Jenkinstown Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jenkinstown Castle |
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| General information | |
| Location | Jenkinstown Park, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
Jenkinstown Castle is a historic manor house located in Jenkinstown Park, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It was originally built as a grand country home for Sir Patrick Bellew, who was the first Baron Bellew of Barmeath. The castle has a long and interesting history, including building challenges, periods of disrepair, and a recent restoration.
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Building Jenkinstown Castle
The original design for Jenkinstown Castle was created by an architect named William Robertson. He planned to include parts of an older building that was already there before 1798. Sir Patrick Bellew, who lived from 1798 to 1866, was the person who had this large house built.
Building Problems
Unfortunately, the first design for the castle had some serious problems with its structure. This meant parts of the building were not strong enough. To fix these issues, the Bellew family hired another architect, Charles Frederick Anderson. However, even after his work, some parts of the castle still collapsed! After these difficulties, the architect Charles Frederick Anderson left Ireland and moved to the United States.
Restoration and Family Life
Even with the building problems, the castle was repaired. It was made a bit smaller than the original grand plan. The Bellew family continued to live in Jenkinstown Castle for many years, staying there until the 1930s.
Life After the Bellews
After the Bellew family moved out in the 1930s, most of Jenkinstown Castle became very run-down. It was not looked after, and parts of it fell apart.
The Chapel's Use
One part of the castle, the chapel, was still used by the local church parish of Conahy. This shows that even when the main house was in disrepair, some parts were still important to the community. Over time, some sections of the house were even taken down.
Modern Restoration
Today, Jenkinstown Castle has been brought back to life. Between 2013 and 2014, the castle was carefully restored. Workers used materials from the original building to make sure it looked as authentic as possible. The old chapel was also given a new purpose; it was turned into an auditorium, which is a large room for performances or meetings.
Famous Visitors
Jenkinstown Castle has hosted some famous guests over the years. One notable visitor was Thomas Moore, a well-known Irish poet and musician. He stayed at the house in 1805. During his visit, he wrote one of his most famous songs, "The Last Rose of Summer".
