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The border of the title page contains illustrations of the prize cottages at Killeigh and a map of the drainage plan at Ballyknockan. Also includes representations of the two gold medals awarded to Lord Digby by the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland, the Challenge Cup awarded for best housing and the Challenge Cup awarded for best drainage.
Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1881. Reports that the financial condition of the estate had disimproved, outstanding arrears remaining due and abandoned arrears considerably increased. Profit remitted was £8500, a decrease on previous years, although there was a net increase in the overall rental income. Also reports that the Roskeen lease was surrendered by the reps of Mr. Bailey, and that the farm at Ballydownan was surrendered by Mr Adams and now in Lord Digby's hands and set for grazing with newly purchased cattle.
In terms of land improvement, Digby reports on the completion of a number of Board of Works projects including the draining and squaring of the moors under Scrubb Wood, the deepening of the boundary stream at Cappancur and the sinking of a large main drain in Balinvally bog. Construction works included new offices for Mr Arthur of Killurin and Patrick Nugent of Ballycollin; new cottages completed at Killeigh; new cottage commenced in Geashill Village and assistance give to William Mathews to erect substantial new dwelling house in Killurin. Also reports on the thinning and replanting of Derrygunnigan Wood.
Warns that agrarian agitation is increasing encouraged by the Land League. Blames the Government for slow response to agitation. Reports on a 'monster meeting' held in Tullamore by the Land League prior to the winter collection of rents (1880) where the Geashill tenantry requested en masse Griffith's Valuation as a fair rent which was subsequently refused by Lord Digby, but who abated the rent by 10% on the half year's rent payable. Identifies William Adams as the leader of the agitation and describes the court proceedings taken against him individually. With the result of being faced with bankruptcy, Adams paid his rent and then surrendered farm at Ballydownan, with the result that all other agitation on the estate ceased and rents were collected within three weeks. Also refers to 'boycotting' occurring throughout the estate but that no acts of violence or outrages took place. A further attempt at withholding rent in May 1881 was similarly short-lived.
Annual report, accounts and rental for year ending June 1891, showing a further decrease in overall rental income and arrears remaining unchanged. Expenditure on forestry only with some acres at Clonad, cleared, drained and replanted. Digby reports that the overall condition of the estate is 'most satisfactory' and that 'the traces of agitation which recently distracted the country have, owing to Mr. Balfour's fearless administration, improved agricultural conditions and the split in the Nationalist camp, almost entirely disappeared.'
Letters sent to and sent from Henry Trench, Cangort Park, Roscrea, Tipperary between 1872 and 1876. The letters within this file deal with personal, community and financial issues.
Examples of personal letters include a letter dated 14 August 1873 which arranges for turf to be sent to Loughton for turf Lord Bloomfield's visit; a letter dated 5 July 1873 from Mr. Taylor regarding Mrs. Francis Hastings Toone's will and a letter from John Harden dated 5 August 1873 in regards to staying at Cangort.
Community issues are also present throughout the letters within the file. Examples of such letters include a letter from J.W Waller, Belfield, Shinrone, King's County in which he writes about Shannon drainage; a letter from Mr Bard, Shinrone regarding admitting Mrs St Ledger to the poorhouse and a five copies of a letter from 1875 from Henry Trench, Cangort Park, Roscrea to W.R. Le Fanu, Commissioner of public work regarding the river Shannon and a memorandum from Henry Trench to W. Harden.
The file also deals with financial issues. Examples include a 1876 a letter from the Grattan monument committee stating that Henry did not pay his subscription and a letter dated 4 January 1876 from Theo Ryan, 7 Leeson Park, Dublin asking for rent
File of plans showing the drainage and sanitation of Loughton House.
Included in the file are items such as a plan showing drainage system drawn up by The London Sanitary Protection Association, 4 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, London and a sanitary report of Loughton dated 25 May 1916.
Estate papers comprising of estate accounts, tenancy agreements, farms accounts, land titles and correspondence.
Sans titreFile of correspondence between Banagher Parish Council, Offaly County Board of Health and Department of Local Government and Public Health, in relation to the installation of a sewerage scheme at Banagher and the provision of wartime employment.
Includes Ms list of 23rd January 1941 of persons prepared to connect with the water mains. With copy of Sanitary Sub-Officers Report.
Includes also ms resolution of Banagher parish Council stating that the sanitation in Banagher requires immediate attention.
First full report submitted by the Trenchs to Lord Digby. Contains a detailed examination of the 'compensation fund' granted by George Wingfield Digby to the leaseholders to indemnify them for the loss of their several leases, which had been illegally granted to them by the previous earl and which the current earl would like to break. Also includes a memorandum describing in great detail, the meeting between Trench and the leaseholders, to discuss the terms of the compensation. Also includes report on the 'mesne' or first-year rates with a full list of the tenants. Also includes 'sundry observations' on the management of the estate 'during the difficult & trying period of our first year of office.' Describes how the 'tenants-at-will' were invited to settle arrears and there was 'a vast amount of dissatisfaction amongst the tenantry.' W. S. Trench describes the discovery of an assassination plot to murder one or other of the Trenchs is underfoot, leading T. W. Trench to travel over the estate accompanied by a policeman and the estate bailiff, with a loaded gun in his hand. Also discusses the commencement of the construction of new labourers cottages; the building of a new estate office adjoining the church; the drainage of the bogs; and a report on emigration from the estate.
Annual report and rental for year end June 1866, containing reports on the steady and continuous improvement of the financial affairs of the estate. Also discusses drainage and land improvements particularly the 343 statute acres on either side of the Tullamore Road, and a new project at Ballyknockan flat. Reports that the soil here was particularly poor, and 650 tons of Dublin dairy manure was shipped down the Grand Canal and spread over the land, resulting in a marked improvement in grass growth. Also reports on the completion of the Killeigh main-drain and the Plovers-egg drain at Clonad Wood. Also includes a report on large-scale farming on the estate and the construction of three new farmhouses and a new forge.
On political matters, the report describes the 1865 general election which was contested by Sir Patrick O'Brien, John Gilbert King and Mr. Hennessy (O'Brien and King elected). Provides a detailed breakdown of voting preferences by the tenantry of Geashill Estate, who Trench reports, voted and returned home peacefully 'before the usual excitement attendant on an Irish Election had begun.' Also includes a description of election day in Tullamore, complete with mobs with 'shillelaghs'.
