durrow abbey co. offaly conservation plan - Offaly County Council

The rolling hills to the south of Durrow Abbey provided
a perfect southerly prospect to be set out as
parkland, fringed with woodland and dotted with
clumps or individual broad-leaved trees. To the
nor th an equally impressive natural feature in the
form of the Esker Riada, was also planted to provide
a striking raised backdrop and nor thern boundary.
Natural style demesnes generally consist of a series
of serpentine walks or rides, in the form of circuits,
through woodland, across and around the fringes
of parkland, and along or around water courses.
These walks or rides were created for the purpose
of exercise and aesthetic enjoyment. To provide a
structure for these circuitous routes, ornamental
features were often created in the form of follies
and garden buildings. In some instances surviving
antiquities were incorporated into these routes, to
provide stopping off points of interest along the
way. The above ground antiquities at Durrow were
used in this manner and were as significant as the
natural landforms in influencing the layout of the
demesne. At Durrow the above ground remnants of
the former monastic community included an ancient
graveyard containing an impressive high cross, the
site of an ancient church and a holy well. In addition,
the Norman Motte was incorporated into the
garden design and subsequently embellished with
planting and an ornamental structure.
To complement the historic landmarks and points
of interest within the demesne several ornamental
buildings and functional structures were created
during the eighteenth century, including a
walled garden.
Irish Architectural Archive, Murray Collection Durrow Park survey drawing