Castletown Cox

Not to be confused with Castletown House.

Castletown Cox
Alternative names	Castletown House
General information
Status	Private dwelling house
Type	House
Architectural style	Palladian
Location	Piltown, County Kilkenny
Country	Ireland
Coordinates	52°22′57″N7°22′17″W / 52.38252°N 7.37141°W / 52.38252; -7.37141
Construction started	1767
Completed	1771
Owner	Kelcy Warren
Technical details
Material	Kilkenny limestone and sandstone
Floor count	4
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Davis Ducart
Developer	Michael Cox (archbishop of Cashel)
Main contractor	John Nowlan (1774)

Castletown Cox, or Castletown House, is a Palladian mansion and demesne located close to the town of Piltown, in County Kilkenny, Ireland.

The house is often referred to as Castletown Cox to distinguish it from the grander Castletown House in County Kildare.

History

Design and construction

Davis Ducart designed the three storey over basement, seven bay building in the Palladian style. ^[1] The design was commissioned by the Lord Archbishop of Cashel, Michael Cox in 1767. Buckingham House in London inspired some of the details. ^[2]

Restoration

The house was extensively restored in the early 21st century by George Magan, Baron Magan of Castletown. The house and 513 acres of land was offered for sale in 2017 ^[3] and sold in 2018. ^[4] In 2019, Lord Magan was evicted from Castletown Cox for failure to make rental payments of €100,000 per annum to the trust he had placed the estate into. ^[5]

The estate

The formal gardens were designed by the Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury. ^[4] The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage lists the grounds as having the main features substantially present. Also listed on the estate are two gate lodges of special architectural interest, one a gothic styled three bay home from 1911, ^[6] the other a two bay home c 1825. ^[7] Both gateways from c 1825 are also listed as being of special artistic and architectural interest. ^{[7] [8]} The farmyard, ^[9] farm managers house ^[10] and remains of an ice house ^[11] are all listed as being of special architectural interest.

See also

• Bessborough House

References

1. "CO. KILKENNY, CASTLETOWN COX Dictionary of Irish Architects -". www.dia.ie. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
2. Keel, Toby (31 October 2017). "'The most beautiful house in Ireland' is up for sale". Country Life. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
3. Lyons, Madeleine. "Ireland's hidden Downton-on-Suir seeks €17.5m". The Irish Times.
4. Gittens, Geraldine (11 April 2018). "In Pictures: International buyer snaps up Castletown Cox estate for around €20m". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
5. Managh, Ray (10 September 2019). "British peer loses tenancy of €20m Castletown Cox estate". The Irish Times. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
6. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Gate lodge b)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
7. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Gate lodge a)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
8. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Gates/railings/walls)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
9. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Farmyard complex)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
10. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Worker's house)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.
11. "Castletown Cox, Castletown, Kilkenny (Icehouse)". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage . 2 December 2004. Retrieved 20 April 2025.