Estate: French /ffrench (Frenchpark)

Associated Families

• French (Frenchpark) (Baron de Freyne)
• French (Errit Lodge)
• French (Tulsk)

Description

Patrick French fitzStephen of Galway is recorded as the earliest member of the family to be associated with Frenchpark. He died in 1667 and is buried in the ruined priory there. In March 1666/7 his son Dominick French of Frenchpark was granted over 5,000 acres in the barony of Boyle, county Roscommon and his grandson John French received a further 2,000 acres in the barony of Ballymoe in 1677. His descendant Arthur French was created Baron de Freyne in the Irish Peerage on 5 April 1851. Arthur French was a member of the Grand Panel for county Roscommon in 1828. The French family owned property in Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo. George French is recorded as owning over 500 acres in county Leitrim in the 1870s. In the 1870s Lord de Freyne owned 25,436 acres in county Roscommon, 4,052 acres in county Sligo and 328 acres in county Galway. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, he was one of the principal lessors in the parishes of Castlemore, Kilnamanagh and Tibohine, barony of Frenchpark and in the parish of Cloonygormican, barony of Ballymoe, county Roscommon. The Cloonshanville estate, forming part of the French Park house demesne, was offered for sale in the Landed Estates' Court in February 1870. Over 36,000 acres of the French Park estate was vested in the Congested Districts' Board in July 1906.

Houses

House Name / Description	Townland	Civil Parish	PLU	DED	Barony	County	OS Grid Reference / Map
Cuilmore At the time of Griffith's Valuation, James Powell was leasing a property valued at £7 with over 150 acres, from Lord de Freyne's estate, at Cuilmore, barony of Coolavin.	Cuilmore	Kilfree	Boyle	Cuilmore 9	Coolavin	Sligo	G623059 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #.
French Park At the time of Griffith's Valuation Frenchpark was owned by Rev. John Ffrench, Lord de Freyne and was valued at £60. In the 1749 Census of Elphin it was the residence of Arthur and Lady French. Members of the French family were buried in the graveyard surrounding the ruins of Frenchpark Priory.	Frenchpark Demesne	Tibohine	Castlerea	Frenchpark 73	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M729920 Discovery map #`33. OS Sheet #15.
Oakport Oakport was the home of the Reverend William French, fourth son of John French of French Park, in the early 18th century. At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Oakport House, the property of Thomas William Goff, is recorded as "unoccupied".	Oakport Demesne	Ardcarn	Boyle	Oakport 35	Boyle	Roscommon	G879037 Discovery map #33. OS Sheet #6.
Caher Charles French was leasing the house at Caher, barony of Frenchpark, valued at £16, from Lord de Freyne's estate, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. Lewis also records the house as the residence of C. French in 1837. In the same year the Ordnance Survey Field Name books record Caher as a "dwelling house of three stories and slated". In the 1749 Census of Elphin F. Elwood was recorded as residing at Caher. By 1894 it was the residence of the Dowager Lady de Freyne.	Caher	Tibohine	Castlerea	Artagh 56	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M567842 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #19.
Errit Lodge Errit Lodge, valued at £12, was the residence of Fitzstephen French at the time of Griffith's Valuation. It is recorded as Lough Errit by Lewis in 1837 when the Ordnance Survey Field Name books describe it as " a well built house, two stories high and slated with detached offices". In 1814 Errit is recorded as the residence of John Barlow. The Census of Elphin in 1749 also records it as a residence of W. Barlow. A modernised and derelict building now occupies the lakeshore site.	Derreenamackaun	Tibohine	Castlerea	Artagh South 56	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M545844 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #19.
Ratra & Stables Lord de Freyne held a house valued at £4 10s at Ratra, barony of Frenchpark, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In 1814 Ratra was the residence of Henry Irwin. A house exists on the site but does not appear to be the original. Offices, the property of Lord de Freyne's estate and valued at £7 10s, were located at Clashcarragh, barony of Frenchpark, at the time of Griffith's Valuation	Ratra	Tibohine	Castlerea	Frenchpark 73	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M686938 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #8.
Sheepwalk James McGann was leasing a property at Sheepwalk, barony of Frenchpark, valued at £10, from Lord de Freyne's estate at the time of Griffith's Valuation. The townland of Sheepwalk contains a fine collection of early to mid-twentieth century houses and associated farm buildings. One house, now derelict, appears to be earlier and has large associated outbuildings.	Sheepwalk	Tibohine	Castlerea	Frenchpark 73	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M705932 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #15.
Cloonshanville William Davis was the occupier of a property valued at £8, together with over 120 acres at Leggatinty, barony of Frenchpark, at the time of Griffith's Valuation. In the same townland he was leasing a property, including a corn mill, valued at £18, to James McCann. In 1814 Paul Davis was resident at Clonchanville, Frenchpark and Lewis records this as the seat of J. Davis, in 1837. The 1749 Census of Elphin records W. Davis resident at Clegarna in the parish of Tibohine. Only some foundation stones of Cloonshanville Mill remain. There is a house, probably not original, on the site of Cloonshanville House.	Leggatinty	Tibohine	Castlerea	Bellanagare 70	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M738901 Discovery map #33. OS Sheet #15.
Rathkeery Glebe Rev. William French was leasing a glebe house at Glebe East, barony of Frenchpark, from Lord de Freyne's estate at the time of Griffith's Valuation when it was valued at £7. The house no longer survives but an entrance gateway and trees indicate its whereabouts.	Glebe East	Tibohine	Castlerea	Frenchpark 73	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M694931 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #14.
Derry Lodge At the time of Griffith's Valuation, Elizabeth Sandford was leasing a house at Derry, barony of Frenchpark, valued at £6 from the French estate. The house is described in the Ordnance Survey Field Name books of 1837 as "a good house, two stories high and thatched". The first edition of the Ordnance Survey map indicates a mill on the site also.	Derry	Tibohine	Castlerea	Artagh North 55	Frenchpark	Roscommon	M580869 Discovery map #32. OS Sheet #19.

Archival sources

• Irish Architectural Archive: Frenchpark photos & cuttings. 004/019
• National Archives of Ireland: Estate papers relating to French properties in counties Leitrim, Roscommon & Sligo, 1810-1862. D.17,222-226.
• National Archives of Ireland: Survey of Sligo estates of Arthur French, 1778-9.
• National Archives of Ireland: Landed Estates' Court Rentals (O'Brien), French (Baron de Freyne), 18 February 1870, Vol 96, MRGS 39/046, (microfilm copy in NUIG)
• National Archives of Ireland: Map of boundaries of estates of Lords Mount Sandford and de Freyne at Castlerea and Frenchpark.n.d. M. 5420.
• National Archives of Ireland: Trust deed in connection with the marriage of Arthur French of Frenchpark and Jane Percival, 1722. Small Accs. Index 61, D.6331
• National Archives of Ireland: Lease, Arthur Lord de Freyne to James McGan of lands in Co Roscommon, 1851. M.6170
• National Library of Ireland: Pedigree of French of Galway, of Dungar (French Park) and of Ennfield, High Lake and Abbey Boyle, all in Co Roscommon, c 1550-c 1820. GO MS 169: 431-440
• National Library of Ireland: Pedigree of French of Galway city, of Gortrassy and French Park, Co Galway and of Co Roscommon, 1576-c 1830. GO MS 171: 395-406
• National Library of Ireland: French Papers, Baron de Freyne, deeds and papers, 1628-1910
• National Library of Ireland: Maps of twenty two townlands of Lord de Freyne's estates in baronies of Ballymoe, Castlereagh and Frenchpark, county Roscommon & 2 maps of estate of Captain Caulfield French, 1906. 15 A 20 (3-7) & (12-13)
• National Library of Ireland: Maps of the French estate in county Roscommon, including 1762 survey of Frenchpark demesne, 18th & 19th centuries. 21 F 44 & 21 F 45
• Parliamentary Archives: An Act for the Sale of the Settled Estates in the Counties of Sligo and Galway of John Lord De Freyne, and for the Purchase of Estates in the County of Roscommon, to be limited to the Uses of those Settled Estates, 1860. HL/PO/PB/1/1860/23&24V1n298
• Parliamentary Archives: Private Act, House of Lords, for the Sale of the Settled Estates in the Counties of Sligo and Galway of John Lord De Freyne, and for the Purchase of Estates in the County of Roscommon, to be limited to the Uses of those Settled Estates, 1860. HL/PO/PB/1/1860/23&24V1n298
• Roscommon County Library: Local History File - Frenchpark, includes undated copy catalogue of furniture for sale by Lord de Freyne, 20th cent
• Roscommon County Library: Local History File - Ratra House
• Sligo County Library: Rental, 1879-1882, 1883-1895. Robinson Collection.
• Sligo County Library: Valuation of Ffrench estate, late 19th century. Robinson Collection.
• Sligo County Library: Map of part of estate of Rev. W. French, parish of Killery.

Contemporary printed sources

• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND, 1850-1858. : Castlerea Union, 121 (Caher), 125 (Clashcarragh), Derry (143), 148 (Frenchpark Demesne, Glebe East), 169 (Ratra & Sheepwalk).
• GRIFFITH'S VALUATION OF IRELAND, 1850-1858. : Boyle Union, 12
• HUSSEY DE BURGH, U. H. The Landowners of Ireland. An alphabetical list of the owners of estates of 500 acres or £500 valuation and upwards in Ireland. Dublin: Hodges, Foster and Figgis, 1878: 121
• LEGG, Marie Louise (ed). Census of Elphin 1749. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 2004: Frenchpark, 394
• LEGG, Marie Louise (ed). Census of Elphin 1749. Dublin: Irish Manuscripts Commission, 2004: 394 (French Park)
• LEWIS, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. London: S. Lewis & Co., 1837: Vol. II, 599.
• ORDNANCE SURVEY FIELD NAME BOOKS, County Roscommon: Vol IV, 146 (Caher), 165 (Derry).
• ORDNANCE SURVEY FIELD NAME BOOKS, County Sligo: Vol I, 421
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 18th Annual Report of the Congested Districts' Board for Ireland, [Cd 4927] HC 1909, xvi. Appendix XXXII: 139
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. 15th Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Records Ireland, 1825. Vol XVI, Appendix I, Grants under Acts of Settlement: 119 & 234
• PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. Return of owners of land of one acre and upwards, in the several counties .... in Ireland. HC 1876, LXXX: 304
• SLATER, Isaac. Royal National Directory of Ireland: List of the principal seats. (Manchester: 1894) : xxiii, 93 (Caher)
• TAYLOR, George & SKINNER, Andrew. Maps of the Roads of Ireland, surveyed in 1777 and corrected down to 1783. Facsimile of 2nd edition. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1969: 240 (Frenchpark)
• WELD, Isaac. Statistical Survey of the county of Roscommon. Dublin: Royal Dublin Society, 1832. : 289, 651

Modern printed sources

• Jnl. of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society: BLAKE, Martin J. Field Marshal Sir John French. VIII (1913-1914), 247-251
• BENCE-JONES, Mark. A Guide to Irish Country Houses. Revised ed. London: Constable, 1988. : 128 (French Park)
• FRENCH, Maurice. The Frenchs of French Park. Warminster, Wilts: the author, 1999: All
• GLIN, Knight of, GRIFFIN, D. J. & ROBINSON, N.K (eds). Vanishing Country Houses of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Architectural Archive/Irish Georgian Society, 1989. : 125 (French Park)
• MELVIN, Patrick. The Galway Tribes as Landowners and Gentry. In MORAN, Gerard (ed). Galway: History & Society. Dublin: Geography Publications, 1996 : 319-374
• MOSLEY, Charles (ed). Burke's Peerage and Baronetage. Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999: I, 786-788
• NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Special Lists.: List of 17th century deeds re De Freyne estate. No. 409
• NATIONAL LIBRARY OF IRELAND. Reports on Private Collections: AINSWORTH, J.F. Report on the papes of French, Lord de Freyne, in National Library. No. 505.

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Accessibility