SIR WILLIAM FLOWER, knight, was a military man in service under Michael Jones, governor of Dublin, during the Irish rebellion in 1641, and was subsequently one of the Privy Council of CHARLES II.
Sir William was born at Whitwell, Rutland, in 1600. During the Irish rebellion, he was seized, in 1648, with other officers, on suspicion of affection to the Marquess of Ormonde (Lord Ormonde was their former general at that time, upon his return to the Kingdom), where they were sent prisoners to England.
Sir William lived to see the restoration of CHARLES II, to whose first Parliament, In 1661, he was returned as member for Irishtown.
He was made captain of a company of foot and afterwards lieutenant-colonel to His Majesty's King George II Regiment of Guards, in Ireland.
He was appointed, in 1662, one of the trustees for "Satisfying the Arrears of the Commissiioned Officers" who served the King in Ireland before 5th June, 1649.
His nephew,
THOMAS FLOWER, of Durrow, County Kilkenny, married, firstly, in 1683, Mary, 4th daughter of Sir John Temple, attorney-general for Ireland. His elder son,
WILLIAM FLOWER, of Durrow, 1st BARON CASTLE DURROW, who represented County Kilkenny in parliament. His only surviving son,
HENRY, 2nd Baron, was created VISCOUNT ASHBROOK, in 1751.
CASTLE DURROW, near Durrow, County Laois, is an early 18th century mansion, with a high-pitched roof and tall chimney-stacks.
It was constructed by Colonel William Flower MP, later 1st Lord Castle Durrow. Colonel Flower commenced with the construction of the manor in 1712. The Flower family assumed residency of Castle Durrow in 1716.
The house consists of two storeys with a dormered attic in the roof; nine bays, of which the front is divided into three groups of three bays by huge Doric pilasters, formerly crowned with urns (now erected on the porch).
Later generations of the Ashbrooks adorned the house with 18th century plasterwork and 19th century stained-glass.
There is a notable castellated entrance gate in the square of the town of Durrow.
Castle Durrow was sold by the 9th Viscount in 1922.
Subsequently, the property was sold to a Mr Maher of Freshford, County Kilkenny, who was primarily interested in the rich timber reserves of the estate.
By 1928 the old hard wood forests of Durrow were scarce.
Eventually the Irish Land Commission divided up the arable portions of the property, and the forestry department took over many of the woods for further plantation.
During this time Castle Durrow was vacant for a few years.
In 1929, with the Bishop’s approval, the parish of Durrow acquired the estate for the purchase price of £1,800 and Castle Durrow was transformed into a school, St Fintan’s College and Convent.
Peter and Shelley Stokes bought the castle in 1998 and transformed it into a hotel.
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