| Description |
Benison Lodge, west of Lough Lene, is named on both the first edition six inch and 25 inch OS maps. O’Brien describes it as a late 18th century, five-bay, two-storey house, probably by the O’Reilly family, one of whom was shot dead in the house in 1803 by the coachman. In 1814 Thomas H Smyth lived here and the Rev T Smyth in 1837. By the time of Griffith’s Valuation (publ. 1854) John Henry Roper was occupying the house, valued at £30 and held from William P Urquhart of Castlepollard. In the 1870s Henry J Roper of Benison Lodge owned 447 acres. In the early 20th century Richard O’Neill and family were living in a first class house in this townland. The house is now a ruin. |
