This year, the HALS (Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies) research project in Roscommon Library celebrates two years in existence. This acclaimed initiative has greatly increased the store of knowledge regarding local land leases in Roscommon following five years of extensive research.
This considerable project involves the reading and transcribing of leases (dating from 1630) relating to lands at Roscommon Town and surrounding areas. The original leases were held by the Earls of Essex at Cassiobury House in Hertfordshire, in England, and are now held by HALS.
The local project group have entered an agreement with Roscommon County Council that the leases will be accessible through Roscommon County Libraries when the project is complete. Many of the earlier leases come from the Earl of Ranelagh’s family at ‘Ranelagh House’ in Chelsea.
Some of the leases transcribed to date cover areas such as Clooneen, Gallowstown, Main Street in Roscommon, Goff Street, Cruby Hill, Carrowmore, Tonlegee, Cloonygormican, Runnamote, Ballypheasan, Cloonybeirne, Derrineel, Cashelmeaghan, Lisgobban, Ardsallaghbeg and Lord’s Meadow.
Some of the leases transcribed include family names such as: Bermingham, Brown, Conlon, Connor, Croghan, Downes, Duffe, Geraghty, Gunning, Hinde, Hopkins and Kelly.
The project has revealed that the names of many Roscommon townlands were changed by the Ordnance Surveyors in the 1830s and has discovered the names of the families leasing the land, the conditions applied and the duration of the leases.
A team of volunteers have been transcribing the leases in Roscommon Library on Mondays on a fortnightly basis.
If one loves their local history and is interested in volunteering for this ongoing project, contact the Roscommon Volunteer Centre at info@volunteerroscommon.ie or by phoning 089-2199930 or 089-4008332.
Two typical leases include one which relates to a site on Pudding Street (now Goff Street) in 1807 when Thomas Keary rented a plot with a 94-foot frontage and was required to build four cottages.
Each of these cottages featured two windows and a door to the street, to be leased to sub-tenants. These cottages no longer exist. A further lease relates to George Maltby selling land and to Roger Viscount Ranelagh in 1630.
