Castle Durrow

County Laois, Ireland

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Castle Durrow, located in County Laois, Ireland, is an 18th-century country house built between 1712 and 1716 by Colonel William Flower, who later became Baron Castle Durrow. The house, constructed in a pre-Palladian architectural style with formal gardens, reflects the elegant taste of the Protestant aristocracy emerging after the Cromwellian and Williamite wars.

The Flower family, known later as the Viscounts Ashbrook, owned the estate for over two centuries and were regarded as benevolent landlords. In the early 20th century, the family lost the property, which eventually was acquired by the Bank of Ireland and then repurposed as St Fintan's College and Convent until 1987.

After years of vacancy, it was bought in 1998 by Peter and Shelley Stokes, who restored it into a luxury country house hotel, preserving its rich history and architectural beauty. The estate features extensive grounds with formal gardens, river walks, and woodland, offering a blend of historical charm and modern hospitality.