Abandoned ireland
Tower Lodge
Co. Kerry.
Documenting our Heritage
Tower Lodge was built on the edge of the Muckross estate around 1839 by Henry Arthur Herbert.
Herbert had been educated at Eton and graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge. When he succeeded to the Herbert family fortune, created from copper mining on the Muckross Peninsula, he returned to Kerry where he set about building Muckross House and improving the Muckross demesne which included the construction of the Tower Lodge.
Herbert went on to become Lord Lieutenant of County Kerry in 1853, Colonel of the Kerry Militia in 1854 and M.P. for Kerry. The Herbert's held a position of high social standing; on Tuesday the 27th August, Mr and Mrs Herbert, accompanied by a party of ladies and gentlemen, stood on the lawn of Mucross House awaiting the arrival of Queen Victoria, Albert, the Prince Consort, the Prince of Wales, Prince Alfred, Princess Alice and Princess Helena. The Royal party stayed at Muckross for three days enjoying the delights of the Muckross Demesne, visiting Dinis Island, Mangerton and Torc waterfall and Muckross Abbey.
Griffths Valuation circa 1850 lists the Tower Lodge as a Caretaker's House.
Henry Arthur Herbert died in 1866 leaving his son, Major Henry Arthur Herbert to succeed to the Muckross estate. The Herbert's fortunes fell into decline in the latter part of the 19th century, in part due to the expense of the Queen's visit. On 29th November 1899 the estate was purchased by Lord Ardilaun, a member of the Guinness family and a prominent Irish Unionist.
The 1901 census lists Tower Lodge as occupied by Lord Ardilaun's gamekeeper, Michael Doyle, who at the time was eighty years of age. Michael lived in the tower with his wife Catherine, their son Jeremiah and two daughters Ellen and Catherine. By 1911 Jeremiah had taken over his father's position as gamekeeper and lived in the tower with his wife, Mary.
In 1910 Muckross House was let to Mr William Bowers Bourn. Bourn latter purchased the estate as a wedding present to his daughter Maud who married Mr Arthur Rose Vincent of Summerhill, Co. Clare. Maud died of pneumonia in 1929.
On 31st December 1932, Mr Vincent gifted the Muckross estate to the Irish state. The Commissioners of Public Works were required to 'maintain and manage the Park as a National Park for the purpose of the recreation and enjoyment of the public'. Muckross Park and Gardens were then opened to the public and in 1964 Muckross House itself was also opened to the public.
During the 20th century, Tower Lodge was extended with an additional small single storey wing. Later however the lodge was abandoned and let fall into dereliction.
Muckross Gardens are freely open to the public, there is a charge for the tour of Muckross House.
This article is the copyright of Tarquin Blake, Abandoned Ireland, and may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
