I went walking & exploring with my camera on my last visit to Elly & George. I found a man at work:
A man at work
John planting spuds.
On chatting I discovered this man was called John. The day was bright but there was a bite to the cold air all around. The ground was cold and John said he was a whole month later this year in planting his spuds. The other allotments around him had a neglected look, the owners not ready to venture out following the severe weather of the past months.
Wandering further, I discovered something unusual.
Three conical buildings
This Wonderful corkscrew-shaped barn was built in 1743 on the edge of Castletown House Estate, which borders Leixlip and Celbridge, Ireland.
The stairs ascends around the exterior of the building and it is flanked by two smaller dovecote towers.
The Barn itself stands approximately 22 metres in height, and has a tapering cone, encircled by a cantilevered staircase with a crow’s nest viewing gallery. A central hole through each of the floors supports the generally accepted theory of its use as a granary.
Alas, the barn is now in a dilapidated state due to vandalism and the entrance is blocked.
One of two dovecotes beside the Barn
The work was commissioned by Katherine Connolly, widow of William ‘Speaker’ Connolly. He had made his fortune from land transfers, following the confiscations by the Crown of lands belonging to supporters of James II after the Williamite War ended. He had the first Palladian Mansion built in Ireland – Castletown House near Celbridge in County Kildare.
William Connolly died in 1729 and was said to be the wealthiest man in Ireland at the time of his death, which left Katherine an extremely wealthy widow. There had been a severe famine in Ireland in 1740-41, she kept the local people employed working on projects like The Wonderful Barn.
There was talk of building a housing estate on the land about the barn, during the years of the Celtic Tiger, but thankfully that idea was shelved and the locals make great use of the space to exercise their four legged friends and enjoy the great outdoors. I must have talked to at least ten different dog walkers on my wander about.
Quite an interesting structure. Too bad it isn’t being preserved.
Mike – I wonder how people gain pleasure from vandalising property that does not belong to them.
For some, I think, it’s simply the thrill of doing something they’re not supposed to, particularly if it’s in a group.
Must have been one very different architect for that barn GM! Very intriguing.
Mike – Boredom and dares.
Ramana – I was unable to find the name of the architect.
Fascinating post. You surely live in a interesting place for you walks to take you in so many directions. Love the history. Dianne
Dianne – Blogging and my camera seem to have made me see the world around me, more clearly.
Marvelous barn, hope someone rescues it before its too late. Such imagination.
Celia – I hope so too.
Very interesting post. Love the photos. Meeting people on walks is one of the great pleasures of life.
gigi – I meet some wonderful people on my walks.
Dear GM,
Here it is Monday morning and NO RECIPE…. What am I supposed to do about lunch and dinner today?
You know there is no hope for me without YOU!
Nancy – I ran away from the rain in the hope that I might find some sunshine. I found it… and didn’t want to let it go!
Well don’t let this happen again,please! I’m hungry!
As the song goes “I’m so bloomin’ hungry I could eat a turkish towel,
Serve a little chicken or some other kind of fowl.” etc,etc,
You know what I mean……
Great barn GM, well worth the trip.
Love the history.
XO
WWW
Nancy – I will do my best.
WWW – I loved the look of the barn and wished that I could have seen it from the inside.
Wonderful share, Grannymar. That’s a fascinating building. Thanks!
nrhatch – Glad you enjoyed it.
Beautiful barn!! Thank goodness the Celtic Tiger never got his claws into this one!
Barbara – It would be nice to see it restored.