Irish Land Commission Record and the Break-up of the Estate
Abstract of Title – Ecclesville Estate (1913)
Irish Land Commission Record and the Break-Up of the Estate
Introduction
The Abstract of Title of the Ecclesville Estate, submitted to the Irish Land Commission in 1913, records the legal ownership and extent of the estate at the moment of its disposal to tenants.
It marks a decisive transition:
from a long-established landed estate
to a fragmented, tenant-owned landscape under the Irish Land Acts
At this time, the estate was held by:
Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles McClintock
as life tenant and beneficial owner, under the limitations of the 1873 entail.
Historical Context
By the early 20th century, the traditional structure of Irish landed estates was in irreversible decline.
The Irish Land Acts enabled tenants to:
- Purchase their holdings
- Secure permanent ownership
- End landlord control
For Ecclesville, this resulted in:
- The sale of the majority of the estate
- The retention of only the demesne and mansion house
The 1913 Abstract captures the estate at the exact point of this transition.
Description of the Estate (1913)
The estate comprised lands historically known as:
Fintonagh / Rathkeeran / Castleleigh
Together with numerous townlands within:
- Parish of Donacavey
- Baronies of Clogher and East Omagh
- County Tyrone
These lands collectively formed:
The Ecclesville Estate
Structure of the Estate
At the time of the Abstract, the estate included:
- Agricultural lands across multiple townlands
- Industrial elements:
- Fintona Mill
- Tonagh Mill
- Lacca Mill
- Market and settlement lands
The town of Fintona functioned as the central hub of the estate.
Disposal Under the Land Acts
Under the Irish Land Commission process:
- The estate was offered for sale to tenants
- Purchases were financed through state schemes
As a result:
- Landlord control effectively ended
- Ownership passed to multiple occupiers
Only a reduced core remained:
- Ecclesville demesne (c. 206 acres)
- The mansion house
Legal Significance
The 1913 Abstract confirms:
- The full extent of the estate at the point of sale
- The legal framework governing its disposal
- The transition from hereditary estate to tenant ownership
It also demonstrates that while the 1873 entail restricted inheritance, it could not prevent sale under statutory reform.
Transition of Ownership
Following the break-up of the estate:
- The demesne remained in family-associated ownership
- It later passed to the Browne-Lecky family
Their son:
Raymond Browne-Lecky
became the final private owner of Ecclesville prior to its transfer to the state.
1898 Succession Duty Certificate (Estate Extent)
Reference: S.A. 294/88
Date: 15 March 1898
Office: Inland Revenue, Dublin
This certificate records the succession of the Ecclesville estate to:
Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles
following the death of:
Frances Caroline Eccles (d. 12 February 1887)
under the will of:
John Stuart Eccles
The successor was described as:
- Lineal issue of the predecessor
And assessed:
Succession Duty at 1%
Estate Description (c.1898)
The estate was held:
👉 In fee simple, subject to the limitations of the 1873 entail
Extent
The estate comprised numerous townlands across Donacavey, including:
Annaboe, Aughafad, Aughadreenan, Arditiney, Castletown, Corbally, Cumber, Carnarousk, Drafton, Drumlaghan, Drummond, Dundiven, Dungoran, Edenatoodry, Ecclesville, Edenasop, Feenan, Gulladoo, Gargrim, Killaliss, Killaberry, Lacca, Lisnacreive, Lisnabulravey, Lisdergan, Lisavaddy, Legamaghery, Lisnagardy, Legatiggle, Liskey, Mullans and Roughan, Mullasligo, Rathwarren, Ratherane, Sionfin, Stratigore, Screggagh, Skelgagh, Stranisk, Sionee, Tattymoyle, Tonnaghmore, Tonnaghbeg, Tonnaghbane, Tullyrush, Tyreenan.
Also including:
- Fintona
- Mills and market lands
Valuation
Annual value: £4,886 : 15 : 2
Ecclesville Estate – Townland Comparison (c.1840–1913)
Ecclesville Estate – Townland Comparison (c.1840–1913)
| Annaboe | 47.0.32 | 47.0.32 | 45.0.6 |
| Aughafad | 1036.1.27 | 1036.1.27 | 769.1.4 |
| Aughadreenan | 101.3.15 | 101.3.15 | 98.3.25 |
| Anaghmurnagh | 42.1.17 | 42.1.17 | 42.1.17 |
| Arditiney | 243.3.26 | 243.3.26 | 241.3.26 |
| Castletown | 215.2.20 | 215.2.20 | 143.3.26 |
| Corbally | 267.0.30 | 267.0.30 | 107.1.5 |
| Cumber | 189.0.20 | 189.0.2 | 189.0.20 |
| Carnarousk | 46.1.28 | 46.1.28 | 46.1.28 |
| Drafton | 286.2.16 | 286.2.16 | 285.2.18 |
| Drumlaghan | 162.0.0 | 162.0.0 | — |
| Drummond | 234.2.0 | 234.2.0 | 234.0.20 |
| Dundiven Glebe | — | — | 215.2.20 |
| Dungoran | 205.0.30 | 305.3.0 | 305.2.23 |
| Derrybard | — | — | 1.2.20 |
| Edenatoodry | 288.3.28 | 288.3.28 | — |
| Ecclesville Demesne | 228.1.0 | 228.1.0 | 208.3.20 |
| Edenasop | 45.0.0 | 48.3.31 | — |
| Edenasop West | — | — | 13.0.10 |
| Edenasop East | — | — | 23.1.8 |
| Feenan | 154.2.0 | 154.2.0 | 151.3.7 |
| Fintona | 17.0.0 | 17.0.0 | — |
| Gulladoo | 197.0.22 | 197.0.22 | 197.0.22 |
| Gargrim | 217.1.0 | 217.1.0 | 215.2.22 |
| Killaliss | 231.1.25 | 231.1.25 | 227.3.22 |
| Kilaberry | 205.2.0 | 205.2.0 | 165.0.0 |
| Lacca | 295.3.0 | 295.3.0 | 295.0.26 |
| Lisnacreive | 507.1.26 | 507.1.26 | 507.1.6 |
| Lisnabulravey | 59.2.0 | 59.2.0 | 59.2.26 |
| Lisdergan | 23.0.0 | 23.0.0 | 23.0.9 |
| Lisavaddy | 38.0.0 | 38.0.0 | 38.0.7 |
| Legamaghery | 290.2.0 | 229.2.0 | — |
| Lisnagardy | 107.1.19 | 107.1.19 | 105.1.19 |
| Legatiggle | 302.3.13 | 302.3.13 | 230.0.30 |
| Liskey | 88.3.0 | 87.1.13 | 41.1.10 |
| Mullans & Roughan | 188.0.0 | — | — |
| Mullans | — | 82.0.36 | — |
| Roughan | — | 105.3.19 | — |
| Mullasligo | 144.0.0 | 144.0.0 | — |
| Rathwarren | 288.3.0 | 228.3.5 | 225.2.25 |
| Ratherane | 73.2.0 | 74.3.3 | 70.2.35 |
| Sionfin | 249.2.0 | 249.2.0 | 249.1.35 |
| Stratigore | 112.0.0 | 112.0.0 | 109.3.29 |
| Screggagh | 509.2.0 | 509.2.0 | 508.3.14 |
| Skelgagh | 234.3.0 | 234.3.0 | 233.1.5 |
| Stranisk | 779.0.0 | 779.0.0 | 778.3.37 |
| Sionee | 190.3.0 | 199.3.24 | 190.3.24 |
| Tattymoyle (combined) | 1063.1 [sic] | 163.2.33 [sic] | — |
| Tattymoyle Middle | — | — | 561.0.33 |
| Tattymoyle Lower | — | — | 440.2.22 |
| Tonnaghmore | 317.1.17 | 317.1.17 | 317.1.17 |
| Tonnaghbeg | 227.0.33 | 227.0.33 | 225.0.33 |
| Tonnaghbane | — | — | 38.2.39 |
| Tullyrush | 198.3.34 | 198.3.34 | 198.3.34 |
| Tyreenan | 251.0.0 | 251.0.0 | 249.2.28 |
Key Observations
- The estate remained largely intact between c.1840 and 1871
- By 1913, significant reductions appear:
- Aughafad, Castletown, Corbally, Liskey → major losses
- New structuring appears:
- Tattymoyle divided into separate holdings
- Demesne reduced:
- Ecclesville Demesne from 228 acres → 208 acres
See Also
- Will of John Stuart Eccles (1873)
- John Stuart Eccles and the Ecclesville Entail
- Amy Henrietta Frances Eccles McClintock
- The Eccles Family of Ecclesville
- The Break-Up of the Ecclesville Estate
- The Delmege Inheritance: Ecclesville Estate and Cricklade Manor
- Eccles Acquisition of the Fentonagh Estate (1671)
Source
Irish Land Commission
Record No. EC6974
(Abstract of Title, Ecclesville Estate, County Tyrone, 1913)