File 1 - Extract from 'A guide to the County of Wicklow' 1835.

3 pp

Handwritten extract from 'A guide to the County of Wicklow' published by William Curry, Jun, and company 1835.
The extract describes Avoca and Castle Howard 'Before the tourist leaves this delightful spot, (Avoca), he is recommended to visit C-H (Castle Howard), the seat of Robert Howard, Esq. A handsome bridge of one arch is thrown across the Avonmore, from the battlements of which springs a lofty arched gateway of rustic masonry, bearing on its summit a lion passant, holding an arrow in his mouth (the crest of the Wicklow family, of which Mr. Howard is a member), tolerably executed in soft stone. Passing through this arched way, proceed up the hill to the right, and apply for permission to drive through the demesne : which request is not only never refused, but granted with much politeness. Near the entrance, on the lawn sloping towards the river, stands Mrs. H's (Howard) cottage, the exterior and interior decorations of which are extremely chaste and appropriate ; and close by the cottage, on a little green mound beside a rivulet, which, running beneath a rustic bridge, rolls down several artificial falls, is a model of the castle itself; an extremely beautiful modern building, the design of which is grand, chaste, and picturesque. It unites the ideas of a castle and abbey; nor is Mr. R. Morrison's talent and taste more conspicuous in any of his beautiful works, than in the reconciliation of internal convenience with an irregular outline, which he has so ably and scientifically accomplished at C-H (Castle Howard). The avenue now winds round the hill, or rather rock, for the road is actually cut through a solid rock for the most part of its length, at every step of which is a delightful, extensive, and rich view of the valley of Cronebane, Ballymurtagh, and the M of the W (meeting of the waters). Pursuing the direction of the avenue, you arrive at the castle, standing on the very apex of the mountain, having a great expanse of level ground in front.'

The file also contains a letter from B. Redmond the Wicklow County librarian.