Villierstown
Encyclopedia
Villierstown is a village
in west County Waterford
, Ireland
. It is situated on the banks of the River Blackwater
. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of the village at 260.
The village is approximately 8 kilometres from Cappoquin
and 20 kilometres from both Dungarvan
and Youghal
.
in Co.Armagh
. The original village consisted of a church, a rectory, a school, 24 dwelling houses, a court, a police barracks and a quay on the river. All of these buildings are still in the village today, the church has been converted to a community hall, on its grounds is the Villiers-Stuart's family burial vault where many of its ancestors are buried.
During the famine (1845-49) the linen industry in Villierstown died out. Some local people turned to fishing on the Blackwater
as a source of employment. The majority of villagers were given work by the Villiers-Stuarts on the estate at Dromana which itself encompassed Villierstown and beyond. The Villiers-Stuart family were known to be one of the most civically minded estate holders in Ireland, earlier Lord Stuart de Decies, himself a Protestant, spent much of his political life furthering the cause of Catholic Emancipation
.
located between Villierstown and the town of Cappoquin
. Dromana House was originally a medieval castle built by the powerful FitzGerald family. By the end of the 17th Century, Dromana House was destroyed after a number of sieges but it was rebuilt. Between the 1750s and 1820s many additions were made to the house including a “great bow-sided ballroom.” There were also two large walled gardens on the estate, along with the bastion
and banqueting house by the river.
During the 1820s the Dromana estate was in ownership of 40000 acres (161.9 km²). Part of this land today makes up Dromana Wood which is currently being managed by Coillte on a long term lease. In 1965 much of Dromana House was demolished thus signaling the end of an era, with the estate itself having been liquidated and seized by the Land Commission
, in return for near valueless land bonds.
Much of the estate was divided up, while the architecturally significant stables block, just south of the main avenue, were also demolished by the Commission
. The avenue, which stretches up to 4 kilometres, is now publicly owned while the well known Hindu Gothic styled gate lodge over the River Finisk is under the responsibility of the local County Council. All that remains today of the house is the smaller 17th century wing, but not without its historical significance.
The family had to sell Dromana House in the 1960s, but they were able to buy it back in the early 1990s. The Villiers-Stuarts still reside in Dromana House today. In August 2004 James Villiers-Stuart died and was buried at Villierstown Church.
, the former athlete and Olympic medalist, who represented Ireland at four Olympic Games between 1980 and 1992, hails from the area.
and the Church of Ireland
parish of Lismore.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in west County Waterford
County Waterford
*Abbeyside, Affane, Aglish, Annestown, An Rinn, Ardmore*Ballinacourty, Ballinameela, Ballinamult, Ballinroad, Ballybeg, Ballybricken, Ballyduff Lower, Ballyduff Upper, Ballydurn, Ballygunner, Ballylaneen, Ballymacarbry, Ballymacart, Ballynaneashagh, Ballysaggart, Ballytruckle, Bilberry, Bunmahon,...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is situated on the banks of the River Blackwater
Munster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
. The latest census of 2006 recorded the population of the village at 260.
The village is approximately 8 kilometres from Cappoquin
Cappoquin
Cappoquin, also spelt Cappaquin or Capaquin , is a small town in west County Waterford, Ireland. It is on the Blackwater river at the junction of the N72 national secondary road and the R669 regional road. It is positioned on a sharp 90 degree bend in the river and nestles at the foot of the...
and 20 kilometres from both Dungarvan
Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a town and harbour on the south coast of Ireland in the province of Munster. Dungarvan is the county town and administrative centre of County Waterford. The town's Irish name means "Garbhan's fort", referring to Saint Garbhan who founded a church there in the seventh century...
and Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
.
History
Villierstown was founded by the Villiers-Stuart family, from where the name is derived. In the 1740s the 1st Earl Grandison; John Villiers, established the village to develop a linen industry. The village was initially populated with linen-weavers, some of whom were from LurganLurgan
Lurgan is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. The town is near the southern shore of Lough Neagh and in the north-eastern corner of the county. Part of the Craigavon Borough Council area, Lurgan is about 18 miles south-west of Belfast and is linked to the city by both the M1 motorway...
in Co.Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. The original village consisted of a church, a rectory, a school, 24 dwelling houses, a court, a police barracks and a quay on the river. All of these buildings are still in the village today, the church has been converted to a community hall, on its grounds is the Villiers-Stuart's family burial vault where many of its ancestors are buried.
During the famine (1845-49) the linen industry in Villierstown died out. Some local people turned to fishing on the Blackwater
Munster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
as a source of employment. The majority of villagers were given work by the Villiers-Stuarts on the estate at Dromana which itself encompassed Villierstown and beyond. The Villiers-Stuart family were known to be one of the most civically minded estate holders in Ireland, earlier Lord Stuart de Decies, himself a Protestant, spent much of his political life furthering the cause of Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
.
Dromana House
The Villiers-Stuart family and their direct descendants have resided in Dromana House in its different forms for well over 600 years. Dromana is perched high above the River BlackwaterMunster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
located between Villierstown and the town of Cappoquin
Cappoquin
Cappoquin, also spelt Cappaquin or Capaquin , is a small town in west County Waterford, Ireland. It is on the Blackwater river at the junction of the N72 national secondary road and the R669 regional road. It is positioned on a sharp 90 degree bend in the river and nestles at the foot of the...
. Dromana House was originally a medieval castle built by the powerful FitzGerald family. By the end of the 17th Century, Dromana House was destroyed after a number of sieges but it was rebuilt. Between the 1750s and 1820s many additions were made to the house including a “great bow-sided ballroom.” There were also two large walled gardens on the estate, along with the bastion
Bastion
A bastion, or a bulwark, is a structure projecting outward from the main enclosure of a fortification, situated in both corners of a straight wall , facilitating active defence against assaulting troops...
and banqueting house by the river.
During the 1820s the Dromana estate was in ownership of 40000 acres (161.9 km²). Part of this land today makes up Dromana Wood which is currently being managed by Coillte on a long term lease. In 1965 much of Dromana House was demolished thus signaling the end of an era, with the estate itself having been liquidated and seized by the Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
, in return for near valueless land bonds.
Much of the estate was divided up, while the architecturally significant stables block, just south of the main avenue, were also demolished by the Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
. The avenue, which stretches up to 4 kilometres, is now publicly owned while the well known Hindu Gothic styled gate lodge over the River Finisk is under the responsibility of the local County Council. All that remains today of the house is the smaller 17th century wing, but not without its historical significance.
The family had to sell Dromana House in the 1960s, but they were able to buy it back in the early 1990s. The Villiers-Stuarts still reside in Dromana House today. In August 2004 James Villiers-Stuart died and was buried at Villierstown Church.
People
John TreacyJohn Treacy
John Treacy is a former Irish athlete and Olympic medalist, who represented Ireland at four Olympic Games between 1980 and 1992.- Career :...
, the former athlete and Olympic medalist, who represented Ireland at four Olympic Games between 1980 and 1992, hails from the area.
Parish
It is part of the Roman Catholic parish of Aglish, Ballinameela and Mount StuartAglish, Ballinameela and Mount Stuart
Aglish, Ballinameela and Mount Stuart is a large parish in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. It is situated the west of Dungarvan, County Waterford in Ireland...
and the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
parish of Lismore.
External links
- Historical photographs of Dromana Estate in The National Library of Ireland's collection
- Tourist Information on Dromana House
- http://www.vecp.ie Villierstown Education & Culture Project