Whitefort House,
Co. Wexford.

Documenting our Heritage

Joseph White built Whitefort House sometime in the 18th century. According to local folklore, he was buried on his horse in a brick lined vault facing the front door of the house. A mound that marked his final resting place was visible until the 1960s.

 

Joseph's daughter and heir Joyce Sophia married Nicholas Gray in 1768; thus the property passed to the Gray family. Nicholas Gray was a protestant member of the Rebel Council of Wexford and fought in the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798, becoming secretary to the Wexford Council. His letter to the Commander in Chief of the Wexford forces, Fr. Philip Roche, records his attempt at raising new recruits in the rebel army to fight against the British forces:

‘Dear Citizen,

We have, however, now issued orders, desiring all unmarried men to repair to camp immediately: we did so before, but they were not fully obeyed: at the present time particular obedience will be enforced, and we trust you will shortly find at your camp a number of fresh young fellows, as well appointed and provided as our best efforts can accomplish.’

Gray’s words were enforced and four days later the rebel army was fighting at the Battle of Horetown.

After the eventual failure of the rebellion, Gray was arrested and imprisoned. In 1808 he left Ireland for America, arriving first in New York City and then moving to Mississippi. In 1830 he built the 'Wexford Lodge' in Vicksburg, Mississippi. During the American Civil War the Wexford Lodge became home to Judge James, Adeline Shirley and their twenty-five slaves.

Back in Ireland Whitefort remained inhabited by Nicholas Gray's descendants, until in 1873 when the Whitefort estate was sold. In 1911 the 11 rooms of the house are recorded as occupied by just the farmer Mr Harry Agar, age 23 and his wife Fannie, age 23.

Today the house is a long forgotten, overgrown ruin.

This article is the copyright of Tarquin Blake, Abandoned Ireland, and may not be reproduced in any form without permission.