Loftus Hall — Loftushall

The name Redmond is thought to have been applied to the descendants of Raymond le Gros, who landed at Baginbun (WX050-015002-) in 1170. The ‘vill of Redmundus of Kyldouan’ is mentioned in the deforestation charter of Ross in 1230-34, but that location is likely to be near Adamstown (Orpen 1934, 59-60) rather than at Hook (Redmond 1900, 230-2; Hore 1900-11, vol. 1, 4). The death of Sir Robert Redmond of the Hook is recorded in 1320 and that of his son, Walter, in 1350 (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 374), while Henry FitzRemundi is mentioned in 1356 and John FitzRedmond in 1368 (Redmond 1900, 229). In 1472 Andrew FitzRedmond was asked to produce his title to 80 acres and a house in the north town of Hook. Houseland/Portersgate as the most northerly townland in the parish would then have been known as this (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 347-8), and the house may be Housland castle (WX049-013----). The earliest reference to the old Hall is from 1591 when Alexander Redmond is described as of the Hall, and held the lands of the Hall, the Hooke and Churchtown from the manor of Kilcloggan (WX049-004001-). Since the castle is described as a hall it may have been a fortified house, similar to that at Slade (WX054-008002-). On 20 July, 1642 a sortie of 100 men, led by Thomas Aston, and John and Walter Esmonde, the last two being grandnephews of the commander of Duncannon Fort (WX044-049----), Lord Esmonde, sailed from the besieged garrison and attacked the Hall (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 360-9). Alexander Redmond and two of his sons, Robert and Michael, together with some retainers, defended it successfully with the help of a storm. Aston was killed with many others, and John Esmonde was among 17 taken prisoner. John, who was also a nephew of Robert Redmond’s wife, Eleanor Esmonde of Johnstown (WX042-017----), was later executed at Ballyhack. According to the Civil Survey (1654-6) Robert Redmond owned the old castle known as the Hall with a demesne of 180 acres, along with 300 acres in Slade and Churchtown in Hook parish in 1640 (Simington 1953, 171-2). Under the Commonwealth Sir Nicholas Loftus was granted 1800 acres in Shelburne barony, and this was confirmed in 1666. Nicholas’ second son, Henry, ultimately inherited Kilcloggan (WX049-004001-), Fethard (WX050-011003-), and Dungulph (WX045-041----) castles in addition to Redmond Hall, but he moved to the hall c. 1680 and changed the name to Loftus Hall (Hore 1900-11, vol. 4, 372; Colfer 1978, 52-3). This is commemorated in an inscription at Portersgate (WX049-016002-). According to Robert Leigh writing in 1684, Henry had restored the old hall, added other buildings and was then building an enclosed garden (Hore 1858-9, 459). Henry, or his son, Nicholas who inherited in 1716, built a new house c. 1700, which is commemorated by a plaque in Porter’s Gate with the date 1703 (WX049-016001-). The house, which survived until the present Loftus Hall was built in 1870, was a nine-bay, two storey front with a large pediment, which indicates Palladian influences. None of the original Redmond hall, or the original Loftus Hall survives, but the walled garden NE of the present Hall may be Henry’s work from the 1680s. (Hore 1904. vol. 4, 359-66: Jeffrey 1979, 161-3; Colfer 2004, 176-9) See the attached section from the Down Survey barony map (N at right) reproduced courtesy of the National Library of Ireland (Ms 725). The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Wexford' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1996). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload/revision: 31 March, 2014