Above is a photograph taken some time ago of Cloverhill, County Cavan. The original house was built by a branch of the Saunderson family in 1758 but then extended from 1799 onwards to a design by Francis Johnston. It is his work which can be seen here: a two-storey, three bay house with east-facing breakfront entrance bay focussed on a pedimented Ionic portico: on the south side was a bow with Wyatt windows. In 1958 the property was sold by a descendant of the original owners and has since been allowed to fall into ruin. As can be seen below, it is now a roofless shell, the portico seemingly removed more than two decades ago and moved to a house in County Wexford.
One of the saddest and most disturbing photographs I have seen in all your formidable posts.
Thank you Joe – unfortunately I could show you many more: the condition of this house is by no means unusual…
I really enjoy your site so much…what a treasure trove of amazing information and history. .. when l see all those ruins scattered throughout the countryside. . I always think ..if only those walls could talk. ..thank you so much again… wonderful.
Thank you, that’s most kind. It continues to be a great sadness that so few Irish citizens seem concerned that our stock of historic buildings is being neglected.
I see the house is rated as being of national interest by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage…..a sad state for such an architecturally significant house by one of our leading architects.
Thanks for getting in touch. As you know, listing on the national inventory in no way ensures any protection: local authorities refuse to implement legislation and therefore permit our stock of architectural heritage to diminish…
I live in Canada, my family having moved here in the 1800’s. Being from the “new world” I have always admired the respect that Ireland had for it’s heritage buildings, as nothing is allowed to grow old here. Older buildings are simply destroyed and replaced and forgotten. So it makes me particularly sad to see the same sentiment prevailing in Ireland -and I am sure in Scotland as well ( we do not discuss England even though we are still unfortunately living in it’s shadow).
Thank you for the information that you post. I am 70 years old now, but I swear I will visit Ireland before I leave this earth!
Leanne (Leannach) Lane (O’Liathain )
Like Joe said ^^ those ‘before and after’ pics are incredibly sad – nicely portrayed once again.
Another sad beauty…
This is just heartbreaking. I’ve never seen anything like it. All that green covering the house. This would make a good photo for a preservation society to use for an appeal to people to start saving their heritage.
One can only feel sick, and sad.
Those interested in the Sauderson (or Sanderson) family can consult Burke’s LANDED GENTRY (1899), p. 402 (“Sanderson of Cloverhill”).
Please could you let me know if this is the same estate owned by the Parkers in more recent years. I had a conversation with a relative at a funeral this week who said our family used to own the Cloverhill Estate in Cavan. I would love to know more of our history and whether we have any connection to this old building.
Thank you for getting in touch and apologies for not responding sooner due to the fact that I have been travelling for much of the past week. I am afraid I do not know who has owned this estate in more recent years but I am sure if you made contact with the county librarian (always a useful resource for local history) you would be able to find out more.