Temple House Manor and Castle facts for kids
Temple House is a beautiful old mansion in Ireland. Today, it works like a fancy country guest house, similar to a hotel. It sits on a huge family estate, over 1,000 acres (about 400 hectares). From the house, you can see the old ruins of a castle by a lake. This castle used to belong to the Knights Templar.
The main house was first built around 1825. Later, in 1864, it was made much bigger and more decorative.
The old Templehouse Castle was built way back in 1181. It was a rectangular castle without a central tower (a "keep"). You can find its ruins near Ballinacarrow, close to Ballymote in County Sligo, Ireland.
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History of Temple House
Early Owners: Knights Templar and Hospitaller
The land where Temple House stands was given to a group called the Knights Templar in 1216. The Knights Templar were a famous group of Christian knights during the Middle Ages. They were known for their fighting skills and their wealth.
When the Knights Templar group was ended in 1311, the land went to another group called the Knights Hospitaller. They were also a Christian military order, but they focused more on helping sick and poor people.
Castle Changes and Damage
In 1627, the old castle was changed into a home for people to live in. However, in 1641, it was attacked and badly damaged. When a place is "besieged," it means it's surrounded by an army trying to take it over.
The Perceval Family at Temple House
The Perceval family has lived on these lands since 1665. George Perceval (1635–1675) came to Ireland after he married a woman from the Crofton family. She owned the Temple House property.
The property stayed in the Perceval family for many years. Several family members became the High Sheriff of Sligo. A High Sheriff was an important local official who helped keep law and order.
Alexander Perceval and House Changes
Colonel Alexander Perceval (1787–1858) inherited the property. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sligo. An MP is a person elected to represent their area in the country's parliament. He also worked as the Sergeant-at-Arms in the House of Lords, which is a part of the UK Parliament.
Colonel Perceval rebuilt the house around 1825. However, he spent too much money. After he died, the house had to be sold. But his third son, also named Alexander, bought it back for the family. This younger Alexander had become very rich in China.
In 1864, Alexander Jr. made the house even bigger. He added a large new section to the existing building.
Later Events at Temple House
In 1920, during a time of conflict in Ireland, the house was attacked by the IRA. The IRA was a group fighting for Ireland's independence.
Today, Temple House is still full of family treasures and old items. It continues to operate as a guest lodge, welcoming visitors to stay in its historic rooms.
