1788 – Coolmore House, Carrigaline, Co. Cork

Large six-bay three-storey over basement country house, built 1788, having central two-bay central breakfront to front (east) elevation. Sadly falling into dereliction after the Newenhams sold its contents and moved into a smaller property.

From: J.P. Neale, Views of the seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, Second Series, vol.III, London, 1826
“COOLMORE is situated at the eastern extremity of the Parish of Cari galine, about nine miles south- east of the City of Cork. This beautiful domain contains upwards of 540 acres of rich and well wooded land ; more than one half of its circuit is washed by the river of Carigaline, called Arvenbury, which , with the aid of the sea, is navigable for vessels of very considerable burden to the distance of about four miles from the harbour of Cork . The situation is said to be extremely salubrious, and the views of the harbour and river, from the more elevated parts of the domain , are scarcely surpassed by any in Ireland or England. This place appears to have been in the possession of the family of Newenham nearly 150 years, having been purchased in the year 1680 by the first of that ancient English family who settled in Ireland ; for we find they were originally seated in Newenham, in Northamptonshire, one of whom served the office of high – sheriff of that county in the tenth year of the reign of Henry VI. ( 1431).

The first family Mansion erected at Coolmore, and which was re moved about thirty years ago, according to the description given of it, was well suited to this extensive and beautiful domain , and to the ample revenue of its possessor ; it is said to have been erected upwards of 100 years ago by Thomas Newenham , Esq. , great great grandfather of the present proprietor, William Henry Worth Newenham , Esq. who is re presented to have lived in much splendour, and also to have contributed munificently to some of the charitable institutions in Cork , especially the Green- Coat Hospital , of which he may be considered as the founder.

The present Mansion, which is large and commodious, having several admirably proportioned rooms, was erected in the year 1788 by William Worth Newenham, Esq. father of the present proprietor, who married Louisa , sister of the late Lord Mountsandford , of Castlerea , county of the last Lord Wandesford, of Castlecomer, in the county of Kilkenny, as appears by an inscription on the family tomb, in the neighbouring Church of Carigaline ; and secondly, to the sister of the late Arthur Dawson, Esq. , of Castle Dawson , in the county of Londonderry.