Early History
The Parsons family arrived at Birr in July of 1620 and acquired the ruined fortress of Birr. It had been an O’Carroll castle but had, for some twenty years, belonged to the Ormond Butlers. Sir Laurence, one of four brothers living in Ireland at the end of the 16th century, had been working with his cousin Richard Boyle, the great Earl of Cork, to whom he was related through the Fenton family in Youghal.
Laurence died suddenly in 1628 and was succeeded by his second son, William, who was ably supported by his mother, Anne, née Malham, a Yorkshire woman related to the Tempest family.
Sir Laurence’s elder brother, also named William, became Surveyor General of Ireland and founded the elder branch of the family, living in Bellamont, Dublin. This branch died out at the end of the 18th century.
The 17th century was a turbulent one for the Parsons family in Birr. The castle was involved in two sieges: the first in the 1640s, when the family moved for a time to London, before returning at the end of the Cromwellian period. In 1690, the castle was besieged again, this time by Patrick Sarsfield. However, the castle held out, and Sarsfield moved on.
The 18th century was a quieter period for the family, who were left with little money and focused on improving their estate at Birr, living off the land. Towards the end of the century, Sir Laurence (5th Baronet) became a politician and friend of Flood and Grattan. He was praised for his honesty and opposed the Act of Union. Laurence would eventually become the 2nd Earl of Rosse in 1807 by inheriting the title from his uncle.
Science & the 19th Century
The 19th century saw the castle become a great center of scientific research when William Parsons, 3rd Earl, built the Great Telescope. His wife, Mary, whose fortune helped him build the telescope and make many improvements to the castle, was a pioneering photographer and took many photographs in the 1850s. Her darkroom, a total time capsule preserved in the castle, has now been relocated to the Science Centre.
Their son, Laurence, the 4th Earl, continued the astronomical work at the castle, and the Great Telescope was used until the beginning of the Second World War. His son, William, the 5th Earl, had a keen interest in agriculture and visited Denmark in search of more modern and successful farming methods. Sadly, he died of wounds in the First World War in his early 40's.
His son, Michael, the 6th Earl, and his wife Anne created the Formal Garden at Birr Castle Demesne. Anne, who was the sister of Oliver Messel, the stage designer, brought many treasures to Birr from the Messel collection. With her skill in interior decoration and her artist’s eye, she transformed the castle, giving it the magical beauty that is now apparent to all. The 6th Earl was also deeply involved in the creation of the National Trust in England after the war.
3rd Earl of Rosse
Sir William Parsons (1800–1867), 3rd Earl of Rosse of Birr Castle in Kings County (Offaly), served as a Member of Parliament from 1821 to 1834.
William married Lady Mary Field, daughter of John Wilmer Field, on 14 April 1836. Upon the death of his father, Laurence Parsons, 2nd Earl of Rosse, in 1841, William became the 3rd Earl of Rosse. He was also President of the British Association from 1843 to 1844, then became the President of the Royal Society from 1845 to 1854, while he also served as an Irish representative peer. From 1862 to 1867, he was Chancellor of Trinity College, Dublin.
William was an avid scientist, a passion he shared with his wife, Mary Rosse, and is best known for building the 72 inch reflective telescope, 'The Leviathan of Parsonstown,’ the world's largest telescope. From 1845 - 1917, it held the title of the world's largest telescope. As an astronomer, he was the first to discover the spiral nature of some nebulae (now called spiral galaxies) and named the Crab Nebula.
4th Earl of Rosse
Laurence Parsons, 4th Earl of Rosse, was born on 17 November 1840. He succeeded his father as the 4th Earl of Rosse in 1867, the same year he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
From 1867 to 1868, Laurence served as a Justice of the Peace for King’s County and was appointed High Sheriff of King’s County. On 1 September 1870, he married Lady Frances Cassandra Hawke, daughter of Lord Edward Harvey-Hawke, 4th Baron of Hawke, and Lady Frances Fetherstonhaugh.
In the 1880's, Laurence, like his father before him, pursued astronomy and invented the Lunar Heat Machine, a device designed to measure the heat emitted by the moon's surface, reflecting his fascination with lunar phenomena. Laurence became the first to make infrared measurements of any astronomical body other than the Sun, but his findings were ignored by both his peers and the broader astronomical community. It wasn't until 1969, decades after Laurence's death, that Neil Armstrong and others landed on the moon, confirming Laurence's hypothesis. As a result, Armstrong sent a letter to the Parsons family to acknowledge Laurence's significant contribution to the field of astronomy.
Charles Parsons
Charles Parsons (1854–1931) was the youngest child of William, 3rd Earl, and his wife Mary. They had four sons who reached adulthood, with Charles being 15 years younger than his eldest brother, who became the 4th Earl. Raised in an environment focused on construction, engineering, and telescope work, Charles was involved in practical tasks in the workshops from an early age. The brothers were educated at home at the Castle until Charles went on to study at Trinity College and then Cambridge, where he earned an honors degree at St John’s College.
Charles would go on to become a renowned inventor and engineer, best known for creating the steam turbine, a revolutionary development in power generation. His invention significantly improved the efficiency of steam engines, transforming industries such as shipping and electricity. Parsons also contributed to the development of the first turbine-powered ship, Turbinia, which showcased the potential of his technology.
Mary Rosse
Mary Rosse (née Mary Field), the 3rd Countess of Rosse, was an accomplished 19th-century Irish noblewoman who left an indelible mark on the fields of photography and scientific innovation. Born in 1813 in Bradford, Mary would eventually marry William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, and become an integral figure at Birr Castle, which was known for its forward-thinking scientific and engineering endeavors. While often celebrated for her contributions to various community and social projects, Mary Rosse's achievements in photography positioned her as a trailblazer in this emerging art and science.
Her passion for photography led her to develop a fully equipped darkroom at Birr Castle, which, remarkably, still stands today as the oldest intact darkroom in the world. Mary's darkroom was a site of pioneering work, where she experimented with photographic processes, creating detailed and high-quality images. Her technical skill and dedication to the craft earned her significant recognition, including prestigious medals for her work. Among her accolades were awards from photographic societies that acknowledged her innovative contributions during an era when the field was still in its infancy.
Mary Rosse's legacy in photography is underscored by her ability to blend art with science, positioning her not only as a contributor but as a leader in early photographic development. The preservation of her darkroom stands as a testament to her lasting influence and reflects the profound cultural and scientific importance of her work. Today, visitors to Birr Castle Demesne can appreciate the enduring significance of her achievements, which laid the groundwork for future explorations in photography and scientific imaging.
6th Earl and Countess of Rosse
Michael Parsons, the 6th Earl of Rosse, was a key figure in the preservation and development of Birr Castle Demesne, creating its formal garden alongside his wife, Anne.
He was also an important supporter of the arts and heritage, with his wife, Anne, playing a significant role in transforming the castle’s interior with her keen artistic eye and a talent for interior decoration. Anne brought many treasures from the Messel family collection to the castle, enhancing its charm.
Additionally, the 6th Earl was heavily involved in the creation of the National Trust in England after World War II, contributing to the conservation movement.
At Home with the Earl and Countess of Rosse
While there are many treasures to discover within the 120-acre Demesne, including the gardens, parklands, and Ireland's Historic Science Centre, the Parsons family, who have lived in the castle for over 400 years, also possess many other treasures that are not on display. The family is happy to share these with special interest groups, and, schedule permitting, Lord and Lady Rosse themselves will host a day in the castle and demesne.
When notified in advance, special interest groups can view treasures from the castle's extensive collections, such as beautifully illustrated works from the botanical library, with volumes dating back to the mid-sixteenth century. Other treasures may include needlework, silver, historical manuscripts, and letters from the castle’s archives, including a cookbook from the 1660s, among many other papers. The family can provide insight into the history and stories behind these objects in the castle’s beautiful rooms.
Should you like to find out more about a private tour of the Castle please email estate@birrtrust.ieere
China Links
The Hon. Desmond Parsons, the younger brother of Michael, the 6th Earl, was born in 1910 and studied at Oxford. Handsome, charming, and a brilliant linguist, he traveled to China in 1934, where his friend Harold Acton was already lecturing at Peking National University. This marked the beginning of a significant intercultural collaboration between Birr Castle and China.
While Desmond was in China, Michael, accompanied by his new wife, Anne, visited on their honeymoon. They enjoyed a wonderful time in Beijing, where Michael, with his interest in plants and trees at Birr, began his friendship and collaboration with Professor Hu of the Fan Memorial Institute of Biology. As a result, Chinese seeds began to make their way back to Birr, and many of them have now grown into large trees, especially in the Yunnan area of the demesne.
Desmond had recently completed a remarkable journey to Dun Huang, enduring many adventures, including imprisonment by warring tribes. He took extraordinary photographs of the caves there, which were later acquired by the Courtauld Institute.
After Desmond's death in 1937, his collection of Chinese art was returned to Birr Castle at the outbreak of World War 2, carefully packed and returned by his friend, Harold Acton.Patrick, Lord Oxmantown, Michael’s grandson and Desmond’s great-nephew, was captivated by the family’s Chinese heritage during his childhood at Birr. Inspired in part by Desmond, he traveled to China at a young age as well, but unlike Desmond, he was fortunate enough to stay for around 16 years.
Present Family
The 7th Earl of Rosse, Brendan Parsons, spent his career with the United Nations Development Programme, living with his wife, Alison, and their family in various developing countries. He returned to Ireland upon his father’s death in 1979. Brendan and Alison have devoted much time to the garden, particularly in collecting and planting rare trees. Their three children are all passionate about the estate and continue to contribute to its legacy.
Patrick, Lord Oxmantown, currently lives in London and is developing plans to bring investment into Birr, enabling him and his family to eventually move back to Ireland.
Alicia Clements, General Manager of the Birr Trustee Company, resides on the estate at Tullanisk House.
Michael Parsons recently returned from London, bringing experience from the National Trust, and is now focusing on a career in tourism.
