Landed Estates
University of Galway

Taylour (Headfort)

Thomas Taylour, a surveyor from Sussex, came to Ireland in the mid-17th century and assisted Sir William Petty with his survey of the country. He sold his estates in England and purchased land in Ireland mainly in counties Meath and Cavan. His son Thomas was created a baronet of Ireland in 1704. The 1st Baronet’s grandson, also named Thomas, was created Baron Headfort in 1762 and Earl of Bective in 1766 and died in 1795. His son, another Thomas, was created Marquess of Headfort at the time of the Act of Union 1800. The county Cavan estate of the 2nd Marquess of Headfort was located in the parishes of Lurgan, Munterconnaught, Loughan and Mullagh, barony of Castlerahan, which borders county Meath. In 1878 the Marquess owned 14,220 acres in county Cavan and 7,576 acres in county Meath. What remained of the estate was sold by the 6th Marquess of Headfort in 1981. The National Library now holds two collections of estate papers relating to the Headfort estate.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
The Lodge Deerpark Lurgan Oldcastle Virginia Castlerahan Cavan OSI Ref: N597876
OS Sheet: 39
Discovery map: 35 		Photo of The Lodge
Cornashesk House Cornashesk Lurgan Oldcastle Virginia Castlerahan Cavan OSI Ref: N622877
OS Sheet: 39
Discovery map: 35
Fort William (Cornashesk) Cornashesk Lurgan Oldcastle Virginia Castlerahan Cavan OSI Ref: N625874
OS Sheet: 39
Discovery map: 34
Lake View (Munterconnaught) Croaghan Munterconnaught Oldcastle Munterconnaught Castlerahan Cavan OSI Ref: N587851
OS Sheet: 43
Discovery map: 35
Eighter Eighter Munterconnaught Oldcastle Munterconnaught Castlerahan Cavan OSI Ref: N569857
OS Sheet: 39
Discovery map: 35

Archival sources

  • Headfort Papers, a collection of estate and family papers generated by the Taylour family, Earls of Bective and Marquesses of Headfort, mainly relating to estates in Cos Cavan and Meath, 1691-1956, Manuscript Collection List 3, MSS 25,300-453; 26,679-739.; National Library of Ireland
  • Headfort Papers include inventories of household and farm items at Headfort House, Kells, Co Meath and The Lodge, Virginia, Co Cavan, 1882-1901. Mss 16,100-16,103.; National Library of Ireland
  • Headfort Papers include returns of wages paid on Bellamont Forest demesne farm, 1920-1921. Ms 16,116.; National Library of Ireland
  • Headfort Papers include rent-roll of the estates of the Marquis of Headfort in Co. Cavan, c. 1860. Also rental of the Marquis’ estates in Meath, Cavan and Dublin city, 1898. Ms 16,124 & 16,125.; National Library of Ireland
  • Microfilm of manuscript in Gaelic from British Museum, London, Add. Mss 40,767, also containing records of payments to workmen engaged on the Edenburt and Enagh drains on the Marquess of Headfort’s estate, Mar 1873. P 437; National Library of Ireland
  • Headfort Papers include accounts of letting various turf-banks on the Headfort estate, Co Cavan, 1902-1920. Mss 16108-16,114. ; National Library of Ireland
  • Thomas Marquis of Headfort to Henry Sargent of Eighter, Co. Cavan, Copy lease for life of Princess Helena Augusta Victoria or 21 years. Rent £75 17s. 0d. and 6 pence per pound Receiver's Fee, Carrick and Crossasehin, Parish of Munterconnaught, Co. Cavan. 26 August 1853. D1929/5/109; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Testator: Hon Lady Mary Taylor/ Taylour, Creach, Nr. Exeter, Devon. Executor: Thomas Marquess of Headfort, Headfort House, Meath, Ireland. Court Ref.: Cant. 4/1047. 1843. EDOL/1903; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Headfort Papers (Additional), a collection of estate records and personal and political papers relating to the Marquesses of Headfort, c 1600-1980. Manuscript Collection List 179. Mss 42,068, 42,080, 48,541–49,110 & 49,136.; National Library of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources