Humphrys genealogy

Genealogy research by Mark Humphrys.


My wife's ancestors - St.Lawrence - Contents


Howth Castle

Howth Castle, N side of Howth Head peninsula, N Dublin Bay.




Howth Castle.
Painting of around 1740.


  
The St.Lawrence family owned these lands since the reign of John (1199-1216).
Howth Castle was originally built 1464.
This would be at the succession of Robert St.Lawrence, 2nd Baron Howth.
The castle was rebuilt by Christopher St.Lawrence, 7th Baron Howth in late 1500s.
Rebuilt by William St.Lawrence, 14th Baron Howth. Finished 1738.
Seat of the Barons and Earls of Howth.
Title extinct 1909.
Howth Castle stayed in the family (through female line).
When finally sold it was possibly the oldest family home in Ireland. The same family had owned or lived at this location for 800 years.

Howth Castle sold and contents dispersed:
The family (now the Gaisford-St Lawrence family) finally sold Howth Castle in 2018.
Sadly, the family sold almost everything, including ancient family treasures.
The library was broken up and sold. I bought some of it.
Auctions of Howth Castle contents:





Historical maps and views



Howth Castle in [Down Survey, 1655 to 1658].
From TCD.



Howth on Map of Dublin bay, 1685.
E is down.
See full size.



Howth Castle on John Rocque's map of Dublin, 1757.



Howth in [Taylor and Skinner, 1777].



Howth Castle, c.1780.
From [Ball, vol.5, 1917].



Howth Castle on map of Dublin Bay, 1798. W is up.
National Maritime Museum, Dun Laoghaire.
See full size and other shot.



Howth Castle.
See full size. From [Cromwell, 1820].
Reproduced in [Ball, vol.5, 1917].



Howth Castle on 1829 to 1842 map.



Howth Castle on 1887 to 1913 map.



Howth Castle.
Lawrence Collection.
From NLI.



Howth Castle.
Lawrence Collection.
From NLI.



Howth Castle.
Lawrence Collection.
From NLI.



The opening line of James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1939) features Howth Castle: "riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs."




Modern maps and views



Howth Castle.
Click to toggle map/satellite view. Click to zoom in/out. Drag to move.
From Google Maps.



Howth Castle from the air.
From Colin O'Riordan (The Herald).



Howth Castle.
Photo 2007. Light adjusted digitally.
See larger and full size and original.




Howth Castle - Interior



Howth Castle. The hall.
From [Ball, vol.5, 1917]. See larger.




  

Howth Castle around 1740

  


Howth Castle - Views




Howth Castle - Videos



  


Donation Drive

Please donate to support this site. I have spent a great deal of time and money on this research. Research involves travel and many expenses. Some research "things to do" are not done for years, because I do not have the money to do them.
Please Donate Here to support the ongoing research and to keep this website free.

Help       Conventions       Abbreviations       How to read the trees

Privacy policy       Adoption policy       Image re-use policy       New 250 G VPS server.