My wife's ancestors - St.Lawrence - Contents

Howth Castle

Howth Castle, N side of Howth Head peninsula, N Dublin Bay.

References:
- Howth Castle in [Irish Country Houses].
- Howth geography and rivers in [Sweeney, 1991].
Sources yet to be consulted:
- [Ball, vol.5, 1917]. Entire volume is "Howth and its owners".

Howth Castle.
Painting of around 1740.

The St.Lawrence family owned these lands since the reign of John (1199-1216).
Howth Castle was originally built 1464.
This would be at the succession of Robert St.Lawrence, 2nd Baron Howth.
The castle was rebuilt by Christopher St.Lawrence, 7th Baron Howth in late 1500s.
Rebuilt by William St.Lawrence, 14th Baron Howth. Finished 1738.
Seat of the Barons and Earls of Howth.
Title extinct 1909.
Howth Castle stayed in the family (through female line).
When finally sold it was possibly the oldest family home in Ireland. The same family had owned or lived at this location for 800 years.

Howth Castle sold and contents dispersed:
The family (now the Gaisford-St Lawrence family) finally sold Howth Castle in 2018.
Sadly, the family sold almost everything, including ancient family treasures.
The library was broken up and sold. I bought some of it.
Auctions of Howth Castle contents:

Lots 1 to 599 on 8 Sept 2021.
Lots 600 to 979 on 9 Sept 2021.
Lots 1 to 1031 of the library, on 22 Sept 2021 and 23 Sept 2021.

Historical maps and views

Howth Castle in [Down Survey, 1655 to 1658].
From TCD.

Howth on Map of Dublin bay, 1685.
E is down.
See full size.

Howth Castle on John Rocque's map of Dublin, 1757.

Howth in [Taylor and Skinner, 1777].

Howth Castle, c.1780.
From [Ball, vol.5, 1917].

Howth Castle on map of Dublin Bay, 1798. W is up.
National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire.
See full size and other shot.

Howth Castle.
See full size. From [Cromwell, 1820].
Reproduced in [Ball, vol.5, 1917].

Howth Castle on 1829 to 1842 map.

Howth Castle on 1887 to 1913 map.

Howth Castle.
Lawrence Collection.
From NLI.

The opening line of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1939) features Howth Castle: "riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs."

Modern maps and views

Howth Castle.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.

Howth Castle from the air.
From Colin O'Riordan (The Herald).

Howth Castle.
Photo 2007. Light adjusted digitally.
See larger and full size and original.

Howth Castle - Interior

Howth Castle. The hall.
From [Ball, vol.5, 1917]. See larger.

Howth Castle around 1740

Howth Castle - Views

Howth Castle - Videos

Howth Castle
Howth Castle
Howth Castle
The National Transport Museum is in the grounds of Howth Castle.
Deer Park Hotel and golf course are in the grounds of Howth Castle.
Howth Golf Club is a bit further to the South (see map).