Rockingham Estate

Rockingham Estate was a house and estate near Boyle, County Roscommon, Ireland covering much of the area which now makes up Lough Key Forest Park.

History
In 1771, the King family moved from their house in Boyle to the newly built Kingston Hall on what is now the Rockingham estate. The footprint and walled gardens of this house still exist and indicate its substantial size. It was later referred to as Kingston Lodge or the Steward's Lodge.

Rockingham house was later developed by Robert King, 1st Viscount Lorton and designed by one of the preeminent architects of the day, John Nash around 1809–10. The planned gardens were designed by John Sutherland around the same time and included servant's tunnels, follies, lodges and miniature castles.

In 1822, a third story was added to the house and the grand dome was removed significantly distorting Nash's original design.

A number of other notable structures were also built on the estate around the same time including stables (1845) and a later gothic lodge and entrance gate.

The house was largely damaged by a fire in 1860 and was at that stage rebuilt.

In 1903, the house became one of the residences of William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 11 August 1902 to 11 December 1905.

In 1918, the house was raided by Irish Republican Brotherhood members in order to procure arms.

Rockingham House again burned down in a fire started by an electrical fault in 1957.

What remained of the estate was sold by Sir Cecil Stafford-King-Harman, to the Irish Land Commission in May 1959. The Land Commission officially took control of the estate in November 1959.

The remains of the house were finally demolished in 1971.

In 1973, a brutalist concrete viewing tower known as the Moylurg tower was built on the site of the house.