Landed Estates
University of Galway

Levinge (Knockdrin Castle, Co Westmeath)

In the mid-sixteenth century Thomas Levinge purchased the manor of Parwick in Derbyshire. At the end of the seventeenth century his great grandson Sir Richard Levinge Knt was solicitor general of Ireland and speaker of the House of Commons. In 1702 and 1703, he made a number of purchases of land in county Westmeath from the Trustees of forfeited estates He was created a baronet in 1704. He was succeeded by his eldest son Sir Richard, 2nd Baronet of Parwick and High Park, county Westmeath, who in turn was succeeded by his brother, Sir Charles, 3rd Baronet. The 3rd Baronet married Anne, daughter and co-heir of Major Samuel Greene of Killaghy Castle, county Tipperary. Their only child was Sir Richard, 4th Baronet (1724-1786), who had five sons from whom the various branches of the family descend. By the mid-nineteenth century Sir Richard, 7th Baronet’s county Westmeath estate was located in the parishes of Kilcleagh, Taghmon, Tyfarnham, Rathconnell and Mullingar. This estate amounted to 5,017 acres in the 1870s. O’Brien gives a detailed account of this family.

Associated Families

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Creaghduff House Creaghduff South St Mary's Athlone Moydrum 9 Westmeath OSI Ref: N048443
OS Sheet: 22
Discovery map: 47
Kilmaglish Kilmaglish Tyfarnham Mullingar Knockdrin 84 Westmeath OSI Ref: N447599
OS Sheet: 12
Discovery map: 41
Violetstown Vilanstown Lynn Mullingar Belvidere 80 Westmeath OSI Ref:
OS Sheet: 26
Discovery map: 		Photo of Violetstown
Knockdrin Castle Knockdrin Demesne Rathconnell Mullingar Knockdrin Westmeath OSI Ref: N455584
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 41 		Photo of Knockdrin Castle
Culleen House Culleen Beg Mullingar Mullingar Owel 88 Westmeath OSI Ref: N445560
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 41
Levington Park Farranistick Mullingar Mullingar Owel 88 Westmeath OSI Ref: N422557
OS Sheet: 19
Discovery map: 41 		Photo of Levington Park
Mullolagher Mullolagher Templemichael Longford Cloondara Longford OSI Ref: N094750
OS Sheet: 13
Discovery map:

Archival sources

  • Records of the Fortescue family of Dromiskin, Co. Louth, include papers concerning the Levinge family of Knockdrin Castle, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, whose lands at Stickillin, Co. Louth, were sold to Thomas Fortescue in 1835. D4074/9/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Sir Richard Levinge, 1st and 2nd Bts and family papers, 1690-1786. MIC609/1; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Rental of an estate (of H. C. Levinge?) in the Robinstown district of Co. Westmeath, 1884 - 1885. Ms. 4171; National Library of Ireland
  • Survey of Jeffrystown in the parish of Rathconnell, Co. Westmeath, the estate of Sir R. Levinge. By John Gordon. 1850. 21 F. 80 (29); National Library of Ireland
  • Smyth Papers (Ballynagall) include papers re valuation of lands and determination of boundaries with regard to the estates in Co. Westmeath of James Gibbons and Sir Richard Levinge, 1818-1821. Ms. 18,941; National Library of Ireland
  • Smyth Papers (Ballynagall) include conditional bond for five hundred pounds of William Sullivan and Abraham Hargreeve to Sir Richard Levinge and James Gibbons re building of a church at Ballynagall, 4 July 1822. D 26,638; National Library of Ireland
  • Smyth Papers (Ballynagall) include fee farm grant by Sir Richard Levinge to the minister and churchwardens of the parish of Rathconnell of lands at Monalla, as a site for a school, 29 Aug 1821. D 26,648; National Library of Ireland
  • Eleven deeds relating to the family of Levinge of County Westmeath, including some Commissions of the Peace, 1810-1871. D. 10,413-23; National Library of Ireland
  • Eight deeds relating to the property of the Levinge family in County Westmeath, including a copy of a patent creating Sir Richard Levinge a baronet, Oct., 1704, late 17th and early 18th c. D. 9868-9875; National Library of Ireland
  • Levinge Papers, documents relating to the Levinge family of Mullingar, including correspondence and estate papers, 1750-1909. Ms 8731; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigrees of Levinge Bts of Warwickshire and High Park, Co Westmeath, c 1660-1820. GO Ms 113, 215-216 and GO Ms 171, 365-367; National Library of Ireland
  • Pedigrees of Levinge Bts of Warwickshire and High Park, Co Westmeath, c 1660-1820. GO Ms 113, 215-216 and GO Ms 171, 365-367; National Library of Ireland
  • Levinge Papers, This collection concerns the affairs of the Levinge family of High Park, later Knockdrin Castle, Co Westmeath and late of Bunclody, County Wexford, from the early seventeenth century to the late twentieth century. The collection includes estate papers for counties Westmeath and Tipperary, family history papers, business and financial correspondence and personal correspondence, 1611-1995. Ms 50,636 and Ms 42,503; National Library of Ireland
  • Smyth Papers (Ballynagall) include letter from Sir Richard Levinge re the parliamentary representation of Co Westmeath, n.d. [c 1857]. Ms 18,934; National Library of Ireland
  • Bury Charleville papers include Westmeath estate papers relating to the Rochfort, Levinge and Smyth of Ballynagall families and to lands in the vicinity of Mullingar, 1782, 1826, 1840 and 1887 to 1894. T3069 153; Public Record Office, Northern Ireland
  • Smyth Papers: Papers re valuation of lands and determination of boundaries with regard to the estates in Co Westmeath of James Gibbons and Sir Richard Levinge, 1818-1821, 3 items. M 6994; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources