My ancestors - Blennerhassett - Contents
New Ballyseedy
Ballyseedy House, formerly called Elm Grove (or Elmgrove), seat of Blennerhassett from 1721 to 1967.New Ballyseedy.
The main block is to the S. The lower extension leads away to the N.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.
The new Ballyseedy House (see location)
was originally built as Elm Grove (or Elmgrove) in 1721.
This date is on a stone plaque in the banquet hall.
It was NOT the residence of Col. John Blennerhassett, who remained living at the old Ballyseedy Castle.
Rather, it was the residence of his brother William Blennerhassett, senior. Though if it was built 1721 it seems he was too young to build it. In any case, his branch of the family built it and it became his seat.
[Houses of Kerry]
considered Elmgrove as a separate building to new Ballyseedy,
but it seems clear from
1778 map
and
[Mc Morran, 1991]
that Elmgrove is new Ballyseedy.
William Blennerhassett, senior
was living Elm Grove in 1756.
Elm Grove was rebuilt by
William Blennerhassett, senior
in
1760s
[Mc Morran, 1991].
The old
Ballyseedy Castle
was abandoned some time after 1775 and fell into ruin.
See 1778 map
which shows Elm Grove in the location of what is now the new Ballyseedy House,
and shows the old Ballyseedy Castle a mile to the W.
Elm Grove was
re-modelled by
William Blennerhassett, junior
in and around 1788.
When the three Arthur Blennerhassetts in turn
inherit "Ballyseedy"
in 1775,
1799
and 1810,
it seems they are inheriting the estate
rather than the old house, which is becoming a ruin.
It is notable that all three seem to live somewhere other than Ballyseedy,
which would suggest that "Elm Grove" (new Ballyseedy) stands,
while "Ballyseedy" (old Ballyseedy) is becoming a ruin.
Blennerhassett of Elmgrove
inherited the Ballyseedy estates (and the ruined Ballyseedy Castle) in 1810.
Apparently at some point after this
Elm Grove was re-named "Ballyseedy House"
[Mc Morran, 1991].
Bill Jehan
says:
"Use of the name "Elmgrove" stops suddenly, not only as the name of a Blennerhassett home but for any purpose at all ... The most recent date at which I have found the name "Elmgrove" in use is 1819, and I suspect the decision to rename Elmgrove as Ballyseedy may have been made by
Arthur Blennerhassett
in 1821, on completion of the house extension and remodelling".
SW of Ballyseedy House is "Monument Wood",
where there was an obelisk with an inscription to
Arthur Blennerhassett (died 1815).
This obelisk is now fallen and in ruins.
Ballyseedy House
was remodelled 1816-21 in the time of
Arthur Blennerhassett.
The remodelling is
believed to be the work of
Sir Richard Morrison (1767-1849).
The lower, medieval castle-like, N wing was added, with round and square turrets.
Ballyseedy House
was remodelled again in 1880 by
Major Arthur Blennerhassett.
The main S block was remodelled in medieval-revival style
by James Franklin Fuller,
adding battlements
and hood mouldings
and the curved medieval tower look to this block.
The N wing was not changed.
The Ballyseedy line
of the Blennerhassetts died out 1965.
The house was left to
Sir Adrian Blennerhassett, 7th Baronet
who sold it in
1967 to Arthur and Eileen Sheraton.
Ballyseedy was restored
and opened as "Ballyseede Castle Hotel",
deliberate change of spelling,
presumably because they didn't like "seedy" in the name
(though rather unnecessary to invent an artificial name
when they could have chosen "Ballysheedy" or "Ballyshiddy").
It is now Ballyseede Castle Hotel.
Stone plaque with the date "1721", over the fireplace, in the banquet hall at Ballyseedy. Photo 2000.
See wider view. Photo apparently 2005. From Bill Jehan.
Above the date is the writing:
BR S TI 8 : Y 13 : |
Blennerhassett arms on the fireplace, in the banquet hall
at Ballyseedy.
Detail from
wider view
above.
Ballyseedy when it was the seat of Arthur Blennerhassett, after his alterations.
From the W side.
A note on the back says c.1830.
But the front lists him as MP for Co.Kerry. If front writing is done at same time as picture,
then picture must be 1837-43.
Drawing at Glin Castle.
The low N extension is similar to present day.
But the main S block is different.
See larger
and wider
and full size.
Blennerhassett arms on the building.
See wider shot.
This is on the W side (the lawn side) of the S end.
Photo apparently 2008. From
Bill Jehan.
Ballyseedy. View from Monument Wood to the SW.
See larger
and full size.
Photo apparently 2008. From
Bill Jehan.
Gates of Ballyseedy.
See larger
and full size.
Photo 2004. From
Bill Jehan.
New Ballyseedy (the S end)
New Ballyseedy (the N wing)
New Ballyseedy (interior)
Return to Ballyseedy.
