Landed Estates
University of Galway

Berridge

In 1872 the Ballynahinch estate in county Galway, was bought by Richard Berridge, a London brewer, from the Law Life Assurance Society. In the mid 1870s he is recorded as owning over 160,000 acres in county Galway. Various surveys outline the Berridge ownership of property in county Mayo as well as Middlesex and Kent in England. In 1888 Bateman asserted that Richard Berridge was "the largest landowner in Ireland". The Galway estate was purchased for sporting purposes and the Berridges built a number of fishing lodges, including those at Inagh, Fermoyle and Screebe. The estate remained in the family's possession for only two generations. Over 70,000 acres,was vested in the Congested Districts' Board on 31 Mar 1915. The Berridge family retained a house in the locality and some fishing at Screebe until the late 20th century. A grandson of Richard Berridge married an Orme of Owenmore, Crossmolina, county Mayo, and a great-grandson currently produces well known Irish cheeses on his farm at Carrigbyrne in county Wexford.

Houses

Name Townland Civil Parish PLU DED Barony County Map Ref  
Ballynahinch Castle Ballynahinch Moyrus Clifden Bencorr 32 Ballynahinch Galway OSI Ref: L763 472
OS Sheet: 36
Discovery map: 44
Photo of Ballynahinch Castle
Fermoyle Lodge Glenicmurrin Kilcummin Oughterard Camus 163 Moycullen Galway OSI Ref: M030 320
OS Sheet: 79
Discovery map: 45
Photo of Fermoyle Lodge
Inagh Lodge Letterbreckaun Ballynakill Clifden Bencorr 32 Ballynahinch Galway OSI Ref: L839 545
OS Sheet: 24
Discovery map: 37
Photo of Inagh Lodge
Screeb Lodge Derravonniff Kilcummin Oughterard Selerna 61 Moycullen Galway OSI Ref: L965 382
OS Sheet: 65
Discovery map: 45
Photo of Screeb Lodge

Archival sources

  • Solicitors' Papers, Land Commission papers, 1880s. Small Accs. Index 47, 2C 47 21; National Archives of Ireland
  • Berridge Papers, contact descendants of Willcox Berridge; Private Possession
  • Copy of grant of arms to Richard Berridge of Ballynahinch Castle, 20 Mar 1905. GO MS 111: 165-166; National Library of Ireland
  • Papers concerning the executorship of Charles Tomkins and the estate of Richard Berridge of Bloomsbury, London, 1847-1923. ACC/1406; London Metropolitan Archives: city of London
  • Ballynahinch press cuttings. 022/008; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Fermoyle Lodge cuttings. 131/013; Irish Architectural Archive
  • Copy will & grant of probate, Richard Berridge of Ballynahinch Castle & of Knowle Hall, Bridgewater, Somerset, 1887. T.2307; National Archives of Ireland

Contemporary printed sources

Modern printed sources