Leixlip Demesne

Leixlip Demesne is a townland in the civil parish of Leixlip, barony of Salt North, Co. Kildare.

Parcel 5824066

Back to Leixlip Demesne

Leixlip DemesneBackwestonpark Lucan Demesne Leixlip Cooldrinagh

250 m

326 parcels are drawn. Click one to see it.© Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

Area: 16,654 m² (1.67 ha, 4.12 acres)
Buildings: 1 building touches it. Its footprint covers 7 m².
Zoning: P1 Agriculture (Leixlip LAP 2020-2023) The objective
G3 HA-LV (South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028) The objective
Townland: Leixlip Demesne

Planning applications on this parcel

No planning application touches this parcel 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

Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Rye Water Valley/Carton 001398

Recorded monuments around it

This parcel is in the zone of notification of 16 recorded monuments.

DU017-115 Kiln - lime
Description
Annotated ‘L.K.’ on the 1863 edition of the OS 25-inch map where a square-shaped kiln is depicted standing immediately to the west of a laneway leading to a disused quarry located 50m to the south. River Liffey forming the county boundary with Kildare 40m to the west. Limekiln not depicted on the 1837 edition of the Ordnance Survey six-inch map. Not visible on the 2013-18 MapGenie orthoimage. Area where limekiln was located is now a green area of landscaping. Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of Compilation: 26 November 2025
KD011-004001 Historic town
Description
Located at the confluence of the E-flowing River Liffey and its tributary, the S-flowing Rye Water. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 304-305), the existence of a Scandinavian placename 'Lex-hlaup' / 'salmon leap', suggests a Viking settlement. In the late-12th/early-13th century, Leixlip was also known by the name 'Ernia' or 'Hernie', possibly derived from An Urnaidhe, meaning oratory, which may also indicate the presence of a pre-Norman ecclesiastical site. The earliest definite evidence for settlement occurs in the late-12th century when Adam De Hereford established a castle and borough and granted the church and burgage to St Thomas' Abbey. Subsequently another burgage was given to St. Mary's Abbey in Dublin. The borough was looted and burnt by Edward Bruce's army in 1317, but otherwise seems to have remained relatively undisturbed. A population of 100 was recorded in the census of 1659. The town was confined to a narrow strip of land between the Liffey on the S, a high ridge on the N, and the Rye Water on the W, with the main street running roughly E-W along the centre of this strip of ground. A burgage plot pattern survives on the N and S of Main Street. The settlement included an early castle (KD011-004002-), a church (KD011-004003-) and graveyard (KD011-004004-), and a tower house (KD011-004005-), while archaeological excavation has uncovered medieval deposits to the N of Main Street (KD011-004007-). Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004002 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Description
Just S of the confluence of the River Liffey and its tributary the Rye Water. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 309-311), Adam de Hereford's grants to St. Thomas' Abbey, which mention his castle of 'Hernie' or 'Ernia', can be dated to before 1212. While the original castle may have been a motte, by the time of the grants the castle had a grange and a chapel attached. Around 1252, the manor of Leixlip passed from Adam's son, Stephen, to the Pippard family. In 1302, Ralph Pippard granted all his manors in Ireland to the King, and in 1303-4, monies were spent on constructing a kitchen in the castle, building a limekiln to produce lime for works on the castle, breaking stone and cutting wood. In 1331, the King gave John de Grauntsete the custody of the manor and castle of Leixlip for ten years, but in 1336, they were given to Roger Outlaw, prior of Kilmainham, and they were probably held by the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem for more than a century, until Leixlip passed out of the Order's hands sometime between 1455 and 1479-80, when it was granted to Thomas Daniel, Lord of Rathwire. In 1496, Henry VII granted Leixlip to Gearóid Mór, 8th Earl of Kildare, but it was forfeited in 1536, after the rebellion of Silken Thomas. Subsequently it was granted to Matthew King, John Alen and William Vernon. In 1507, it was granted to Sir Nicholas White and remained in his family until the 18th c. The castle, an amalgam of several building phases is still lived in. While Guinness and Ryan (1971, 211-18) identified the pre-1700 sections as a circular tower at the NW corner with a recessed N-façade to its E, the rectangular hall behind to S, a sub-rectangular addition to the S of the hall and a rectangular building to the S of the complex, Bradley et al (1986 vol. 3, 311) contend that the only pre-1700 sections are the circular tower and rectangular hall (est. int. dims. L c. 14m E-W; Wth c. 5.5m). The E-wing dates to the mid-18th century, and further additions were made on the S in more recent times. The circular tower (int. diam. 6.7m; av. Wall T 1.2m) is of three stories and stands on a battered plinth. Modern sash have been inserted on the S, W and N sides and a chimney at NW. Adam de Hereford's grant to St. Thomas' Abbey, dated before 1212, specifically excludes the Chapel of St. Patrick in his castle of 'Hernie'. A narrow room above the main hall is called the chapel. The main staircase and the bolection mouldings of the panelling in the chapel may be late-17th c. (Bence-Jones 1978, 183) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004003 Church
Description
In a graveyard (KD011-004006-) just N of the confluence of the Rye Water with the River Liffey. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 312-18), the church of St. Mary of Hernie was granted by Adam de Hereford to the Abbey of St. Thomas in Dublin before 1212. In the ecclesiastical taxation of 1302-6, a moiety of the church of Leixlip was valued at 100s. The church was looted by Bruce's army in 1317. In 1463, the full tithes of the church of Blessed Mary of Leixlip were restored to St Thomas' Abbey, and remained in its possession until the Dissolution, after which the tithes were held by Nicholas Stanynghurst. The rectory was leased to Richard Manwaringe in 1567, surrendered by his widow in 1584, and subsequently leased to James Ryan. The visitation of Archbishop Buckley in 1630 noted that the church and chancel at Leixlip were ruinous. According to parish records, a major restoration commenced in 1675. A 13th century, rectangular, nave (int. dims. L 16.65m; Wth 7.95m; wall T 1.13m) and chancel (int. dims. L 9m; Wth 6.18m; wall T 0.83m) structure with a plain chancel arch (Wth 6.17m) is built of roughly coursed limestone blocks, and has a 15th century, four-storied, rectangular tower (int dims. L 3.5m; Wth 3m; wall T 1.25m), built of regularly coursed undressed limestone blocks, attached at W. A modern porch has been added at N. The remains have been substantially rebuilt; walls raised in height and fragments of earlier windows and doors incorporated in the walls. The steep pitch of an earlier roof line is visible in the E wall of the tower and in the E gable of the nave. The nave is entered through a modern doorway (Wth 0.93m) at the E end of the N wall, and an earlier, blocked, pointed doorway, with chamfered sandstone jambs, is visible mid-way along the wall. A splayed, flat-arched doorway (ext. Wth 1.57m; int Wth 1.71m) in the W gable gives access through the tower, and a blocked, splayed slit above opened into the tower. The nave is lit by two modern, pointed windows in the N wall, which also contains a blocked rectangular window, and by three round-arched and one pointed-arched window in the S wall, which also contains the jambs of a large, blocked window near the W end, and a blocked slit window near the E end. The chancel is lit by a modern, round, twin-light window in the E gable wall and by a modern, round-arched window in the S wall, which also contains a blocked, single-light, ogee-headed window, a carved head (KD011-004012-) and a 17th century graveslab (KD01-004010-). There is a blocked, modern, round-arched window in the N wall, which also contains a small, blocked, pointed-arched window. There is a 17th century graveslab (KD011-004009-) in the chancel floor, and the N wall of the chancel arch contains a 17th century armorial plaque (KD011-004008-). The later tower is built against the W gable of the nave and has a projecting stair turret at the NW angle which is lit at each level by rectangular, double-splayed loops. There is a round-arched doorway (Wth 1.4m) in the W wall, with a doorway opposite into the nave. The ground and first floors are both barrel-vaulted and the ground floor has blocked double-splayed slits in the N and S walls. First-floor level (dims. L 3.34m N-S; Wth 3.2m) is accessed through a doorway with a re-used medieval graveslab (KD011-004006-) as a lintel, and is lit by a single-light, cusped ogee-headed window in the S wall and by a similar window in the W wall. The E wall contains a blocked slit which looked into the church, and there is a double-splayed slit in the S wall. There is a blocked-up fireplace with an overhanging chimney supported on a corbel in the N wall. Second-floor level (dims. L 3.46m N-S; Wth 3.09m; wall T 1.06m) is lit by single-light, ogee-headed windows in the S and W walls, and there is a partially blocked, pointed-arched opening in the E wall which looked into the roof-space of the nave. There is a fireplace canopy in the NE corner. A modern ceiling is supported on original corbel stones. Third-floor level (dims. L 3.6m N-S; Wth 3.08m) has a blocked rectangular window in the S and W walls, and a round-arched window has been inserted into the E wall. The modern roof is supported on brickwork and the wall-walk outside has a drainage course below the parapet (wall T 0.4m). The tower contains a font (KD011-004011-) on the ground floor, and there is a second carved head (KD011-004013-) at the W end of the stair-turret's N wall, and a third carved head (KD011-004014-) at the E end of the tower's N wall. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004004 Graveyard
Description
Just N of the confluence of the Rye Water with the River Liffey and containing a medieval church (KD011-004003-). A roughly square area (dims. L c. 60m; Wth c. 60m) is enclosed by a mortared stone wall. According to Colgan and Pegley's web article ('St. Mary's Graveyard, Main St, Leixlip.', accessed 12 April 2011 at www.kildare.ie/leixliphistory), the graveyard within the curtilage of St. Mary's Church (of Ireland, Episcopalian) served the wider Leixlip community, without reference to religious denomination, for many centuries. The graveyard is now virtually full and contemporary Leixlip burials - apart from cremations - are usually to the modern cemetery at Confey. The parish records of burials to St Mary's extend from 1668 to today. Unfortunately, substantial gaps exist in the years for which records are available; for example, during the period, 1668 to 1777, there are no entries in 44 of the years. There are smaller gaps in the data for the 19th century records. A list of graveyard inscriptions is also provided. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004005 Castle - tower house
Description
Located at the E-end of the town. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 307-8), the earliest evidence for this building is in 1562 when it was granted to William Vernon. In 1570 it was granted to Nicholas White, and in 1654, the Civil Survey notes that 'Black Castle' was on the lands of the earl of Kildare. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was described as, 'a residence so modernised as to be indistinguishable except to one well acquainted with the locality'. The present structure is inhabited. It is a tall, narrow, four-storied, rectangular building (int. dims. L 7.5m E-W; Wth 6.5m N-S; wall T c. 0.65m), with a possible cellar, said by the present owner to be closed-up. There is a modern, single-storied extension to the S. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004006 Graveslab
Description
In the 15th century tower at Leixlip church (KD011-004003-) where it is reused as a doorway lintel at first-floor level. A rectangular slab (dims. min. L 0.77m; Wth 0.2m; T 0.18m) is decorated in low relief with a cross consisting of two broken circles, an expanded rectangular knop with round terminal and a cross-stem. (Bradley et al. 1986 vol. 3, 316-17) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004007 Habitation site
Description
Archaeological testing (Licence nos. 01E0206 and 01E0643: www.excavations.ie) in advance of the proposed development of adjoining sites at the Mall revealed medieval pottery including some sherds of both local/Dublin-type and Leinster cooking ware. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004008 Wall monument
Description
In the N wall of the chancel arch in St Mary's Church (KD011-004003-). According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 317), two rectangular plaques are set in an architectural frame. The upper stone (dims. H 0.58m; Wth 0.41m) bears the White and Moore coat of arms, while the lower stone (dims. H 0.44m; Wth 0.92m) bears a badly incised inscription, with the date 1664. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-004009 Graveslab
Description
Set into the floor of the chancel of St Mary's Church (KD011-004003-). According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 317-18), a large rectangular limestone slab (dims. L 2.2m; Wth 1.12m) bears a Latin inscription incised in Roman capitals commemorating the death of Deborah Williams in 1697. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

And 6 more.

Architectural heritage

No building of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage stands on this parcel.

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).

Ground and risks

Radon: At the centre of this parcel, about 1 in 10 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. Parts of the land are water.
Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2970 (ZIP).
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.

Download this parcel as DXF, in Irish Transverse Mercator metres, with its neighbours and buildings, for a drawing program. GeoJSON, in WGS 84, suits a map, and KML opens in Google Earth.

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0. A parcel is the land of a title, not an address. The owner's name is in the Land Registry of Tailte Éireann: a copy of the folio can be ordered on landdirect.ie, for a fee.

Area: 96.3 ha; 238 acres
Land parcels: 13; registered freehold, median 6,077 m² (0.61 ha, 1.5 acres)
Zoning: R2; Existing Residential / Infill
Planning: 5; applications since 2010

Land parcels

Registered freehold land, Tailte Éireann

Leixlip DemesneBackwestonpark Backweston Park Leixlip Backstown Parsonstown Cooldrinagh Rinawade Upper Barnhall Coneyburrow

500 m

76 parcels are drawn. Click one to see it.© Tailte Éireann, CC BY 4.0

13 registered freehold parcels lie mostly in Leixlip Demesne, from 160 m² to 98,187 m² (9.82 ha, 24.26 acres). The dashed line is the townland's boundary. 63 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.

Zoning

Development plans, national zoning

R2Existing Residential / Infill (Existing residential)
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 47 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
R1New Residential (New/proposed residential)
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 4 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
G3HA-LV (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028, South Dublin · 4 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
G4Open Space and Amenity (Active open space)
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
M2Town Centre (City/Town/village Centre, central area)
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 1 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
P1RU (Agriculture)
South Dublin County Development Plan 2022-2028, South Dublin · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
P1Agriculture
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan
G3Strategic Open Space (Conservation, amenity or buffer space, corridor/belt, landscape)
Leixlip LAP 2020-2023, Kildare · 0 parcels The zoning objective in the plan

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

Planning applications

Sites that touch the townland, newest first

12 Feb 2024Conditional
for refurbishment of dwelling to include demolition of sheds and removal of chimney and porch, upgrade of existing walls, floors and roof with new insulation, single storey extension to the rear with roof lights and rearrangement of internal layout of dwelling with new draught porch and solar panels to roofs. Single story detached garage to the rear garden, removal of septic tank and new connection to public sewers and associated works
Permission · Kildare County Council, 2452
20 Dec 2023N/a
Refurbishment of dwelling to include demolition of sheds and removal of porch, chimney, upgrade of existing walls, floors and roof with with new insulation, single storey extension to the rear with roof lights and rearrangement of internal layout of dwelling with new draught porch and solar panels to roofs. Single storey detached garage to the rear garden, removal of septic tank and new connection to public sewers and associated works
Permission · Kildare County Council, 231053
12 May 2023Conditional
Large-Scale Residential Development (LRD) at a site of c. 14.3 hectares. The application site is principally bounded by: Celbridge Road (R404) and Back Gate Lodge, Celbridge, Leixlip, Co. Kildare W23E0F6 to the west; the existing residential developments of Leixlip Park and Wogansfield to the north; the M4 Motorway to the south; and by agricultural lands to the east. The development will consist of the: (1) Construction of 237 No. residential units ranging in height from two-three storeys comprising 30 no. two-bedroom houses (c.86.8sq.m each), 124 no. three-bedroom houses (ranging in area from c.103sq.m to 114sq.m each), 13 No. four-bedroom houses (ranging from c. 151sq.m to 168sq.m) , 20 No. one-bedroom apartments (ranging in area from c.56.6sq.m each), 22 No. two-bedroom duplex apartments (ranging in area from c. 86.9sq.m to 89.0sq.m) and 22 No. three-bedroom duplex apartments (ranging in area from c.127sq.m to 139sq.m each); (2) Construction of a two storey creche (c.278sq.m in area) with associated external play area (c.85.8sq.m. in area); (3) Provision of public open space (totalling c.7.71 ha of which c.5.61 ha comprises strategic amenity space), communal open space (serving the duplex apartments) (c. 570sq.m), and private open space (in the form of private garden areas serving the houses and terraces/balconies serving the apartments/duplexes); and (4) Provision of vehicular, cyclist and pedestrian access/egress and associated circulation routes (including the construction of a fourth arm to the existing three arm junction on the Celbridge Road (R404) opposite the entrance to the existing Barnhall Meadows residential development and pedestrian and cyclist access to the north-east of the site providing access to the existing residential development known as Leixlip Park). The development will also consist of: (5) 303 No. car parking spaces (including 31 No. car parking spaces for visitors and 12 No. car parking spaces serving the proposed créche): (6) Electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure; (7) 355 No. bicycle parking spaces (including 17 No. bicycle parking spaces serving the proposed créche and 160 No. bicycle parking spaces serving the proposed strategic amenity/public open space); (8) Bicycle storage; (9) Bin storage; (10) 3 No. ESB substations; (11) Undergrounding and diversion of the existing 20kV and 38kV overhead power lines; (12) Equipped play areas; (13) Photovoltaic roof panels; (14) Boundary treatments (including gates, piers, ra
Permission, 237 homes · Kildare County Council, 23513
12 Feb 2021Conditional
an extension & alterations to the side of our existing dwelling to include: (a) Demolition of 21.10sqm single storey extension; (b) Construction of 42.10sqm single storey extension to the side, front & rear of the dwelling, together with all associated and ancillary site works
Permission · Kildare County Council, 21165
5 Jan 2018Conditional
STRATEGIC HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (ABP Decision) consisting of 450 no. new residential units; a childcare facility (538sqm); a new roundabout on the Celbridge Road (R404) and associated road realignment to facilitate vehicular access to the application site with revised entrance arrangement to the Wonderful Barn Complex (a Protected Structure), and incorporating landscape features and signage to the Wonderful Barn Complex (a Protected Structure); associated internal roads, pedestrian and cycle paths and linkages; open space; and, all associated site and development works. The residential development consists of the following: 16 no. one-bed, two-storey, own door apartments, 54sqm and 56 sqm Gross Floor Area (GFA) each (Type 1B1 & 1B2); 42 no. two-bed apartments, 83.7sqm GFA each (Type 2B1), with 42 no. three bed duplex units above, ranging in size from 119.2 to 120.4sqm GFA (Type 3B1 & 3B2), in three-storey terraces; 48 no. two-bed, two-storey terraced houses, 86.6sqm each (Type F1 & F2); 187 no. three-bed, two-storey terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, ranging in size from 110.7sqm to 126.4sqm GFA (Types D1-7, E1-5 & H1-4); 2 no. three-bed, single storey, detached houses, 113.7sqm each (Type J); 97 no. four-bed, two-storey, semi-detached and detached houses ranging in size from 130.2sqm to 206sqm (Types A, B1, B4, C1, C2 & G1-3); 16 no. four-bed, three-storey semi-detached houses ranging in size from 216.5sqm to 219.7sqm (Types C3 & C4). A total of 929 no. car parking spaces, including 875 no. spaces serving the residential units and 54 no. visitor spaces dispersed throughout the scheme (of which 13 no. spaces are designated for use by the childcare facility), are proposed. The associated site and infrastructural works include foul and surface water drainage, attenuation areas, open space, landscaping buffer with the Wonderful Barn parkland, boundary walls and fences, internal roads, cycle paths and footpaths including linkages towards the Wonderful Barn Complex (a Protected Structure) and to established residential areas to the north of the site. An Environmental Impact Assessment Report has been prepared in respect of the proposed development.
Permission, 349 homes · Kildare County Council, 18300606

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

Nature and heritage

Designated sites and recorded monuments

Designated sites

Special Area of Conservation: Rye Water Valley/Carton SAC 001398
Proposed Natural Heritage Area: Rye Water Valley/Carton 001398

Recorded monuments

KD011-004002 Castle - Anglo-Norman masonry castle
Description
Just S of the confluence of the River Liffey and its tributary the Rye Water. According to Bradley et al. (1986 vol. 3, 309-311), Adam de Hereford's grants to St. Thomas' Abbey, which mention his castle of 'Hernie' or 'Ernia', can be dated to before 1212. While the original castle may have been a motte, by the time of the grants the castle had a grange and a chapel attached. Around 1252, the manor of Leixlip passed from Adam's son, Stephen, to the Pippard family. In 1302, Ralph Pippard granted all his manors in Ireland to the King, and in 1303-4, monies were spent on constructing a kitchen in the castle, building a limekiln to produce lime for works on the castle, breaking stone and cutting wood. In 1331, the King gave John de Grauntsete the custody of the manor and castle of Leixlip for ten years, but in 1336, they were given to Roger Outlaw, prior of Kilmainham, and they were probably held by the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem for more than a century, until Leixlip passed out of the Order's hands sometime between 1455 and 1479-80, when it was granted to Thomas Daniel, Lord of Rathwire. In 1496, Henry VII granted Leixlip to Gearóid Mór, 8th Earl of Kildare, but it was forfeited in 1536, after the rebellion of Silken Thomas. Subsequently it was granted to Matthew King, John Alen and William Vernon. In 1507, it was granted to Sir Nicholas White and remained in his family until the 18th c. The castle, an amalgam of several building phases is still lived in. While Guinness and Ryan (1971, 211-18) identified the pre-1700 sections as a circular tower at the NW corner with a recessed N-façade to its E, the rectangular hall behind to S, a sub-rectangular addition to the S of the hall and a rectangular building to the S of the complex, Bradley et al (1986 vol. 3, 311) contend that the only pre-1700 sections are the circular tower and rectangular hall (est. int. dims. L c. 14m E-W; Wth c. 5.5m). The E-wing dates to the mid-18th century, and further additions were made on the S in more recent times. The circular tower (int. diam. 6.7m; av. Wall T 1.2m) is of three stories and stands on a battered plinth. Modern sash have been inserted on the S, W and N sides and a chimney at NW. Adam de Hereford's grant to St. Thomas' Abbey, dated before 1212, specifically excludes the Chapel of St. Patrick in his castle of 'Hernie'. A narrow room above the main hall is called the chapel. The main staircase and the bolection mouldings of the panelling in the chapel may be late-17th c. (Bence-Jones 1978, 183) Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-017 Bridge
Description
According to Sherlock (1909-11, 305), 'there was a ford (KA011-036----) at Leixlip and an ancient bridge at the Salmon Leap. This, except one arch which still stands, was carried away by a great flood shortly before 1646'. Fitzgerald (1896-99, 402), shows a photograph of this arch at the Salmon Leap. There was also a weir here (KD011-017001-). Cross-reference with DU017-087----. Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011
KD011-018 Mound
Description
An undated (late-18th/19th C) Estate Map (Ms 21.F.37 (131-171) map 157) in the National Library of Ireland shows a mound, skirted along the N by a curving field boundary, near the W bank of the River Liffey. It is not shown on any ed. of the OS 6-inch map, but the curving boundary is recorded on both the 1st ed.(1838) and latest ed. (1939). In a narrow strip of old woodland bordering the river with level pasture to W and N. A very overgrown, low, almost circular earthen mound (basal diams. 22.9m N-S; 21.7m E-W; H 1.5m at N - 2m at S) has a level upper surface (diams. 8.9m N-S; 8.4m E-W). Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 10 June 2011

Architectural heritage

Leixlip Castle, country house, 1835–1840 · National interest
Description
Detached four-bay two-storey over part-raised basement rubble stone house, completed 1837, incorporating fabric of earlier castle, dated 1172, and subsequent reconstructions with two-bay two-storey advanced end bay to left (north-east), four-bay three-storey side elevation to north-east and single-bay three-storey corner tower to west on a circular plan having battlemented parapet. Hipped roofs behind battlemented parapet walls with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Rendered chimney stacks. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls with lime mortar. Battlemented parapet walls. Cut-stone date stone/plaque. Pointed-arch window openings to main block (square-headed to ground floor to side elevation to north-east). Stone sills. 8/8 timber sash windows with polygonal panes (8/12 timber sash windows to square-headed openings with traceried overlights). Square-headed window openings to tower. 6/6 and 9/9 timber sash windows. Door opening not visible. Interior with timber panelled shutters to window openings. Set back from road in own extensive landscaped grounds.
Leixlip Castle, house, 1730–1760 · Regional interest
Description
Detached three-bay two-storey Georgian house, c.1745, on a symmetrical plan retaining early aspect. Now disused. Hipped roof with slate. Clay ridge tiles. Brick chimney stack. Cast-iron rainwater goods on moulded brick eaves course. Roughcast walls over rubble stone construction. Unpainted. Shallow segmental-headed window openings to ground floor. Square-headed window openings to first floor. No sills. Brick dressings. 9/6 timber sash windows. Square-headed door opening. Cut-stone surround. Timber panelled door. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, folly, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Gateway, c.1780, comprising square-headed opening approached by flight of stone steps with moulded cut-stone surround having plain frieze over (possibly originally doorcase of house in locality) and wrought iron gate, and sections of rubble stone flanking boundary walls. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1820–1840 · Regional interest
Description
Detached seven-bay single-storey rubble stone outbuilding with half-dormer attic, c.1830, retaining original aspect. Gable-ended roof with slate. Red clay ridge tiles. Red brick chimney stack. Cast-iron rainwater goods on eaves course. Random rubble stone walls. Shallow segmental-headed window openings to ground floor. Stone sills. Cut-stone surrounds. Early 6/6 timber sash windows. Square-headed window openings to first floor. Stone sills. Fixed-pane timber windows. Shallow segmental-headed door opening. Cut-stone voussoirs. Timber panelled door (possibly with overlight). Square-headed door opening between floors to left (north-east) approached by flight of cut-stone steps. Timber panelled door. Square-headed door opening to side elevation to south-west. Red brick dressings. Timber panelled door. Overlight. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Attached three-bay single-storey mono-pitched rubble stone outbuilding with attic, c.1780, with single-bay single-storey advanced end bay to right (north-east). Mono-pitched roof with slate (continuing down over advanced end bay in form of lean-to). Rendered coping to ridge. Replacement uPVC rainwater goods, c.1990. Random rubble stone walls. Cut-stone stringcourse. Square-headed openings. Stone sills. 6/6 timber sash windows (fixed-pane timber windows to side elevation to north-east). Square-headed door opening. Timber panelled door. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, demesne walls/gates/railings, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Section of rubble stone boundary wall, c.1780, with sections of red brick having piers and buttresses. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, demesne walls/gates/railings, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Section of rubble limestone boundary wall, c.1780, with curved section to north and buttresses. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, garden temple, 1900–1940 · Regional interest
Description
Freestanding cut-limestone garden temple, c.1920, comprising prostyle tetrastyle Ionic portico approached by flight of four cut-stone steps having frieze and pediment over sheltering statuary. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Detached six-bay single-storey rubble stone mono-pitched outbuilding, c.1780, retaining original aspect. Mono-pitched roof with slate. Rendered coping to ridge. No rainwater goods on exposed timber eaves. Broken coursed squared rubble stone walls. Square-headed openings. Yellow brick dressings. Timber fittings. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle. Stone cobbled lane to front (north-west).
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Detached six-bay single-storey mono-pitched rubble stone outbuilding, c.1780, retaining early aspect with series of square-headed integral carriageways along front (south-east) elevation. Mono-pitched roof with slate. Rendered coping to ridge. No rainwater goods on eaves course. Broken coursed squared rubble stone wall to rear (north-west) elevation. Square-headed openings (integral carriageways). Timber boarded double doors. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle. Stone cobbled lane to front (south-east).
Leixlip Castle, dovecote/pigeon house/aviary, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Detached single-bay single-storey over raised base gable-fronted rubble stone dovecote, c.1780, on a square plan with square-headed integral carriageway to ground floor to south-west and square-headed door opening to first floor to elevation to north-east approached by flight of stone steps. Reroofed, c.1950. Renovated, c.1990. Gable-ended (gable-fronted) roof. Replacement corrugated-iron. Iron ridge tiles. No rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls. Square-headed integral carriageway to elevation to south-west. Timber lintel. No fittings. Square-headed door openings to elevation to north-east (opening to first floor approached by flight of stone steps having rubble stone retaining wall). Red brick dressings to ground floor. Timber boarded door. Replacement timber door, c.1990, to first floor with pigeon holes. Oval window to first floor to elevation to south-west. Red brick surround. No fittings. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Attached three-bay single-storey rubble stone outbuilding with half-attic, c.1780, with single-bay double-height lean-to lower entrance bay to right having square-headed integral carriageway. Renovated, c.1970. Gable-ended and hipped roof with slate (continuing into lean-to over entrance bay to right). Clay ridge tiles. Square rooflights, c.1970. Remains of cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls. Square-headed window openings (slit-style). Replacement fixed-pane windows, c.1970. Square-headed integral carriageway. Replacement glazed timber boarded doors, c.1970. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, outbuilding, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
Description
Attached eight-bay single-storey lean-to rubble stone outbuilding, c.1800, with four-bay single-storey lean-to lower advanced bay to right (south-west) and series of segmental-headed integral carriageways to left. Renovated, c.1950, with some integral carriageways remodelled. Lean-to roof with slate. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Random rubble stone walls. Painted. Square-headed window openings. Rendered sills. Timber fittings. Square-headed door openings. Timber boarded half doors. Series of three segmental-headed integral carriageways (some remodelled, c.1950, with plinth walls added forming storage bays). No fittings. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, house, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Detached three-bay single-storey rubble stone mono-pitched house, c.1780, retaining early aspect. Mono-pitched roof with slate. Red clay ridge tiles. Red brick chimney stack. Cast-iron rainwater goods on eaves course. Random rubble stone walls. Painted. Shallow segmental-headed window openings. Stone sills. 2/2 timber sash window to left. 3/6 timber sash window to right. Shallow segmental-headed door opening. Replacement glazed timber panelled door, c.1990. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle with rear (north-west) elevation forming part of boundary wall to garden.
Leixlip Castle, garden structure misc, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Freestanding viewing platform, c.1780, comprising platform approached by flight of five stone steps having rubble stone retaining wall. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.
Leixlip Castle, boathouse, 1760–1800 · Regional interest
Description
Detached single-bay single-storey over raised base rubble stone boat house, c.1780, on a polygonal plan with square-headed opening to base originally accommodating boat. Now disused and derelict. Domed roof on an octagonal plan. Materials not discerned. Red brick chimney stack to apex on a polygonal plan. Broken coursed squared rubble stone walls (possibly originally rendered). Red brick dressings to corners. Square-headed opening to base. Fittings not visible (presumed to be missing). Shallow segmental-headed window openings. Red brick dressings. Fittings now gone. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle on bank at confluence of Rye Water and River Liffey. Grounds now mostly overgrown.
Leixlip Castle, garden structure misc, 1780–1820 · Regional interest
Description
Viewing platform, c.1800, comprising elevated terrace with rubble stone battlemented parapet wall. Set back from road in grounds shared with Leixlip Castle.

Ground and risks

Radon, landslides, flooding

Radon: At the centre of the townland of Leixlip Demesne, about 1 in 20 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. Parts of the land are made ground and water.
Terrain model: LiDAR of the Office of Public Works, flown in 2011, at 2 m: tile OPW_2970 (ZIP).
Flooding: The Office of Public Works publishes its flood maps on floodinfo.ie.

Homes sold

Property Price Register

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

The townland

Name: Leixlip Demesne
Area: 962,582 m² (96.26 ha, 237.86 acres)
Civil parish: Leixlip, and its townlands
Barony: Salt North
Electoral division: Leixlip, the unit of the census
Census 2022: 16,755 people lived in 5,741 households in the Leixlip electoral division. 79% of households owned their home. 24% of homes were built since 2001. 4% of dwellings stood vacant on census night, and 0% were holiday homes.
Neighbouring townlands: Backweston Park, Backwestonpark (Co. Dublin), Barnhall, Coneyburrow, Cooldrinagh (Co. Dublin), Leixlip, Parsonstown
Placenames: Leixlip 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.