Myrtle Grove, Youghal
Encyclopedia
Myrtle Grove is an Elizabethan
gabled house in Youghal
, County Cork
, Ireland
. The house is notable as a rare example in Ireland
of a 16th century unfortified house. It is situated in a secluded spot, close to the church.
in 1588-1589. Myrtle Grove's South Gable is where Edmund Spenser
is reputed to have written part of his poem The Faerie Queene
. The house was acquired in 1602 from Sir Walter Raleigh's Irish estate by Richard Boyle
, who later became Earl of Cork
. Though remodeled twice it is still the best Tudor house in Ireland. The house was acquired by Hayman family in the 18th century.
In the 20th century, it was the home of Sir Henry Arthur Blake
and Lady Blake. At this time, the building housed "the best collection of West Indian paintings and sketches". The Blakes lived here until their deaths. They were buried in the garden.
The house remains in private ownership but is open to the public on certain days of the year.
. This is however, unlikely as potatoes were in present in Spain
in 1536. There is a similar legend stating that Myrtle Grove was where tobacco was first smoked by Walter Raleigh
. A servant was said to have observed Raleigh from behind and seen smoke rising from him. Thinking that Raleigh was on fire he threw a bucket of water on him to douse the fire. This is unlikely to have occurred in Myrtle Grove as the legend is also associated with several of Raleigh's houses.
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
gabled house in Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
, County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The house is notable as a rare example in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
of a 16th century unfortified house. It is situated in a secluded spot, close to the church.
History
It was home for Sir Walter RaleighWalter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
in 1588-1589. Myrtle Grove's South Gable is where Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
is reputed to have written part of his poem The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene
The Faerie Queene is an incomplete English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. The first half was published in 1590, and a second installment was published in 1596. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form: it was the first work written in Spenserian stanza and is one of the longest poems in the English...
. The house was acquired in 1602 from Sir Walter Raleigh's Irish estate by Richard Boyle
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork
Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork , also known as the Great Earl of Cork, was Lord Treasurer of the Kingdom of Ireland....
, who later became Earl of Cork
Earl of Cork
Earl of the County of Cork, usually shortened to Earl of Cork, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for the Anglo-Irish politician Richard Boyle, 1st Baron Boyle...
. Though remodeled twice it is still the best Tudor house in Ireland. The house was acquired by Hayman family in the 18th century.
In the 20th century, it was the home of Sir Henry Arthur Blake
Henry Arthur Blake
Sir Henry Arthur Blake GCMG, DL was a British colonial administrator, Governor of Hong Kong from 1898 to 1903.-Early life and career:...
and Lady Blake. At this time, the building housed "the best collection of West Indian paintings and sketches". The Blakes lived here until their deaths. They were buried in the garden.
The house remains in private ownership but is open to the public on certain days of the year.
Legends
The house is reputed to be where potatoes were first planted in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. This is however, unlikely as potatoes were in present in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
in 1536. There is a similar legend stating that Myrtle Grove was where tobacco was first smoked by Walter Raleigh
Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter Raleigh was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England....
. A servant was said to have observed Raleigh from behind and seen smoke rising from him. Thinking that Raleigh was on fire he threw a bucket of water on him to douse the fire. This is unlikely to have occurred in Myrtle Grove as the legend is also associated with several of Raleigh's houses.