2m x 2m), having rectangular window opes with hood-mouldings, and an embattled parapet. It is also described as having a slim circular projection on the south-east corner with slit windows, rising higher than the tower, and also having an embattled parapet.The Irish Tourist Association survey of 1944 states that it was erected 100 to 120 years previously, cost £100, and was built by Commodore Crooke of the British Navy. The survey holds that 'Crook's Tower' would be a more accurate description, and that it consisted of two narrow sections with the cylindrical portion slightly higher than the rectangular element. It was observed to stand on a high rock in a reasonably level country area, and a distinctive landmark from the road. It was partly ruinous but the circular staircase could still be negotiated.The tower is not accessible to the public and is located on private property. A short distance to the south-west and of presumed earlier date is a mass rock, Aghavrin Mass Rock, which was used for worship during penal times.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Crooke's Castle, Aghavrin (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Crooke's Castle, Aghavrin
R618,

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N 51.925480555556 ° E -8.8129944444444 °
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R618
P12 DY92 (Magourney)
Ireland
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Crooke's Castle
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Aghavrin House
Aghavrin House

Aghavrin House is a country house in the townland of Aghavrin, situated 4.8 km (3.0 mi) north-west of Coachford village in County Cork, Ireland. The 'Big House' and demesne were dominant features in the rural landscape of Ireland, throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Location often reflected the distribution of better land, and this is evidenced in mid-Cork, where many of these houses are situated along the valley of the River Lee and its tributaries.The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage describes it as built c. 1810, being a five-bay, two-storey over basement house, and having symmetrical chimneystacks, elegant proportions, tall windows, a centralised arched doorcase and limestone perron (staircase). A gate lodge is indicated on the 1841 surveyed OS map at the roadside entrance to Aghavrin House, but no longer appears to exist. A summer house is indicated on the 1901 surveyed OS map, as a garden feature within the grounds, and still exists as a ruined semi-circular unroofed ivy-clad stone structure. It was once the residence of the Crooke family. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) describes the demesne of Ahavrin as small but well planted, and refers to 'Capt. T. E. Crooke' of 'Ahavrin House'. The tithe applotment book for the parish of Aghabullogue records 'Thomas Crook Esq.' of 'Ahavren' as occupying c.130 acres.The mid-nineteenth century Primary Valuation of Ireland (Griffith's Valuation) records William Crooke as occupying c. 83 acres in Aghavrin townland, which consisted of a 'house, offices, gate lodge and land', with the lessor being John B. Gumbleton. There is also reference to a William Crooke occupying c.20 acres of land, with the lessor being John Bowen. The Ordnance Survey name book (c. 1840) describes Aghavrin townland as the property of John Bowin, Esq. of Oak Grove, and John Bowin Gumbleton, Esq. Its condition was said to be of mixed quality, principally cultivated, but containing some boggy land, rocks and furze. To the south of Aghavrin House is Crooke's Castle, constructed by Thomas Epinetus Crooke, who served during the Napoleonic Wars, mainly on board HMS Shamrock, a Royal Navy blockade ship.The Irish Tourist Association survey of 1944 confirms Aghavrin House as the residence of Mrs Scott (maiden name Crooke) and that her family had built the property. It also notes that, during the War of Independence (Ireland), IRA members had billeted themselves on the premises without invitation from the owner.During the twentieth century, the property became the residence of Brigadier Michael John Cahill OBE, who died in 1968 and is interred at Christchurch graveyard, Coachford. Today, it remains a private residence, and is not accessible to the public.

St Olan's, Aghavrin

St Olan's is a residence in Aghavrin townland, 4.2 km (2.6 mi) north-west of Coachford village in County Cork, Ireland. Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) states a glebe of 30 acres was purchased at Aghavrin by the Board of First Fruits, but the rector did not take possession, as the annual rental was too high. The Ordnance Survey name book (c. 1840) describes the 'Glebe of Aghavrin' as the property of Captain Crooke, being good ground with some plantation, and the remainder under cultivation. The 1842 surveyed OS map depicts St Olan's Rectory, with the surrounding grounds and glebe clearly shown.By the mid-nineteenth century, the Primary Valuation of Ireland (Griffith's Valuation) records Reverend William Welland as occupying c. 30 acres in Aghavrin townland, which consisted of a 'house, offices, land and glebe', with the lessor being William Crooke of Aghavrin House. Reverend Welland also occupied c. 5 acres of plantation land, with the lessor again being William Crooke. The 1901 surveyed OS map indicates a name change to 'St Olan's', with the grounds of the property still clearly identifiable.The Irish Tourist Association survey of 1944 refers to 'St Olan's House, Aghavrin', the residence of Mr Devlin, Area Engineer of Cork County Council. The erection date of the property is given as c. 1840, as a 'Protestant Rectory', and completed c. 1890.It remains a private residence, and is not accessible to the public.