Knocktopher Abbey

Knocktopher Abbey

Finnoula Lynch

A tributary of the Little Arrigle River flows nearby the lush pasture lands of Knocktopher Abbey, onetime early settlement and friary of the Carmelite order. ‘Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel’ in Palestine, – being their correct title – it is pleasantly set in 17 acres of mature gardens and parkland.
The Abbeys’ early Carmelite inhabitants date back to the 14th century, founded in that barony in 1356 by James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond, and it remained in their care until after the Dissolution of Monasteries Act in 1536. After possession by Cromwell in 1647 , it became an Ale House for a time. It was reclaimed by William of St Patrick in 1654, and after which, it was acquired by the Bramwell family. The banished Friars meanwhile, set up a chapel-cum-resident farm on 10 acres in Ralugh, three miles north. The Carmelites finally returned to Knocktopher in 1735 and in 1750 erected a small chapel.
A section of the old abbey abuts an earlier Norman castle, and its ‘keep’ can still be seen today.
From the designs of John McCurdy, (1824-1885) of Leinster St, Dublin, later structures added-on in the early 1800’s display a high Victorian-Gothic style having a three bay (windows), two storey structure with dormer attics. After a fire, it was rebuilt in 1866 on a ‘T-shaped’ plan centred between a three-stage single-bay structure. At this time it’s occupant was Lieutenant-Colonel Sir James Langrishe, (1823-1910) JP, DL (Deputy Lieutenant). it was re-constructed in a deep grey limestone, offset by glistening granite applications producing a very-pleasing two-tone palette. It is best described as an artistic composition of chateauesque’ style. It remained as the family seat of of the Langrishes for almost 300 years until 1981. The crested motto over the doorway reads ‘Medio Tuttissimus Ibis’ translated as: ‘you will steer most safely by the middle course’ – you can judge if they upheld their family motto!

A brief history of the Langrishe family is as follows :
John Langrishe (1660-1735), son of Hercules who was the first member of the family to settle in Ireland, became proprietor of the Borough of Knocktopher, Co. Kilkenny. Mr Langrishe, became High Sheriff of Co. Kilkenny in 1696. He was married five times!, firstly to Alicia, second daughter of Harry, 2nd Barron Blayney, and widow of Thomas Sandford. of Sandfordscourt. Kilkenny and secondly, to the daughter of Colonel Sandford, but had no children from this marriage. He married his third wife, Mary, circa 1695, daughter of Robert Grace, feudal Barron of Courtstown, Kilkenny and had an only son: Robert Langrishe,(1696-1769). His fourth wife was Frances Plowden, and his fifth and last wife was an Anne Newport.
One son, his successor, Robert Langrishe, like his father before, also became High Sheriff of Co, Kilkenny in 1740, and Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod in Ireland from between 1745-9. He married Ann the daughter of Johnathan Whitby and they had a daughter, Olympia and a son, his heir, Hercules, (1731-1811). By 1757, the Langrishe lands numbered 800 acres and Knocktopher was created a baronetage in 1777. The hon. Sir Hercules Langrishe, was MP for Knocktopher for almost forty years, and represented this borough in the Irish parliament during which period he ranked amongst the most distinguished members. He-was the first person who advocated and obtained a partial relaxation of the most atrocious code of laws which oppressed the Roman Catholics of Ireland, a code that consigned 80% of the population to unmitigated and grinding servitude. They produced two sons and three daughters, his eldest son Robert Langrishe, (1756-1835) and he succeeded as 2nd Baronet. Robert also sat in parliament as an MP for Knocktopher from 1796-1800 and was heavily involved with the theatre; author of many a witty satire parodying the Act of Union and supporting Catholic emancipation in the Irish House of Commons. His second son Hercules Richard (1782-1862) entered the church, became 3rd Baronet; Rev. Sir Hercules Richard Langrishe married Maria Cottingham, their family included Richard (a stepson), later named Hercules Richard and daughter -Anne Maria. Altogether, six of the nine Baronets were named ‘Hercules’ – as is the current heir, born in 1988.
Hercules Richard married Hannah, daughter and co-heir of Robert Myhill, of Killarney (or Cill Eirne) Co.Kilkenny and sister of Jane, wife of Viscount Charles Loftus – the 1st Marques of Ely, who held the joint position of Postmaster General of Ireland. and was a member of the Privy Council.
Sir James Langrishe, 4th Baronet (1832-1910), JP DL, became High Sheriff of Co, Kilkenny in 1866, Lieutenant-Colonel of the 5th Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, who married, first, Adelaide de Blois Eccless, and later in 1906 to Algitha Maud, daughter of Sir Henry Daniel Gooch who was an English Engineer involved in locomotives and transatlantic cabelling. James and Algitha had a son Hercules Robert, his successor, they also had five daughters: Adele Constance, Maria Cecilie, Mary Isabella, Frances Alice, and Norah Elizabeth.
Possibly the most colourful of all was the 5th Baronet, Major & Commander Sir Hercules Robert Langrishe, (1859-1943) or ‘Herky’ as he was known to his friends; strikingly handsome, he excelled at many sporting pursuits including becoming Master of the Kilkenny Hunt and there’s a photograph of him in the National Library of Ireland entitled: ‘Another Man and his Dog’. From the early 1900’s onwards, large estates were under threat from the Irish population wishing to reclaim their lands. A later novel titled ‘Langrishe Go Down’ published in 1966 and written by Aidan Higgens, adapted for screen by Nobel Prize winner and playwright Harold Pinter is set in a fading Irish mansion in the Kilkenny countryside. A branch of the Langrishe family took a lease on Higgens’ own family home, in Co Kildare- most likely it was the inspiration for his writings.
The said said’Herky’ who was Captain Honory Major of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, wed in 1887 – Helen Amelrosa Hume, daughter of the Rt.Hon William Wentworth Fitzwilliam Dick; and had two sons, Terence Hume, his successor and Lieutenant Hercules Ralph. Sir Hercules was also succeeded by his elder son – Sir Terence Hume Langrishe, 6th Baronet (1895-1973). He served in both wars: WWI and WWII. He was a Captain in The Intelligence Corps, and married, in 1926, to Joan Stuart, daughter of Major Ralph Stuart Grigg. He had three sons; his successor being: Sir Hercules Ralph Hume Langrishe, 7th Baronet (1927-1998), who married in 1955, to Grania Sybil Enid, daughter of Mervyn Patrick Wingfiield, 9th Viscount Powerscourt, and had four children. Sir James Hercules was his successor, becoming the 8th Baronet in 1998. The Langrishes were very much in the social orbit of the Butlers of Kilkenny castle, and were present at many occasions including Royal Visits. Many Langrishe Family portraits now hang there, donated in 2012 by Grania Langrish, the botanical illustrator. The family seat lasted in Knocktopher for almost 300 years until 1981.
It was purchased in the early 1990’s by a Mr. Stephen :Edwards and his wife Rita They also owned Knocktopher Glebe House, formerly called ‘Vicarsfield Rectory’ nearby. Between 1995 and 2000 two restaurants occupied the Abbey, one a Bistro in the east wing, and the other main restaurant central in the building. In a large vaulted cellar below, there’s a gated well recessed into a deep side-wall. A modern plaque reads: The Holy Trinity Well dated 1356. The outside stables were restored to provide seven spacious self-catering mews suites. Despite its’ walled garden no longer a feature there, it still has pleasure walks, an embedded Celtic cross garden design, serpentine flower-beds and a ‘yew walk’.
From 1995 up to 2000, Frank Curran, Head Chef and Manager of Petronellas Restaurant, Kilkenny city, leased and managed a Bistro and separate fine dining restaurant there, and reports to have enjoyed being part of the environs of such an historic building.
It is presently owned by a UK company, and run as a holiday resort. It is kept in very good repair by Resort Manager, Derek Boyd, who safeguards its continuity and it’s place in history, for future generations to enjoy !

Sources :

• OKR
• Flickr
• The Journal of the Kilkenny and South-east of Ireland – Vol 3
• Art Kavanaghs Book references The Langrishes of Knocktopher in his book: ‘KK, The -Landed Gentry & Aristocracy’
• The Peerage.
• Irish Family names history’ website….
• National Inventory of Architectural Heritage
• Frank Curran – Proprieter Petronellas Restaurant, Kilkenny
• Lord Belamont
• Dúchhas
• Irish Times 14th May 2016
• Article on Langrishe Go Down
• Saint Saviours Carmelite Friary