Eyrecourt Castle

John Eyre, an Englishman who was granted a large parcel of land in recognition of his part in the military campaign in Galway during the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland.

[1] A 7-bay two-storey house "built on a symmetrical pattern with a central staircase and hall taking up nearly a third of the overall space, it was an impressive, modern residence for the new landowner".

A visitor in 1731, Mary Granville, commented on a "great many fine woods and improvements that looked very English" in the parkland around the house.

[7] In 1662 Colonel John Eyre was granted the 800 acres (320 ha) of Eyrecourt land, with the power to empark it, as reward for his role in Cromwell's Irish campaign.

[8] The house, however, was inherited by his nephew Lieutenant-Colonel Giles Eyre (High Sheriff in 1798), who spent a lot of money on unsuccessful electioneering.

William Randolph Hearst bought the ornately carved staircase of Eyrecourt Castle in 1927 and had it shipped to the United States.