09 January 2021

Castle Hewson in Askeaton
was home to generations
of the Hewson family

Castle Hewson in Ballyengland, Askeaton … home to generations of the Hewson family (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Patrick Comerford

Castle Hewson, east of Askeaton, Co Limerick, stands in the townland of Ballyengland. The 18th century house is on a low crag is undergoing restoration, and I visited the house earlier this week for the first time since moving to Askeaton four years ago.

Castle Hewson stands beside an earlier tower house or castle that gives the house its name. It was also known as Ballyengland House, and the England family were originally tenants of the Earls of Desmond. After the Desmond rebellion at the end of the 16th century, Thomas England was pardoned in 1581 and 1590, when his son attainted and hanged.

George Isham received a grant of Englandstown or Ballyengland in 1597, but Thomas and Oliver England were living at Ballyengland in 1601.

The Hewson family was living at Castle Hewson from the end of the 17th century. They continued to live there into the late 20th century, with other branches of the family living at Enniscouch and Hollywood.

By the mid-19th century, the main part of the Hewson family estate was in the parish of Askeaton, but the family also owned other houses and lands in the area: in the 1870s, John Brownrigg Hewson owned Castle Hewson and 1,435 acres; George James Hewson of Hollywood owned 666 acres; and Robert Hewson of Ennishcoush owned 398 acres near Rathkeale, Co Limerick. Other family members owned lands at Castleisland, and Ennismore, near Listowel, Co Kerry.

The East Window in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, was donated by the Hewson family of Castle Hewson (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Castle Hewson is an imposing, detached, five-bay, two-storey country house, built ca 1760, with a central, two-storey canted projecting bay at the front or east elevation, extensions at the rear or west elevation, and an adjoining six-bay, two-storey block at the rear. The three-stage tower house adjoins the house at the north side.

Castle Hewson retains much of its original form and fabric, including a variety of tripartite and timber sliding sash windows. A number of decorative features – including the red brick voussoirs, cast-iron ridge crestings, and limestone finials – add an interesting contrast to the rubble stone and rendered walls. The adjoining tower house adds archaeological significance to the site and is preserved in a relatively good condition. The outbuildings and walled garden behind the house add context to the site.

The architectural features of the main house include a hipped slate roof with terracotta ridge crestings and ridge tiles, rendered chimneystacks, a cut limestone eaves course, a limestone finial on the south gable, square-headed window openings with cut limestone sills, red brick voussoirs, and six-over-six pane timber sliding sash windows.

The first-floor windows have double-leaf timber louvered shutters. The square-headed opening at the front of the house has a carved limestone doorcase with a limestone pediment supported by pilasters, and a flanking double-leaf timber panelled door. It is approached by cut limestone steps.

The walled garden behind the house has a square-profile, three-stage tower at the north-east corner. There is an eight-bay, two-storey outbuilding beside the north elevation of the tower house, and a four-bay, split-level outbuilding at the north side of this outbuilding. There is also a three-bay, double-height outbuilding to the east of house.

The definitive history of the Hewson family is Memoirs of the House of Hewetson or Hewson in Ireland by John Hewetson (London: Mitchell & Hughes, 1901). He traces the family back to John Hewson or Hewetson (1498-1567), a glover, who was born in Settrington, Yorkshire, and became a Freeman of York and a member of the Merchant Adventurers’ Company.

His eldest son, Thomas Hewson, was also a Freeman of York. He moved to Ireland in the 1570s with his family, including his younger brother, Canon Christopher Hewetson, who became Prebendary of Howth, Vicar of Swords, and Treasurer of both Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and Ardfert. Since the move to Ireland, the names Hewetson and Hewson seem to have been interchangeable. Other variants of the family name include Hughson, Huetson and Huson.

Dominick Hewetson died in 1640, but, almost two years later, his body was dug up from the nave of Saint Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare, by rebels and placed in a ‘garden’ outside the cathedral churchyard.

His son, Captain George Hewetson or Hewson, was one of the 49 Irish officers who remained loyal to King Charles I during the Civil War in the 1640s. He was supposedly related to the regicide and hard-line radical preacher, Colonel John Hewson of London, a self-proclaimed ‘Child of Wrath’ and the Cromwellian butcher of Drogheda.

George Hewson’s grandson, George Hewson (1662-1735), acquired land near Askeaton, Co Limerick, including Castle Hewson in Ballyengland, which he held under a lease from Brooke Brydges of High Holborn, Limerick.

Members of the family included the Ven Francis Hewson, Archdeacon of Aghadoe, Rector of Listowel and Sovereign (Mayor) of Dingle; Margaret Anne Hewson, who married the Revd George Maxwell, Rector of Askeaton; Admiral George Francis Hewson, who fought at the Battle of Trafalgar; and Thomas Hewson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.

The memorial in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, to Maurice Hewson, who died at 14 at school in Repton in 1892 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Castle Hewson passed through generations of the Hewson family down to John Brownrigg Hewson (1826-1909), who was the father of three sons: William Everard Gardiner Hewson (1874-1957), John Gilbert Brownrigg Hewson (1875-1951), and Maurice Francis Hewson (1887-1892).

The youngest son, Maurice, caught pneumonia while he was at school in Repton and died when he was only 14. He is remembered in a plaque in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton.

The eldest son, William Everard Gardiner Hewson, became a Justice of the Peace or magistrate for Co Limerick in 1909. He was a keen campanologist and rang the changes in many Irish and English cathedrals. Everard Hewson murdered a woman for no apparent reason in 1914. Elizabeth Costello (née Lynch) was a widow working as a maid in Castle Hewson.

A year later, William Everard Gardiner Hewson was found ‘Insane and Incapable of Pleading.’ He was detained at Dundrum Lunatic Asylum for the Clinically Insane, at ‘his majesty’s pleasure.’ He was released five years later, and was sent to a dower house near Rathkeale. He died in Barrington’s Hospital in 1957 and is buried in the grounds of Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick.

The memorial in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, to Maurice and Pamela Hewson (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

Meanwhile, Castle Hewson was inherited by John Hewson’s second son, John Gilbert Brownrigg Hewson, known as Gilbert Hewson. Gilbert Hewson married his distant cousin, Kathleen Violet Hewson, daughter of George Hewson of Ennismore, Co Kerry. He was elected to Dáil Éireann as an independent TD for Limerick in June 1927, but lost his seat at the September 1927 election and was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1932 election. A barrister, he was a member of Limerick County Council for many years. When he died in hospital in 1951, he was living at Lough House, Ballyengland.

His son, Maurice Hewson (1913-1998), was educated at Repton and Trinity College Dublin, where he was an outstanding cross-country runner, tennis player and boxer. He was a district commissioner and member of the British colonial administration of the Gold Coast (Ghana).

He became one of the District Commissioners charged with planning the Gold Coast Volta River Dam project. But the project collapsed when the Gold Coast gained independence as Ghana. Maurice Hewson returned to Ireland in 1957 and moved back to Castle Hewson and Lough House. He was a leading parishioner in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton.

Maurice Hewson and his wife Pamela died in a tragic fire at Lough House on 23 February 1998. Their detached, two-storey home, fronting a lake, was destroyed in the blaze. When fire brigade units from Rathkeale, Foynes and Newcastle West arrived at Lough House, they found the doors of the house and the gate to the driveway were locked, and the fire rapidly engulfed the house.

At the time, friends described them as a ‘wonderful and endearing’ couple who were very popular. Many media outlets reported the tragedy with headlines such as ‘relative of U2’s Bono killed in house fire.’

The memorials to the Hewson family in Saint Mary’s Church, Askeaton, include the East Window depicting the Good Shepherd.

Castle Hewson is an imposing, detached, five-bay, two-storey country house, built ca 1760 (Photograph: Patrick Comerford, 2021)

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Hello Patrick, thank you for the informative article about our family home. Although I feel no mention of the current Hewson generation who still inhabits the home should be mentioned. The heading “was home to generations”, in fact it still is home for the Hewson family. Thank you.

Patrick Comerford said...

Thank you for your reply. Of course, I was trying to be discreet and respect the family’s privacy. I called around last week but wanted to maintain social distancing and not intrude. But I should love to call back, and I’d love to see inside. Patrick

Mike said...

On holiday in Ireland castle hunting in 2012, I arrived for an impromptu visit at Castle Hewson when the castle was then undergoing a sympathetic restoration, perhaps it still is! I would just like to say thank you once again for indulging me (an inquisitive tourist), and showing me around, assuming that you were the owner(s) at that time (respecting your privacy, I will not disclose details). I recall seeing a massive timber beam that was destined as a replacement for a presumably decayed item within the castle! I believe the C18 house that sits alongside was also scheduled for restoration at some future date. With best wishes, Mike Searle.

LINDA MORRELL said...

David Hewson Troughton born in NZ now living on the Sunshien Coast Australia
Visited his ancestors family homier 2016. A fantastic surprise to see Hewson still living there and yes we were warmly received too

The history and glory of Castle Hewson leaves one in awe. It will be wonderful to return in the future to see the wonderful progress of the restoration.

Kindest David Hewson Troughton

Anonymous said...

Hi Patrick
Great to read your interest in the Hewson history.
You will be surprised to learn that you have for many years known a minor offshoot of the family (we were only one generation at Castle Hewson). My mum's maiden name was Hewson but I'm sure you only knew her married name. I will email you directly.
best wishes
CT

Jennifer Hewson said...

Very interesting read about Castlehewson and the family. I am a Hewson from Clonakenny in Tipperary where our family have lived for generations, but not in the original home. I'm sure along the way the families must have known each other or were related. Very interested to know.

Sharon said...

Jennifer, there is a connection from our Clonakenny Hewsons to Maurice and Pamela in Askeaton. I've visited here and was welcomed by the current owners who are also decendents. It was so lovely to visit and the view from the back garden was beautiful but heartbreaking also knowing the trauma that happened here. Very, very beautiful building.

Anonymous said...

My mom and uncle last name is hewson they are from London England Audrey and Bill hewson

Unknown said...

My family is connected to Castle Hewson Estate back through Robert Hewson in the 1700
regards
Jan

Jannette Hewson father Peter George Hewson born Calcutta India

Dorothy Hewson said...

My grandparents (Edgar Ellis Hewson) visited Castle Hewson in 1906, my parents (William Bell Hewson) visited in 1957, and I had a wonderful visit with Maurice and Pamela in July 1972. Maurice immediately figured I was part of the Amherst, Nova Scotia Hewson family. I remember every inch of the “tour” from the Waterford crystal collection to the horsehair mattress I slept on. I was devastated to learn from my Montreal cousin about the fire.
Dorothy Fanjoy Hewson

Anonymous said...

We were very fortunate to stay in Castle Hewson in 2003 and spent a couple of days with the current Hewsons. My mother was a Hewson and talked about it all through my life so it was quite a thrill!! We contacted the Hewsons prior to visiting Ireland and they graciously let us visit and told us all about the history and spent the day showing us around, but said we wouldn't be able to stay the night (we already were booked at a B & B) but by evening, they asked us to stay the night and, of course, I was thrilled. The wife (no names here out of respect for them) gave me about 10 CDs for our trip, and when I admired a brass Claddagh on the wall, she insisted I take it. They were just lovely folks!!!

Joy Gearhart said...

My grandmother was a Hewson. That was her maiden name. She passed away a few months ago. 😢

Lorraine said...

Hi am intrigued by this beautiful house but am curious is the main house Lough House and was that where the unfortunate couple perished ?

Anonymous said...

Lough House was a modern house where they lived and where the tragedy happened and was not part of the original house !

Anonymous said...

I am a 12th generation grand daughter of john Hewson through my mum and its cool to know some parts of my ancestry are actually exciting on the Hewson sidei live in mid canterbury new zealand and there is close to 30 families just from my nana who was a hewson so there is heaps of us lol.

A.W. Jr. said...

My grandmother is Joanne Hewson and is from the branch that emigrated to Canada. She was especially known as an alpine skier on the Canadian Olympics team in the 50's. Now 93 years old, she still lives in Montreal and possesses a great deal of documents detailing our family history.A writer is currently working on her biography. I am desperately searching for a family crest if there is one. If anyone has it, could you please share it with me? Thankyou

C Slagle said...

A.W. Jr.
I have a picture of the family crest on a stain glass window in the Manor House at Castle Hewson. Contact me and I'll send it to you.
Charly

C Slagle said...

A.W. Jr.
I have a picture of the family crest on a stain glass window in the Manor House at Castle Hewson.
Contact me and I'll send it along,
Charly

A.W. Jr. said...

I have made an email alain.wattiez2@gmail.com so that we can communicate on the subject.I am so excited. Unfortunately, my grandmother Joannen Hewson passed away since my first message on the website so this means so much to my family.

Thankyou so much Charly.

Alain François Akexandre Wattiez Hewson Jr.

Alain Jr. said...

Hello Charly,

Thank you so much for thislively surprise. I am so excited. Unfortunately, my grandmother Joanne Hewson passed away recently since my first message of the website so thisnreally means a lot.

Many thanks and I will leave my info visible to this message so that you can write to me.

All the best,

Alain François Alexandre Hewson Wattiez Jr.

A.W. Jr. said...

Hello and thankyou for this exciting news! I don't know if my google account info appears on this chat. Ifbit is not the case I will send you my email.
All the best and thankyou so much.
Alain Hewson Wattiez Jr.