Located midway between Slane and Drogheda, and immediately north of the river Boyne Dowth is today known as the site of one of a number of important Neolithic passage tombs in County Meath, others in its immediate vicinity including Newgrange and Knowth. But Dowth deserves to be renowned also for an important mid-18th century house which is due to be auctioned at the end of January.
Dowth Hall dates from c.1760 and was built for John, Viscount Netterville (1744-1826). His family, of Anglo-Norman origin, had been settled in the area since at least the 12th century: in 1217 Luke Netterville was selected to be Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. That religious streak remained with them and come the 16th century Reformation the Nettervilles remained determinedly Roman Catholic. For this adherence some of them suffered greatly; when Drogheda fell to Oliver Cromwell in September 1649 the Jesuit priest Robert Netterville was captured and tortured, subsequently dying of the injuries sustained. Nevertheless, the Nettervilles survived, and even acquired a viscouncy. They also held onto their estates, one of a number of families – the Plunketts of Killeen Castle and the Prestons of Gormanston spring to mind – who retained both their religious faith and their lands, thereby disproving the idea that Catholics automatically suffered displacement during the Penal era.
The sixth Viscount was only aged six on the death of his father, the latter dismissed by Mrs Delaney as ‘A fop and a fool, but a lord with a tolerable estate, who always wears fine clothes’ and otherwise only notable for having been indicted the year before his son’s birth for the murder of a valet (he was afterwards honourably acquitted by the House of Lords).
The young Lord Netterville was raised by his widowed mother and spent much time in Dublin where the family owned a fine house at 29 Upper Sackville (now O’Connell) Street. The old castle in Dowth seems to have fallen into ruin and so a few years after coming of age Viscount Netterville undertook to construct a new house on his Meath estate.
As is so often the case, information about the architect responsible for Dowth Hall is scanty. The common supposition is that the building was designed by George Darley (1730-1817), who had been employed for this purpose by Lord Netterville in Dublin where he was also the architect of a number of other houses. And indeed from the exterior Dowth Hall, rusticated limestone ground floor and tall ashlar first floor with windows alternately topped by triangular and segmental pediments, looks like an Italianate town palazzo transported into the Irish countryside; not least thanks to its plain sides, the house seems more attuned to the streets of Milan than the rich pasturelands of Meath.
The real delight of Dowth lies in its extravagantly decorated interiors, where a master stuccadore has been allowed free hand. The drawing room (originally dining room) is especially fanciful with rococo scrolls and tendrils covering wall panels and the ceiling’s central light fitting suspended from the claws of an eagle around which flutter other birds. None of the other ground floor rooms quite match this boldness but they all contain superlative plaster ornamentation, with looped garlands being a notable feature of the library. Again, the person responsible for this work is unknown, but on the basis of comparative similarities with contemporary stuccowork at 86 St Stephen’s Green in Dublin (on which George Darley is supposed to have worked) Dowth Hall’s decoration is usually attributed to Robert West (died 1790).
Although not as extensive, there is even a certain amount of plasterwork decoration in the main bedrooms on the first floor, which is most unusual. And the house still retains its original chimneypieces (that in the entrance hall even has its Georgian basket grate), along with fine panelled doors and other elements from the property’s original construction. This makes it of enormous importance, since many other similar buildings underwent refurbishment and modernisation in the 19th century during which they lost older features.
There are reasons why Dowth Hall has survived almost unaltered since first built 250 years ago. The sixth Viscount Netterville, somewhat eccentric, fell into dispute with the local priest and was banned from the chapel on his own land; in retaliation, he built a ‘tea house’ on top of the Neolithic tomb from which he claimed to follow religious services through a telescope. But then he seems to have given up living at Dowth and moved back to Dublin. He never married and on dying at the age of 82 left a will with no less than nine codicils. One of these insisted that the Dowth estate go to whoever inherited the title, but it took eight years and a lot of litigation for the rightful heir, a distant cousin, to establish his claim. He did so at considerable cost and so, despite marrying an heiress, was obliged to offer Dowth for sale; the last Lord Netterville, another remote cousin, died also without heirs in 1882 and the title became extinct. Meanwhile Dowth was finally bought from the Chancery Court in 1850 by Richard Gradwell, younger son of a wealthy Catholic family from Lancashire. His heirs continued to live in the house for a century, but then sold up in the early 1950s when the place changed hands again. It did so one more time around twenty years later when acquired by two local bachelor farmers who moved into Dowth Hall. Following their respective deaths (the second at the start of last year), a local newspaper reported that the siblings had gone ‘to Drogheda every Saturday night, would attend the Fatima novena at 7.30pm then would walk over West Street to see what was going on, although they never took a drink or went to pubs.’
Now Dowth Hall is for sale, and there must be concern that it finds a sympathetic new owner because the house is in need of serious attention. It comes with some 420 acres of agricultural land, which means a sale is assured but that could be to the building’s disadvantage: it might fall into further desuetude if the farm alone was of interest to a purchaser. Too many instances of this have occurred in the past and it must not be allowed to happen here. One feels there ought to be some kind of vetting process to ensure prospective buyers demonstrate sufficient appreciation of the house. Only somebody with the same vision and flair as the sixth Lord Netterville should be permitted to acquire Dowth Hall.
This last image is taken from Georgian Mansions in Ireland by Thomas Sadleir and Page Dickinson published in 1915.
*From a poem by John Betjeman, written after he had visited Ireland as an Oxford undergraduate and met the last surviving members of the family responsible for building Dowth Hall.
Oh How I wish we could rescue this gem – please keep us appraised of the outcome of the Auction. Lawrie
Will do.
Happy New Year,
R
[…] in a village that might easily be missed. Also, two houses at different stages of decline: Dowth Hall, due to be sold in January, future uncertain; and a victim of the Celtic tiger, Castle […]
ravishing plasterwork – it must be saved!
Thank you for this article. I am a Netterville descendent so it was exciting to know that the family made it in to a Betjemen poem, which I did not know. I would love to think that the property was within my price range so that I could rescue it – but I suspect it isn’t.
You’re most welcome: I found the poem in a personal reminiscence written by someone who knew Betjeman at Oxford. I had hoped that Dowth might be sold prior to auction but that now seems unlikely since the event is scheduled for Thursday: let’s hope someone of suitable sensibility is the buyer.
My father, George Robert Gradwell, lived there as a child. My grandfather, Francis William Edward Gradwell was the last Gradwell to own Dowth Hall. – a lottery win too late now but keen to know who bought it and what the plans are for Dowth Hall’s future.
How fascinating. I hope you saw my update on February 1st mentioning the house had been sold (and to whom). I will be keeping an eye on what happens next…
I did not see the post on who bought it and the plans. Would you mind repeating it. Thank you.
The house was sold at the beginning of 2013 but I believe it took some time to resolve various legal matters. I have not heard any news of late, but am reminded by your messages to investigate and will report in due course if there is additional information. Thank you for getting in touch and for your comments.
what is the name of the john betjeman poem refering to this house
thx Pauline
Apologies, I will have to try to find it again – I wrote down the lines but didn’t take a copy of the page which came from a privately-published book.
Dowth Hall was bought by a local businessman who intends to restore it to its former glory
Yes, see my piece ‘Dowth Update’ of February 1st in which I note this news.
Also would it be possible to get a copy of the poem? I wish to frame it and present it to the new owher as a housewarming gift
I will have to track down the poem from the privately-published document, and can then get back to you.
In return, you can introduce me to the new owner.
No problem, you have my email address send me your details and I will pass them on to him
This is my email address. I’ll have to chase up that poem, it was in a privately-printed publication which I will have to look at again when have a moment. Best wishes, Robert O’B
I will see him tomorrow and let you know asap
Owen will meet you Ring me 0863729117
My name is Kyle M. Netterville, from Texas, USA. Could someone please contact me who is close to this story or events. I am a producer/director for PBS and I also freelance. I would be very interested in creating a documentary about my family history, the area and property/restoration.
And for any other “Nettervilles” out there. If you can contribute to the family story please feel free to email me as well.
I will be in touch with you later this week: am travelling at present. If you haven’t heard from me in a few days, feel free to get back to me again about this matter.
Howdy, It’s been several weeks and I was wondering what else I could possibly find out about the restoration of the estate. And /or the local history of the Netterville name. Thanks.
Lest I didn’t reply to you due to other distractions, as yet work on the estate has yet to begin but please keep in touch and I can then let you know once there is more news. Thank you for your interest.
Would like to know if/when you will be shooting your PBS Doc. Netterville cropped up crisscrossing my ancestry a few centuries ago….looks like the name made it to the USA – I’m curious as to this early emigration. Any info, please email. Thanks.
My name is Warren Marwick and I live in Perth, Western Australia. My family descend from the Viscount Netterville line from Dowth and lived in Co. Galway before venturing to the U.S>A> then returning to Ireland/England, then in 1870 left for Australia.. I have written two books about my own life, up until I was 35 years old… BUT. I have written quite a lot about the squabbles over the Netterville estate as my Gt. Gt. Grandmother was a Netterville involved with the family estate. Do you know there is a large monument to the last Viscount Netterville ,his wife and also his sister in a church in Dublin.
I am interested in the restoration of Dowth House and anything to do with the Netterville family.
Thanks,
Best Wishes,
Warren Adrian Netterville Marwick
Lord Marwick of Netterville
Thank you for your interest. Still no news on Dowth but I do promise to report once anything more is known.
I am also distantly related to the Netterville Family and live in Canada. My line is from the Hon Frances Netterville. It is all so interesting. I will be in Ireland in September and hope to learn more. Any suggestions as to where I should focus my time regarding the Nettervilles would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Judy
Kyle,
There is a book being written at present by a descendant of the family. I own the original castle and it would make a great documentary
Dear James,
Thank you or the message regarding the story of The Netterville family. I have done some research on the family as my Great Grandfather married Honora Netterville from the Galway branch of the family. Of course I am suer that you have read some or all, of the squabbling after the death of Viscount Netterville.My Great Grandfather wrote notes before leaving Ireland and eventually settling in Australia, They went first to Queensland then later crossed to the opposite side of Australia to Western Australia, to Perth.
I am interesting in anything to do with the Netterville side of the family and of course, in the original and newer home in Ireland.
Kind regards,
Warren Adrian Netterville Marwick. Lord Marwick of Netterville.
I am curious about the son of Robert Netterville Blake, Tuam. John Patrick Netterville Blake born October 1868. Robert’s wife is related to me. Mary Josephine Kelly. Any news is welcome.
Thank you for getting in touch. I’m afraid that I am not able to help but perhaps someone else reading this might have information for you…
Hello, I am currently helping my father put together his family tree/record. His maternal great grandfather was John Netterville Blake, brother of the John Netterville Blake who occupied Dowth Hall for a period in the 1850’s being obliged to sell it in 1851 to the Gradwells.
There was some considerable legal wrangling following the Blake ‘occupation’ of the house: ‘Although Netterville revoked the clause in his will in favour of the Blakes, they continued to claim his estate. Dowth Hall, the Netterville seat, was forcibly occupied by Andrew’s son John Netterville Blake of Castlegrove. “He maintained himself there for many years by selling valuables from the house, and defended himself with a musket from an upper window, against bailiffs, process servers, sheriff’s officers, debt collectors etc. The damage he did before he could be evicted by legal action was immense.” (Melvin, Estates and Landed Society in Galway).
The Netterville Blakes became dispersed, one branch dying out in Liverpool at the beginning of the 20th Century. I have a relatively detailed family tree, but it does not include any children for Robert Netterville Blake. He was the sixth son (of nine boys and five girls) of Captain Netterville Blake and wife, also his cousin Bridget Blake, who lived in Bermingham House in the early 1800s.
He is perhaps, one of the sons referred to in the following amusing piece, recounted by a German travelling prince, as he stayed in the house with his 14 children:
“After an unproductive search in London Prince Puckler-Muskau arrived in Dublin on August 11 1828, where he was entertained by the great and the good. He met Captain Netterville Blake of Birmingham House, near Tuam, and was invited to come west and stay with him.
The invitation to travel to the ‘wild part of Ireland which foreigners never, and natives seldom, visit’ excited the Prince. He was later to travel to far more exotic places such as the Arabian deserts and Africa, but the ‘wildness’ of the west of Ireland appears to have satisfied his curiosity at that stage.
We share the Prince’s humorous observations as he describes life in Birmingham House. “My host is one of the notabilities of the county, but his house is no better than that of a moderately wealthy German nobleman. There is little trace here of English elegance or luxury. Candle-wax, like claret and champagne, is unknown. Sherry and port wine are imbibed, but above all whiskey-punch. The coffee is detestable, but the cooking, though plain, quite nourishing and healthy…”
“ The rain (for it is unfortunately the case that it rains ), runs through quite merrily under the window and forms several romantic waterfalls from the window sill where an old carpet thirstily soaks up the flood.”
“ In the fireplace excellent peat is burning, or rather glowing, which, apart from the warmth it dispenses, covers all objects with a fine ash, when it erupts like Vesuvius…None of this is exactly sumptuous – but nonetheless these trifles are more than outweighed by the patriarchal hospitality and the light-hearted and unceremonious friendliness of the family!”
“I like my host very much . He is 72 years of age and still as hale and hearty as a 50-year-old. He must have been of a very attractive appearance. His virility being proven by 12 sons and seven daughters, all from the same woman. She is also still alive but unwell, which is the reason why I have not yet set eyes on her.”
‘A large part of his family is here at the moment, which makes the abode rather noisy. This is increased yet more by the musical talents of the daughters, who perform daily on an instrument that is dreadfully out of tune, a circumstance that does not bother them in the slightest.’
“As a rule the men only talk of hunting and riding and are somewhat unknowledgeable. A local squire, for instance, today searched lengthily and untiringly for the United States on a map of Europe until his brother-in-law finally gave him the bright idea of trying his luck on a world map.”
The ignorance of the gentry amused the Prince greatly. The subject of magnetism was spoken of at breakfast without anybody having ever heard of it…’
“ In a company of 20 persons, there was no-one who knew where in the whole world Carlsbad or Prague might be…”
“Where do you come from, if I might ask?” one of them inquired.
“ From Brobdingnag,” I answered in jest.
“Ah, is that on the sea?” asked another.
“ Do they have whiskey there too?”
Indeed my host’s son even asked quite eagerly, when we were out riding and encountered some asses, whether we, too, had such animals in our country?
“ Alas, more than enough!” I replied with a sigh.
http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/68771/it-is-unfortunately-the-case-that-it-rains
Thank you for getting in touch. I am familiar with Prince Puckler-Muskau and adore his letters, written to his ex-wife (who he still loved) while he was in search of an heiress-bride. Having exhausted possibilities in England he came to Ireland and travelled extensively around the country, even visiting Kerry where he stayed with Daniel O’Connell: his account of that meeting is as amusing as all the others. To be highly recommended.
I am only familiar with the Prince since delving more into the Blake side of my family. My post contains some inaccuracies with dates and names, I’ve noticed, but no great matter. It’s a very interesting – and good – site this!
Hello Kyle M. Netterville,
My name is Warren Marwick and I live in Perth, Western Australia. I have written two books on my life and family; not so much for public reading, just for my own family just in case they want to know where we all came from
; there is a huge amount abut the Netterville/Davies side of the family. If you are interested, please send me an email and I will on send it, or part of it, to you.
Kind regards,
Warren
I know this is from 2013 but my name is Brittney Netterville. Im trying to look more in to my family history
Thank you for getting in touch. I am not a genealogist, but perhaps some of the other people who have been in touch about this house may be able to help you. Wishing you best of luck with your search…
We had the priviledge of touring at least the lower level of the house when we visited the area in 2004 and have some pictures. The Pidgeons who lived there said that “The Last September” with Maggie Smith was filmed on the property in 1999. The film does have some good footage of the grounds and greenhouse, prior to its decline. We are direct decendents of William Netterville, born 1736 and immigrated to the US around 1760.
Thank you for this update.
Regards,
Robert Netterville
Lee’s Summit, MO
Thank you for getting in touch. I never saw the film of ‘The Last September’ altho’ I know the book well. I must try to get a copy to watch and spot the scenes featuring Dowth. At the moment, I believe the house’s future remains uncertain, but one must hope for the best. If there is any further information, I shall post an update…
the house’s future is not uncertain it will be returned to it’s former glory but due process has to take place before any work can start.
Thank you for this update which is much appreciated. Clearly the latest word I received on the house was incorrect, so it is good to know matters will proceed.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6haDkHYOyEI
My name is Dean G Netterville, I currently reside in Edmonton, Alberta Canada, I’ve searched and found this link thru You Tube for the movie “The Last September” note there are 1-10 clips to view the entire movie.
Hello Dean,,
My name is Warren Adrian Netterville Marwick and I descend from the long line of Nettervilles, I would be interested to know about your side of the family and when they went to Canada. I have been to Ireland several times but, ashamedly, I have not visited Dowth and the area around where the family lived many years ago.
My Great Grandfather, John Joseph Davies researched the family pretty well, I still have the records which he wrote before leaving Ireland around 1870.
My email is: warrenmarwick@hotmail.com
regards,
Warren
Lord Marwick of Netteville
Is Dowth Hall undergoing renovation as I know it was sold early last year?
I had read that the house was going to be renovated which I hope is true.
I am a descendant of the Davies family of Galway who were , of course, related to the Nettervilles, descending from the Viscount Netterville line.
I hope I will be able to visit this area soon.
Regards,
Warren
Lord Marwick of Netterville.
Thank you for your interest. Dowth is due to be renovated, altho’ I have not heard that work had yet begun.
Thank you for getting in touch. Yes, Dowth was sold at the start of 2013 and is due to be renovated; I am not sure if work has yet begun on the site, but will try to see if I can find out about the current state of affairs, and let you – and other interested parties – know.
Thank you. I would appreciate any information you can share.
Hello Judy,
I gather by the interest you have shown about the restoration of the Netterville family home, that you are also a relative of this great interesting family.
My name is Warren Marwick
, Lord Marwick of Netterville and my email address is: warrenmarwick@hotmail.com
Good Luck
I suggest you might begin by making contact with Mr Tom French who is responsible for Local Studies in Meath County Libraries and is a fount of helpful knowledge: he can be reached at tfrench@meathcoco.ie
I hope this is of some use.
Class article. Fair play to you. However, I wonder about the details behind your claim that the Nettervilles, Prestons and Plunketts of Killeen kept their land and the Catholicism. The reason is this: The Plunketts of Killeen and Dunsany are not far from me at all (actually the Killeen ones died out in the early 1980s, a few years after the Castle was set on fire). The story which is widespread if not universal in the locality is that the Plunketts of Dunsany, who became Protestant, actually legally owned the Killeen castle and lands but returned it to the Plunketts of Killeen when the Penal Laws outlawing Catholic ownership of land were removed (in the 1790s?). This could be a myth, but it’s the widely believed reason in this area for how the Killeen Plunketts kept their land (i.e. technically, they didn’t). If this is true, your assumption regarding the Penal Laws might need revisiting (“thereby disproving the idea that Catholics automatically suffered displacement during the Penal era”). As far as I understand it by 1772, when the first act repealing penal laws affecting Catholic landownership began, a mere 5% of Ireland’s land belonged to Catholics (it was only 1782 when Catholics could actually buy or inherit land). I think most of that 5% might have been in Connacht under a 1691 deal which allowed Catholics there to keep their land providing their swore an oath (something which other Catholics could not do after 1693 when the Pope sided with the Jacobite cause). I wonder was there a single Catholic landowner in the Pale before 1782.
Thank you for making contact and for your comments. Nevertheless I stand over my assertion that some (by no means all) Roman Catholic landowners retained possession of their property throughout the Penal period, including those I named but in this part of the country there were others such as the Bellews of Barmeath, County Louth and the Nugents (until the 19th century O’Reillys) of Ballinlough Castle, County Westmeath. I recommend to you the late Charles Chenevix Trench’s 1998 book Grace’s Card: Irish Catholic Landlords 1690-1800, which contains accounts of many such families. In addition, there seems to be a widespread notion that the Penal Laws only affected the Irish. On the contrary, many English families which remained true to their old faith – they were generally known as Recusants as you are probably aware – suffered the same legal restrictions; for more on this, see the late Mark Bence-Jones’ 1992 book Catholic Families.
Catholic landowners found a plethora of ways to maintain their estates. The Galway catholic gentry are indeed a class apart in terms of their numbers, but there are many many other catholic landowners who continue to thrive throughout the penal times, often against the letter of the law, but with the connivance of protestant neighbours. And of course, conversion to the established church as very often just a facade.
As the aesthete points out, the penal laws were anti-catholic, not anti-Irish. As estates in Britain had any for priest holes than there were catholic practitioners, the same applied to many Irish houses too.
Hi there – did you ever get a copy of The Last September, the film set in Dowth Hall? I have a dvd that I can send to you. I’m in Drogheda.
Thank you for getting in touch and apologies for not replying sooner: I have (as usual) been travelling. No, I never saw The Last September and would much like to do so. If you get in touch with me again I can pm you with my address.
Hi thereYou can email me here or phone or FB me. Whatever suits.I can send on the dvd. It’s a really good film, set in 1921. But of course, I love the house anyhow!!It looks great in it. Caroline Caroline Kavanagh086 8524821 From: The Irish Aesthete To: caroline_kavanagh@ymail.com Sent: Monday, 2 November 2015, 11:38:23 Subject: [New comment] Netterville! Netterville! Where Have You Been?* #yiv9195584800 a:hover {color:red;}#yiv9195584800 a {text-decoration:none;color:#0088cc;}#yiv9195584800 a.yiv9195584800primaryactionlink:link, #yiv9195584800 a.yiv9195584800primaryactionlink:visited {background-color:#2585B2;color:#fff;}#yiv9195584800 a.yiv9195584800primaryactionlink:hover, #yiv9195584800 a.yiv9195584800primaryactionlink:active {background-color:#11729E;color:#fff;}#yiv9195584800 WordPress.com theirishaesthete commented: “Thank you for getting in touch and apologies for not replying sooner: I have (as usual) been travelling. No, I never saw The Last September and would much like to do so. If you get in touch with me again I can pm you with my address.” | |
My name is Dean G Netterville, I reside in Edmonton, Alberta Canada. I’ve searched and found this link [ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6haDkHYOyEI ] for the movie ” Tha Last September” it is available thru you tube where there are 1-10 episodes to view the movie.
Fabulous, Dean. Thank you.
We will be over to visit the area in early Sept. My elderly parents are joining us. It is time to catch up on some family history. Judy from Canada
Did anyone buy the manor?
Yes indeed, and a restoration of the property is in hand…
I was just there . I live in Canada but was over to Ireland for a visit. I missed the Netterville family gathering earlier in the year.
I was only able to take pictures of the gatehouse as there is as mentioned restoration going on. I imagine the restoration will take some time.
I also took pictures of the surrounding area and the church plaque in Dublin. I was not able to see the vaults where many of the Nettervilles are buried.
Judy from Canada ( Blake line)
The house is under the ownership of Owen Brennan since 2013 and a very significant megalithic discovery is currently being excavated. Dowth Hall was built on top of the passage tomb. I have just returned from a visit to the site. https://www.devenishnutrition.com/press-releases/187/discovery-of-megalithic-passage-tomb-cemetery-within-the-bru-na-boinne-world-heritage-site
It was my dads side the family who had owned this and when they all passed away it had to be sold in 2013
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Hello! I live in NC, USA but most of my family is from the southern Mississippi area. I’d love to know where I fit in to all of this. Good day to you all!