Bert House Auction

At a recent book fair in Kilkenny city I bought a copy of the auction catalogue produced by Allen & Townsend Auctioneers of Dublin in connection with the two day sale of fine art and furniture from Bert House, Athy.  The printed catalogue, consisting of 34 pages, came with two extra typed pages of items included in the auction.  The auction itself was held on the 4^th and 5^th of November 1958, starting at 12 o’clock each day.  Interestingly the directions to Bert House ‘located 2½ miles west of Athy’ were given as via ‘the Athy – Maryboro main road’.  Telephones were apparently not then in common use as evidenced by the telephone number given for Bert House ‘Kilberry 4’.

The auction started on the first day with delph and cutlery, followed by antiques and modern silver items, one of which was described as ‘an important engraved four piece tea and coffee set, Dublin 1845 by Jas Le Bass.’  An extensive range of jewellery was next put under the hammer to be followed by an odd mixture of artefacts ranging from ‘carriage clocks’ to ‘a Persian dagger in sheath’. 

An interesting item and one with a provenance which undoubtedly held interesting connections was ‘an antique silver sword, strap and badge – 3^rd Queens Own Bombay Light Cavalry’.  There were also upwards of 15 Bronzes for sale, including a reproduction of Nelson’s Column in Dublin.

The second day of the auction was undoubtedly expected to generate greater interest and higher financial returns than the previous day.  Wednesday saw the auction of cut glass items, followed by antique porcelain and furniture from the drawing room, the ballroom and some ancillary rooms.

Oil paintings, prints, engravings and tapestry works were offered later on that day, with the auction ending with the sale of lace, needlework, embroidery and prayer rugs.  The exquisite furniture, some pieces of which were illustrated in the auction catalogue, included early Chippendale and examples of the furniture makers craft from the continent, with Italian and French furniture figuring prominently.

The paintings offered for sale included the works of several great masters, the purchase of whose work would today generate huge interest and cost a veritable fortune.  The artists identified whose works had hung on the walls of Bert House included Anton Van Ysendyck, Guiseppe Mazzolini, Guido Reni, Jan Brueghel, Sebastian Viancz, Jan Van de Cappelle and Sir Joshua Reynolds.  All these artists are to be found in the great art galleries of the world including the Louvre, the English National Gallery and the Gallery attached to Dulwich College in London. 

The presence of work of such quality in Bert House demonstrates the wealth which was once to be found in the great houses of the Irish landlords of old.  The dispersal of the furniture and paintings from Bert House followed just a few years after similar auctions had been held in Carton House, Maynooth and Kilkea Castle.

The auction results were reported in the Leinster Leader on 15^th November under the heading ‘Good Prices for Antiques’.  A total of about £9,000 was realised for what the press report claimed ‘were very good quality articles on sale some of them had been in the house for a couple of hundred years’.  The highest price of €500 was paid for a 16 piece set of tapestry chair covers which were exhibited at the Art Exhibition in Paris in 1922 and were considered to be of superlative quality. 

The most expensive painting at the auction proved to be a woodland scene by 17^th century artist Salvatore Rosa whose work found a new home for a payment of £140.  Guido Reni’s painting which today would command a high price was sold for €90.

I wonder what items, if any, offered for sale on those November days 55 years ago remain in and around the Athy area.  I am sure there are stories from the auction of items purchased and now treasured in homes around Athy.

The recent departure from St. Michaels of Fr. Morty O’Shea for parish work in America was followed soon thereafter with news of his serious illness.  Fr. Morty is an inspiring member of the church clergy and every good wish is extended to him for a speedy recovery.

Last week saw the passing at the advanced age of 94 of Mrs. Sheila Stynes, whose husband Tommy predeceased her by almost 57 years.  As a young man I remember Tommy Stynes as a hackney driver who operated out of his premises in Leinster Street.  Only a few weeks ago while interviewing a lady who had worked in Shaws in the 1940s, his name was mentioned as having gallantly come to her aid after she missed her bus in Naas one winter’s evening while travelling to Athy.  Our sympathies go to the Stynes family on the passing of Mrs. Stynes.

Bert House

I read in the papers recently that Bert House, that magnificent mansion just off the main Athy/Monasterevin Road, is for sale at a price in excess of €3 million. In my young days Bert House was owned and lived in by ‘the Lady Geoghegans’. Lady Geoghegan and her sister were long time residents of Bert House, having moved in around 1909 and it was sometime in the mid 1960’s, after one of them died, that the survivor moved out to live in a new bungalow in the locality. I don’t know anything about the family background of the elderly ladies whom the locals always referred to as ‘the Lady Geoghegans’. In any event Bert House was sold off for the first time almost 60 years ago when in 1968 or thereabouts Joe Kelly, a racing driver, purchased it from the last of it’s long time residents. I gather Kelly did a considerable amount of work on refurbishing the house, although he never lived there. It was subsequently sold and since then has passed through a succession of new owners, none of whom have ever equalled ‘the Lady Geoghegans’’ length of residence in what is the largest mansion in South Kildare.

Bert House was built between 1720 and 1730 for Captain William Burgh who was Comptroller and Accountant General for Ireland to a design prepared by his brother Thomas Burgh of Oldtown. Thomas was Barrack Overseer in Ireland, a position to which he was appointed in 1701 and was responsible for the building of Trinity College Library, Dr. Steevens Hospital, Dublin and Collins Barracks in Dublin. The latter building is now part of the National Museum of Ireland. The original Bert House consisted of a central block of seven bays, three storey high over a basement. The overlapping side wings were added early in the 19th century. It’s a house steeped in history and the people who lived in Bert House figured prominently in Irish history at various times.

Captain William Burgh, the first owner of the house, was born in 1667, son of Ulysses Burgh of Dromkeen, Co. Leitrim. He was succeeded by his only son Thomas Burgh whose sister Elizabeth was married in 1734 to Chief Baron Anthony Foster. Their son, John Foster, was to be the last Speaker in the Irish House of Commons. Thomas Burgh was born in 1696 and while he sat in Parliament as Member for Lanesboro in Co. Longford he never represented Athy in that capacity. He was however a freeman of Athy Borough and served as Sovereign of Athy Borough Council in 1755. He married Ann Downes, daughter of the Bishop of Cork and Ross whose wife was Catherine, sister of Robert, 19th Earl of Kildare. His wife’s brother Robert Downes was later to sit as a Member of Parliament for Kildare and was appointed Sovereign of Athy Borough Council in 1749. Thomas Burgh, while resident at Bert House, was the owner of extensive tracts of land in and around South Kildare. The present house has approximately 165 acres of land surrounding it.

When Thomas Burgh died in 1758 he was succeeded by his eldest son, William, who was just 17 years of age. William was the first Burgh of Bert House to represent Athy in Parliament which he did between 1768 and 1776. He later lived in England and he died in York in 1808. A monument to his memory by the famous sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott is to be found in York Minster.

When William left Bert House his younger brother Thomas succeeded him as Member of Parliament for Athy and he continued to do so until 1790. Thomas, who had previously resided in Chapelizod, Co. Dublin succeeded to the Bert House estate in 1808 but was to die just two years later.

The Parliamentary connection was maintained by Thomas Burgh’s sister Anne who in 1767 married Walter Hussey. Born in Donore, Co. Kildare, Hussey who was regarded as the finest Orator of his day represented Athy Borough Council in the Irish House of Commons between 1769 and 1776.

On the death of Thomas Burgh of Bert in 1810 he was succeeded by his only son, Ulysses. Born in 1788, Ulysses married Maria Bagenal of Bagnelstown in 1815. He was a member of the Borough Council of Athy until it’s disbandment in 1840 and served as Sovereign of Athy in 1834 and again in 1840. In that latter year he was succeeded as Athy’s Town Sovereign by Rev. F.S. Trench, the local Church of England Rector, who held that position when the Borough Council was abolished.

Ulysses Burgh succeeded to the title of Lord Downes in 1826 on the death of his cousin William Downes who had been appointed Lord Chief Justice in 1803 following the assassination of Lord Kilwarden during the Robert Emmet Rebellion. William Downes, son of the former Sovereign of Athy Robert Downes, had been created Lord Downes in 1822 on his retirement as Chief Justice. Dying without male issue the title passed to his cousin Ulysses Burgh of Bert. It was Ulysses Burgh who as Lord Downes presented a clock to the people of Athy in 1846 which is presently on the front wall of the Town Hall.

When Lord Downes of Bert died in 1863 he was succeeded by his eldest daughter, Charlotte who had married Lt. General James Colborne in 1851. Colborne was the son of John Colborne who led the 52nd Light Infantry in the decisive manoeuvre which secured the English victory of Waterloo. He was later Commander in charge of the British Army in Ireland and was raised to the title of Lord Seaton in 1839. Charlotte’s husband, James Colborne, succeeded to his father’s title in 1863 and it was as Lord and Lady Seaton that James and Charlotte came to live in Bert House following the death of Lord Downes. The house remained in their ownership until 1909 when it was sold to ‘the Lady Geoghegans’.

Bert House is not only the largest mansion in this area, but also retains an enormous amount of links with the history of South Kildare and Ireland generally. It is hoped that whoever buys it, Bert House will once again become an integral part of the social and economic life of Athy and the surrounding areas.

Bert House

Bert House, largest mansion in South Kildare, has been advertised for sale. Described as an outstanding Georgian residence on 165 acres the Auctioneers blurb refers to the building’s classical style and generous accommodation.

Bert House was built between 1720 and 1730 for Captain William Burgh who was Comptroller and Accountant General for Ireland. His brother Thomas Burgh of Oldtown was the Architect. Thomas had been appointed Barrack Overseer in Ireland in 1701 and was responsible for the building of Trinity College Library, Dr. Steeven’s Hospital, Dublin and Collins Barracks in Dublin. The original Bert House consisted of the central block of seven bays, three storey high over a basement. The overlapping side wings were added early in the 19th century. It’s a house steeped in history and the people who lived there helped shape the course of Irish history during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Captain William Burgh, the first owner of the house, was born in 1667, son of Ulysses Burgh of Dromkeen, Co. Leitrim. He was succeeded by his only son Thomas Burgh whose sister Elizabeth was married in 1734 to Chief Baron Anthony Foster. Their son, John Foster was to be the last Speaker in the Irish House of Commons. Thomas Burgh was born in 1696 and while he sat in Parliament as Member for Lanesboro in Co. Longford he never represented Athy in that capacity. He was however a freeman of Athy Borough and served as Sovereign of Athy in 1755. He married Ann Downes, daughter of the Bishop of Cork and Ross whose wife Catherine was a sister of Robert, 19th Earl of Kildare. His wife’s brother Robert Downes was later to sit as M.P. for Kildare and was appointed Sovereign of Athy in 1749. Thomas Burgh of Bert House, was the owner of extensive tracts of land in South Kildare. The present house has but 165 acres of land remaining.

When Thomas Burgh died in 1758 he was succeeded by his eldest son, William, who was born in 1741. William was the first Burgh of Bert House to represent Athy in Parliament which he did between 1768 and 1776. Removing himself to England when the Parliament ended he died in York in 1808. A monument to his memory by the famous sculptor Sir Richard Westmacott is to be found in York Minster.

When William left Bert House his younger brother Thomas succeeded him as M.P. for Athy and he continued to do so until 1790. Thomas, who had previously resided in Chapelizod, Co. Dublin succeeded to the Bert House estate in 1808 but died two years later.

The Parliamentary connection was maintained by Thomas’ sister Anne who in 1767 married Walter Hussey. Born in Donore, Co. Kildare, Hussey who was regarded as the finest Orator of his day represented Athy Borough Council in the Irish House of Commons between 1769 and 1776.

On the death of Thomas Burgh in 1810 Bert House passed to his only son, Ulysses. Born in 1788, Ulysses married Maria Bagenal of Bagnelstown in 1815. He was a member of the Borough Council of Athy until it’s disbandment in 1840 and served as Sovereign of Athy in 1834 and again in 1840. Incidentally he was not the last Town Sovereign, a distinction held by Rev. F.S. Trench of Kilmorony House.

Ulysses Burgh succeeded to the title of Lord Downes in 1826 on the death of his cousin William Downes who was appointed Lord Chief Justice in 1803 following the assassination of Lord Kilwarden during the Robert Emmet Rebellion. William Downes, son of the former Sovereign of Athy Robert Downes, was created Lord Downes in 1822 on his retirement as Chief Justice. Dying without male issue the title passed to his cousin Ulysses Burgh of Bert. It was the former Ulysses Burgh, by then Lord Downes, who presented the Town Hall clock to the people of Athy in 1846.

When Lord Downes of Bert died in 1863 he was succeeded by his eldest daughter, Charlotte who had married Lt. General James Colborne in 1851. Colborne was the son of John Colborne who led the decisive movement of the 52nd Light Infantry which secured the victory of Waterloo. He was later Commander in charge of the British Army in Ireland and was raised to the title of Lord Seaton in 1839. Charlotte’s husband, James Colborne, succeeded to his father’s title in 1863 and it was as Lord and Lady Seaton that James and Charlotte came to live in Bert House following the death of Lord Downes. The house remained in their ownership until 1909 when it was sold to the Misses Geoghegan.