Brownhall Demesne

4 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Brownhall Demesne, from 419 m² to 41,622 m² (4.16 ha, 10.28 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 14 neighbouring parcels touch it.

Download the townland as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its boundary, parcels and buildings, or as GeoJSON or KML.

No zone of a development plan covers Brownhall Demesne in the national zoning. Outside zoned towns and villages, the county development plan's rural policies apply to each application.

Source: Tailte Éireann and the Department of Housing (MyPlan), national zoning, CC BY 4.0.

No planning application touches the townland of Brownhall Demesne in the national file, which goes back to 2010.

Source: National Planning Applications, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Applicants are not shown.

Designated sites

No designated site (Special Area of Conservation, Special Protection Area, Natural Heritage Area or proposed one) touches the townland of Brownhall Demesne.

Recorded monuments

• DG103-008 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Internal diam. 26.5m. A subcircular area enclosed by an earthen bank surviving up to .8m in height and by an external fosse c. 1.5m wide. Two gaps, in the NE and S quadrants, appear to be modern. The site was heavily planted in the 19th century and probably levelled at that time also. It was severely damaged by storms in more recent times. It is located on the summit of Largagh Hill, with a steep S slope and commands excellent views of Donegal Bay. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG104-004 Ringfort - rath
  Description

  Internal diam. 17.5m-18.8m. A subcircular, sloping (to S), area raised c. 1.5m above the surrounding land. Enclosed by an earthen bank up to .5m high and by an external fosse .5m to 1m wide. There is a gap 2m wide in the NW quadrant. The site was greatly disturbed by tree-planting in the 19th century. It is situated on a densely overgrown ridge summit. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG104-005 Ringfort - cashel
  Description

  Internal diam. 26m. A circular area enclosed by a collapsed stone wall which survives at some points to a height of .5m. There is a considerable scatter of stones and several shapeless mounds of stone in the interior may rep-resent collapsed buildings. It is situated on level ground between two hills but the land is wet and boggy. A souterrain (DG104-006-) lies a short distance to E. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG104-006 Souterrain
  Description

  A slight depression might indicate the location of this 'cave' which was marked as being just E of a cashel (DG104-005-) on the 2nd edition of the OS 6-inch map. The above description was derived from the 'Archaeological Survey of County Donegal. A description of the field antiquities of the County from the Mesolithic Period to the 17th century.' Compiled by: Brian Lacey with Eamon Cody, Claire Cotter, Judy Cuppage, Noel Dunne, Vincent Hurley, Celie O'Rahilly, Paul Walsh and Seán Ó Nualláin (Lifford: Donegal County Council, 1983). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated. Date of upload: 22 September 2008

• DG104-011 Well
  Description

  In woodland, located in the rock wall on the N side of an underground river passage, at a point where the limestone roof of the passage has collapsed exposing the rocky sides of passage and the river in its base. Not indicated on the 1836 OS 6-inch map but indicated and named in gothic script as ‘Toberdabeage’ on the 1906 edition. A small, natural grotto or cave-like cavity (c. 2m N–S; c. 3m E–W; H c. 3m), coated in layers of travertine accretions, and open to S, is located in the rock wall of the ravine. It is located approximately mid-way down the rock face, at c. 4m below ground level, and is access by a series of rough stone steps leading down the steep slope. A shallow pool of water gathers naturally in the base of the cavity. This well is a natural feature located in a dramatic and unusual setting. The stone access steps were probably built in the 19th century when it is likely that the well was highlighted as an interesting feature in the grounds of Brownhall Demesne house. Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy Date of upload: 26 June 2015

• DG104-021 Enclosure
  Description

  In improved pasture, on level ground, with a fall of ground c. 50m to S into a stream valley. An erratic boulder (MA103-068----), named ‘Cloch na Crushlen’ on the OS 6-inch map, is located 90m to NW in the same field. Located in woodland c. 100m to N is an underground river passage, the roof of which has collapsed in parts to exposes the river in its rock-cut ravine. A possible bivallate enclosure is visible in aerial view as a circular cropmark (diam. c. 15-18m) enclosed externally at a distance of c. 8m by a second circular cropmark (diam. c. 35m). A linear cropmark on a NE–SW axis, probably a field boundary, truncates the NW–N edge of the larger circle. At ground level the remains are barely discernible. The outline of the central circular area (diam. c. 16m) can be traced SE–NW as a slight undulation/cropmark. A gap of 8-10m separates this from the outer circle, intermittent traces of which are evident as a slight undulation at S–W and at NW. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 7 July 2015

Architectural heritage

• Brownhall, country house, 1690–1710 · National interest
  Description

  Formerly detached eight-bay two-storey former country house built, c. 1697, having two-storey return to the centre of the rear elevation (east) and with adjoining two-storey outbuildings to the south-east forming courtyard to rear. Now attached and forming unused wing to later house to north (see 40910402). Possibly later in use as an outbuilding range. Hipped natural slate roof (Boylagh slate) having with four rendered brick chimneystacks, moulded rendered brick eaves cornice (partially lime rendered) and cast-iron rainwater goods. Pitched corrugated-metal roof to return. Roughcast lime rendered walls over rubble stone construction. Segmental-headed window openings having flush brick block-and-start surrounds, cut stone sills, and with the remains of mainly six-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows at ground floor level and mainly three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows at first floor level. Segmental-headed doorways to rear having flush brick block-and-start surrounds, timber doors and with overlights. Carriage-arch to rear (east) having dressed stone surround. Kingpost timber roof structure, mezzanine walkway supported on timber beams and double-height space to interior. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped and parkland grounds. Later house attached to the north (see 40910402) and complex of outbuildings (see 40910413) attached to the rear (east). Remains of walled gardens to the south-east.

• Brownhall, country house, 1760–1780 · Regional interest
  Description

  Detached four-bay three-storey country house, built c. 1770, having later three-bay single-storey cut stone entrance porch/portico to the centre of the main elevation (west), added c. 1795. Hipped natural slate roofs (purple slates) with overhanging eaves, plain ashlar eaves course, cast-iron rainwater goods, and with a central pair of rendered chimneystacks with cut stone detailing. Roughcast rendered walls with projecting cut stone plinth course, and with projecting ashlar block-and-start quoins to the corners of the front elevation (west). Monolithic astylar ashlar limestone piers/pillars supporting plain entablature over to porch. Square-headed window openings having cut stones sills, and with hornless six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows to the ground and first floor levels and three-over-three pane timber sliding sash windows at second floor level. Timber panelled shutters to interior. Recessed square-headed doorways to the side elevations of porch (north and south) having timber panelled doors with cast-iron latticed sidelights and overlight, added c. 1900. Timber panelled door behind porch set in moulded architraved ashlar limestone doorcase. Staircase to interior remodelled, c. 1860; Neoclassical plasterwork (c. 1794) and lugged five-panelled doors to interior. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped and parkland grounds to the east of Ballintra. Earlier formerly detached house attached to the south (see 40910401), now forming wing to present house, and complex of outbuildings (see 40910413) and remains of walled gardens to the south-east.

• Brownhall, outbuilding, stables, 1700–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Attached range of multiple-bay two-storey outbuildings and stableblock associated with Brownhall (see 40910401 and 40910402), built c. 1710 and extended c. 1800. Now partially out of use. Pitched natural slate roof (purple slate) having projecting cut stone eaves course and with remains of cast-iron rainwater goods. Formerly with bellcote and weather vane dated 1710, now removed. Roughly coursed rubble stone walls having remains of roughcast render over in places. Square-headed window openings having roughly squared stone voussoirs over, surviving cut stone sills, and with remains of fixed-pane timber windows and timber louvered fittings. Square- and segmental-headed doorways having stone plinth blocks, roughly squared voussoirs over, and with surviving timber doors; red brick voussoirs to some openings. Square-headed loading bays at first floor level having roughly squared voussoirs over and remains of timber doors over. Set back from road in extensive mature landscaped and parkland grounds to the east of Ballintra. Adjoins rear of original house (see 40910401) to the south-east corner, running at a right-angle to the house alignment, with present main house to the north (see 40910402). Remains of walled gardens to the south-east.

• Brownhall, walled garden, 1700–1800 · Regional interest
  Description

  Walled garden complex associated with Brownhall (see 40910401 and 40910402), erected c, 1750, now out of use/in use as farmland. Surrounded by rubble stone boundary walls with roughly dressed and squared quoins to the corners, now largely covered in vegetation; some walls now collapsed/demolished. Remains of rubble stone structures to interior, now overgrown and inaccessible. Located to the south-east of Brownhall, in extensive mature demesne parkland grounds, and to the east of Ballintra.

Designated sites: National Parks and Wildlife Service. Recorded monuments: Sites and Monuments Record, National Monuments Service. Buildings: National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, CC BY 4.0. Works at or in relation to a recorded monument need two months' written notice to the National Monuments Service (National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, section 12).

Radon

At the centre of the townland of Brownhall Demesne, about 1 in 5 homes in this area is likely to have high radon levels. Testing a home

Landslides

The 1:50,000 map rates the landslide susceptibility here as moderately high, moderately low, low, partly inferred.

Terrain model

No LiDAR survey of the Office of Public Works covers the centre of the townland of Brownhall Demesne.

Flooding

The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Radon Risk Map of Ireland, Environmental Protection Agency, and Landslide Susceptibility Classification, Geological Survey Ireland, both under CC BY 4.0. LiDAR: contains Irish Public Sector Data (Geological Survey Ireland & the Office of Public Works) licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.

No address of the register names Brownhall Demesne with five sales or more. The sales of the area are on the page of Co. Donegal.

Name

Brownhall Demesne

Area

1,304,113 m² (130.41 ha, 322.25 acres)

Civil parish

Drumhome, and its townlands

Barony

Tirhugh

Electoral division

Ballintra, the unit of the census

Census 2022

772 people lived in 281 households in the Ballintra electoral division. 80% of households owned their home. 39% of homes were built since 2001. 13% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 9% were holiday homes.

Neighbouring townlands

Ballintooey, Bigpark, Legnanornoge, Lismintan or Ballyruddelly, Rockhill

Placenames

Brownhall Demesne on logainm.ie, the Placenames Database of Ireland

Townlands, civil parishes, baronies and electoral divisions, National Statutory Boundaries, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. Census 2022, Small Area Population Statistics by electoral division, Central Statistics Office, CC BY 4.0. A townland is the smallest land division of Ireland, and the unit of a rural address. Old registers such as the 1901 and 1911 censuses file it under its civil parish and barony.