Following John's death, Dorothea married her cousin Robert Hassells, owner of Shelton Abbey.

[3] The abbey was extensively remodelled in the Gothic style by the Irish architect, Sir Richard Morrison, in 1819.

[5] In the early 1840s the house and its demesne were described in Bartlett's The Scenery and Antiquities of Ireland[6] as follows: Since 1973, Shelton Abbey has been used as an open prison for males aged 19 years and over who are regarded as requiring lower levels of security.

[7] In 1986, a lost 16th century artwork by Girolamo Muziano was rediscovered in the prison by an imprisoned art restorer.

Participation in courses organised by and through the Education Unit is double the rate of that in other Irish prisons The prison provides various activities and amenities for its inmates including but not limited to woodwork, arts and crafts, computers, French, English, maths, music, literacy, cookery, physical education, pottery and golf.